Epiphytes on palm trunks - problems

[Gbarce]

I was going to post this on the companion plants thread but its a very particular problem that warrants an independent discussion.

epiphytes on palm trunks look like a good combination as I have seen in pictures but I cant seem to make it work for me.

Based on my experience the roots of ferns orchids and bromeliads seem to have a hard time clinging to smooth trunks such as that of Royal palms.

Another predicament is that falling debris like the leaf /branches of large palms crape off everything that's clinging on teh trunk on the way down.

I had a huge staghorn fern that already a huge beautiful shield - then one day teh coconuts fell and the leaves were obliterated!!

Any solutions to these problems?

[TikiRick]

Gene,

I have had the same experience with orchids and bromeliads. If the palm trunk is smooth (Ptychosperma, Roystonea, Veitchia, etc.) then the orchid, bromeliad has a difficult time taking hold. To compound the problem, if the palm is self cleaning (fronds drop on their own), then they scrape the companion plant on the way down.

I have found that by using a fabric mesh (or panty hose) to secure the roots to a trunk that is not smooth (coconut, sabal, washingtonia, etc.) it allows the roots to stay moist and secure. This will eventually cause the roots to attach to the trunk and secure itself. The mesh eventually rots away. With no falling fronds, it is more apt to stay put.

[junglegalfla]

thats the only thing panty hose is good for!    Evil stuff

[palmmermaid]

Couldn't agree more!  A man must have invented the things!

Anyway, they are good for attaching plants to trees and fences.

I saw orchids attached to palms down at RF Orchids in Homestead.  He used a piece of shade cloth or groundcover to make a sack for the orchid, filled it with moss and wrapped it all around the trunk.  If your tree is leaning, all the better.  You can attach the orchid so that it is on the sheltered side of the trunk.

[Justin]

I tried putting orchids in the "boots" leftover from Butia fronds.  It fit easily, and on a large Butia there could be dozens of different orchids.

My issue was that snails ate all the orchids.  Other than that, everything seemed to work fine - light, water, etc.

[Don Little]

(TikiRick @ Jun. 28 2007,12:59)

QUOTE

I have found that by using a fabric mesh (or panty hose) to secure the roots to a trunk that is not smooth (coconut, sabal, washingtonia, etc.) it allows the roots to stay moist and secure. This will eventually cause the roots to attach to the trunk and secure itself. The mesh eventually rots away. With no falling fronds, it is more apt to stay put.

Rick,

How do you use the pantyhose to secure the plants to the roots as I would like to attatch one of my stags to a queen palm of mine  short of nailing a basket to the trunk I haven't figured the best way to go about it.  A pic would even be better on how to if you have one.

Thanks,

Don

[Gbarce]

This is the Platecyrium Grande that is attached to a coconut tree that get obliterated every time the nuts drop.  There are certain times in the year that the shield are really gorgeous reaching maybe 5 feet in diameter in spread. but it doesnt last long.

The left shield starting up again but the old one was torn apart.

The coconut leaves falling also cause damage.

[Gbarce]

closer view

[Gbarce]

Orchids that get dislodged  everytime a royal palm leaf falls.

[Phil]

I've had staghorns on a few King Palms for years.  They are doing fine and the falling leafbases never seem to hit or damage them.  I begin with a little moss and nylon fishing line to attach them when small.  The line is attached to a few galvanized nails pounded into the trunk.

Phil

[TikiRick]

Don,

I make a "pocket" out of the widest part of the pantyhose, pack some damp spaghnum moss into it, place your orchid, fern, etc against the trunk, then put the pantyhose and moss overtop of it. Use large cable ties to secure it all to the palm trunk. You can find these large 14" cable ties in the electrical section of HD or Lowe's. Get the largest type and make certain it is the type that is not degraded by UV light. I found that they last long enough without degrading, and giving the roots an opportunity to catch. It will not damage the palm trunk....AS LONG AS YOU KEEP AN EYE ON IT...ONCE THE ROOTS TAKE HOLD, CUT THE CABLE TIE OFF. IT CAN STRANGLE THE PALM AND YOU WILL END UP WITH A PERMANENT INDENTED RING IF YOU DON'T REMOVE IT IN TIME (ABOUT 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR).

[FossilNypa]

I don't know how these epiphytes can grow naturally and so extensively around those smooth trunks of possible Iriartea palms.   Maybe there are some species of bromeliads and orchids whose roots are adapted to smooth trunks.

[garrin]

I use thin nylon fishing line to tie orchids on my palm trunks.  By the time the roots have taken hold the fishing line either stretches with the trunk and breaks off or more usually just disintegrates from the sunlight exposure.  I try to put my orchids on the palms which keep some flower or seed spikes below the frond bases.  These usually deflect falling leaf bases or corwnshafts away from the trunk before they hit the orchid.  The difficult solution is to keep watch and manually remove the leaves just before they fall naturally.  I am reaching the limit of my pole pruner at the top of my extension ladder with some of the palms which can equal backaches and much swearing during the removal process.

[Gaston in Argentina]

In wild theres some epyphitic that are addapted to grow mostly in palms trunks, some southamerican Tillandsias by example.-

Epyphitic preffer some trunks of some tree species but not another ones, and palms are always in the list.-

I reccomend the Rhipsalis sp. (an epyphitic cactus) for palms trunks trunks also with with orchids, and some build a nice flowers.-

[Kris]

Dear Friends  

on numerious occasions i have pointed out that Coconut trees,

royal palms are not good for house gardens since the dried leaf fronds & dried coconuts keep falling off breaking the plants,pots and making dents in cars body work and also in

few cases breaking the wind shield glass of vehicles !

love,

Kris  

[Matt in SD]

I have a Ptychosperma that is covered with orchids and I've actually found the roots attach very well.  I tied them on with nylon fishing line (12 lb. test) and some sphagnum moss.  When you mount orchids you have to orient them so that the newest growth point is basically smashed onto the trunk, otherwise the new roots will not find the trunk.  The trunk of this particular Ptychsperma is not too smooth though.  I have to say I've noticed that orchis roots attach much better to certain types of trees/rocks etc... and it seems unpredictablt to me. It's not just the texture.

Justin, snails are a pain, they love the orchid buds just before they open.  Just sprinkle sluggo at the bottom of the plants that have the orchids, you can put the sluggo right onto the orchids as well.

Matt

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Be careful not to use too much spaghum moss or you will get a split in the trunk like I did on my foxtail...  The orchid did not last very long as it was positioned in a place that I believe was just a bit too exposed for orchids...  way too windy.  I relocated the orchid about a year ago to a very well protected lagustrum (sp.?) and it is thriving with huge new green roots!  All three of my foxtails had orchids tied to them and none took root....  Just too windy I guess?

O yeah, I affixed the orchids with some very thin hemp twine...  keepin it natural! ::