If you like gardening the easy way, consider growing epiphytes. The group, commonly known as “air plants,” includes ferns, orchids, bromeliads, cacti and rhododendrons. Although epiphytes grow attached to shrubs and trees, they are not parasites — they do not take their nutrients from the plants on which they grow. Air plants have some of the most beautiful flowers and unique foliage in the plant kingdom. They generally require less care than most other ornamentals. Our tropical climate is ideal for air plants that are virtually impossible to grow outdoors anywhere else in the United States.
If you like gardening the easy way, consider growing epiphytes. The group, commonly known as “air plants,” includes ferns, orchids, bromeliads, cacti and rhododendrons. Although epiphytes grow attached to shrubs and trees, they are not parasites — they do not take their nutrients from the plants on which they grow. Air plants have some of the most beautiful flowers and unique foliage in the plant kingdom. They generally require less care than most other ornamentals. Our tropical climate is ideal for air plants that are virtually impossible to grow outdoors anywhere else in the United States.
Most kamaaina are familiar with orchids and bromeliads, but even if they know about our tropical vireya rhododendrons, they may not realize many species are found as epiphytes in the forests of Southeast Asia. The most spectacular display I have ever seen was while climbing Mount Kinabalu in Borneo.
The trees were festooned with red flowers. On closer examination, it was not the trees in bloom, but epiphytic rhododendrons. The advantage to vireyas is they may also be grown in moist, organic media like that found in the cloud and rain forests of the Big Island.
To learn more about vireyas, join the Hawaii Chapter of the Rhododendron Society on March 17 at the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary in Kaloko Mauka, located three miles up Kaloko Drive. Take a right at the third intersection of Hao Street and park just beyond the second driveway on the right. For details or to reserve a space, contact Sherla Bertelmon at vireya@pacificislandnursery.com.
Vireya are native to Taiwan, the Malay Archipelago, New Guinea, the Philippines and Indonesia, stretching as far south as northern Australia. Vireya were named in honor of Julien Joseph Virey, a French pharmacist and natural historian. John Veitch was one of the earliest and most prolific collectors and hybridizers in the 19th century. Some hybrids are small plants and others grow into large shrubs. Flowers vary from white, pink and red to yellow and orange. A guide to growing these plants by Rachel Leyva is available at some local nurseries and garden shops. Leyva will be at the meeting to share her knowledge; copies of the booklet will be sold.
Orchids and bromeliads are the most well-known epiphytes. Many species have been introduced. If you have a tree or lanai, you can have flowers year-round. All it takes is common sense, water and fertilizer. When buying orchids and bromeliads, start with healthy plants. Ask the grower or nurseryman about the species and its care. When grown in containers, they will require repotting every two or three years. To avoid the problem of repotting, many gardeners attach the plants to the branches of a tree. Rough barked trees such as paperbark, monkeypod, calabash and African tulip are best.
Epiphytic ferns and cacti may also be grown in pots or on trees. Be sure plants have good drainage. Fertilize lightly every two to three months to keep plants in active growth. If plants are attached to trees, this is not required. Several brands of orchid fertilizer are available; these fertilizers are satisfactory for other air plants, as well. Disease and insect problems are few. If they do occur, local garden supply dealers have natural fungicides and insecticides to quickly control the situation.
Give the air plants a try in your garden. Start with easy types, such as tillandias, billbergias and aechmeas bromeliads. Staghorn and resurrection ferns are easy. Dendrobium, epidendrum and oncidium orchids thrive on a minimum of care. From there, go to the more exotic cattleya and moth orchids. Nurserymen can give you quite a few ideas on the types to grow and ways to grow them.
Bromeliads, cacti and succulents may do with very little water or fertilizer. Ferns and orchids should be watered every few days and fertilized about once a month.
Some folks worry that insects may breed in the center of bromeliads, especially mosquitoes. These insects can be more than a nuisance since one species of mosquito is even a vector for dengue fever. Natural insect control with lizards, amphibians and birds makes good sense. Bacillus thurengiensis is a natural control for mosquitoes as well. Encouraging mosquito eaters also makes the garden more interesting. Anole lizards, Jackson’s chameleons and geckos add to the tropical magic of our gardens. Many common birds feed on insects; including a bird feeder in the garden to attract them adds benefit and beauty.