A few days ago, Wellington City Council released this lovely, sharp webpage to encourage people to enhance their backyard biodiversity. It is a great interface that allows people to take as little or as much information as they need. I have personally enjoyed re-visiting it a few times to get more details about each topic... very motivating!
Tim from WCC suggested on the NZ Epiphyte Network FB page that adding epiphytes into your backyard would take this local biodiversity to the 'next level'.
Well why not? We've heard a little about garden epiphytes in this post but have not yet discussed the possible methods for adding to your own arboreal vista!
Tim from WCC suggested on the NZ Epiphyte Network FB page that adding epiphytes into your backyard would take this local biodiversity to the 'next level'.
Well why not? We've heard a little about garden epiphytes in this post but have not yet discussed the possible methods for adding to your own arboreal vista!
Imagine if you could have something this magnificent in your backyard? Maybe you already do and would like to share information about it? Photo: C. Kirby.
We have been thinking about the best way of planting epiphytes for a while. There are quite a few options and I know lots of people are trialling different ideas in their own backyards - please feel free to share them here!
In 2012 the University of Waikato set up a small trial of epiphyte reintroductions into Hamilton bush patches. Fiona, Rachel and myself planted tawhiri karo (Pittosporum cornifolium) and puka (Griselinia lucida) in a range of host trees using wire netting and sphagnum moss. The goal was to find out if they would survive and whether they would flower and fruit successfully and the methods were inspired by work of Bruce Burns & colleagues. Here are a few pictures of the process:
In 2012 the University of Waikato set up a small trial of epiphyte reintroductions into Hamilton bush patches. Fiona, Rachel and myself planted tawhiri karo (Pittosporum cornifolium) and puka (Griselinia lucida) in a range of host trees using wire netting and sphagnum moss. The goal was to find out if they would survive and whether they would flower and fruit successfully and the methods were inspired by work of Bruce Burns & colleagues. Here are a few pictures of the process:
Following advice from Bruce Burns, we used plants that were a few years old with good root formation. Photos: C. Kirby.
The plant roots were surrounded by sphagnum moss and wire netting which was nailed to trees (with permission). Photos: F. Clarkson, C. Kirby.
You might like to try something similar in your backyard. There isn't a lot of need to climb up high to place them but I would recommend looking for a spot that won't get too dry (minimal wind exposure) but also gets sunlight for at least part of the day. The Epiphyte Tree website has some more tips for planting epiphytes here.
Most of the planted epiphytes survived, this puka is doing very well at eye level in Hammond Bush. Photos: C. Kirby.
The tawhiri karo are doing well and many of them have flowered since originally planted. A great addition to our backyard biodiversity! Photos: C. Kirby.
Let's have a discussion about our experiences and options with epiphyte planting:
I look forward to your thoughts :)
- Have you successfully established epiphytic species?
- How did you do it? What worked well?
- Where can we (legally and sensibly) source plants or seeds?
I look forward to your thoughts :)
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