Is this really something I need to know, I hear you ask. Well actually yes, although I am sure many would argue the case. You see, by understanding our plants natural habitat, we understand their ‘simple’ needs and they are simple; it’s us humans that tend to over complicate their care!
Most of us know already that a vast number of houseplants seem to thrive in our naturally warm and humid bathrooms (if we are fortunate enough). Well, that’s no surprise when you think that they are quite often native to the tropical rainforests of Asia and Central and South America. Obvious when you think about it. But here’s the thing, our bathrooms and kitchens and even purpose-built growing cabinets, as much as we try, are not tropical rainforests. With exceptions of course, because there are always exceptions, but overall, these contrived environments that we so proudly create for our beloved greenery tend to lack something very important -that being both the opportunity and choice to grow as epiphytes as they would in their natural habitat.
Allow me to quickly explain epiphytes for those that don’t already know. The word “epiphyte” translates directly from Greek as “upon plant” (epi meaning “upon” and “phyte” meaning plant). Now let’s rewind approximately 500 million years, when the transition from algae to land plants began with freshwater algae developing features enabling it to survive out of water. Fast forward a couple of million years and we now have mosses, lichen and tiny little plants, all products of organisms adapting to a life on land. Growing on rocks and stone, these organisms were known as lithophytes (“litho” meaning stone or rock, and again, “phyte” meaning plant) which eventually (fast forward a few million years) would cause the rocks to break down and dissolve. We now have soil!
Plants now have nice, deep, rich, fertile soil in which to grow big and strong and reproduction would have been rapid. Very quickly, (I say quickly, another few million years) earth had become a botanical haven, so much so that plants now had to develop competitive strategies to survive. Roots firmly fixed to the ground and heads facing up towards the sun simply would not cut it in this dogwood eat dogwood world. You must grow taller than your neighbours and have larger leaves in which to absorb the sun’s rays, if you wanted to survive in this competitive environment. But if you weren’t a large leaved plant or simply did not have the genetic composition to outgrow your neighbours at ground level then again, your ability to adapt would be your only hope of survival.
Now remember, these plants are preadapted to living on stones and rocks and their ability to survive was very much dependant on their capability to evolve and adapt to their surroundings. So, what does every rainforest have in abundance? Yes, trees of course! Starting with the spores of ferns finding their way to the understories of trees, plants began to survive quite happily, and still do to this day, with their roots happily exposed to the elements, just like they were millions of years ago, used only to grip their host. These versatile organisms are now capable of obtaining their nutrient and moisture needs from the humidity in the air. Closer to the sun yet protected by the trees canopies they had access to ample light without risk of scorching.
Now a substantial proportion of our well-known houseplants are epiphytes. Ranging from Orchids to bromeliads, Philodendrons to Anthuriums, Monsteras and of course ferns!
But here’s the thing. When we buy an epiphytical houseplant from a nursery or garden centre, we are often neglected to be informed of its indigenous epiphytical growing habit. Except for some Tillandsia’s and Orchids, we are more likely than not to be sold these plants in soil. Whilst that is not a problem, the care instructions provided with these plants often is. You see, the end goal for these plants is to survive and reproduce, never, at any point would that entail greed. In fact, the complete opposite. For millions of years their ability to survive has been centred around getting by on the bare minimum. So, what do we do? Throw every element known to man at them. Soil, sun water, nutrients, humidity, wow! Poor things, the botanical equivalent of giving a baby 3 roast dinners a day! We don’t do it intentionally, of course not, we’re just doing what we are told. What we should be told is this; rather than the generic and vague instructions we typically receive we would be much better informed if we were simply told of the plant’s origin, including epiphytical habitat, if appropriate. A plant that has spent millions of years adapting from obtaining moisture from the air, to obtaining moisture from its roots and then back to obtaining moisture in the air, will never want both, at the same time, (unless of course we are talking bog plants, you see, there are always exceptions) this is something that these plants have never evolved to achieve. You see, these organisms are far better than us humans at surviving. Well, they must be, because they are still here and I imagine, will be long after us. There are even plants in Chernobyl that have not just learnt to survive in their radioactive environment (thank you humans) but they are now even reported to be thriving, through the ability to adapt to their surroundings! (Don’t worry, we will be talking more about this in the not-so-distant future).
If I can just give you an example, and I use this one as it is by far the most common, sorry tale I hear of a plants demise. The Peperomia prostrata, common name; String of Turtles. A great example of an epiphyte. Small leaves, thin, prostrate stems. This plant would not have stood a chance if unable to survive as an epiphyte. Yet, the most common care instructions for this plant are to provide your plant with humidity, bright, indirect light and water when the top of the soil begins to dry. Whilst humidity is very beneficial it would quickly become ‘sick’ if you were also to follow the advice of ‘watering the soil’. The stomata in the leaves simply cannot keep up with the job of regulating the plants moisture needs and as a result the plant will drown. That is not to say that you can only keep a Peperomia prostrata in a humid environment, on the contrary, they will survive happily in a non humid environment, and it is only then that you would be required to provide moisture to the roots. You see, one or the other. Simple!
I don’t know about you, but the irony is certainly not lost on me that it is not actually until plants get into the hands of humans, you know, the species with the largest brains, that their health and longevity is at the greatest risk!