Bleddyn's Topical Tip

... All too often aerial rooting climbers are propagated from already climbing shoots, little wonder they have difficulty adapting to rooting into our gardens. We always grow our mother plants along the ground to promote terrestrial growth. Just look at common ivy in any forest for a comparison, typically it will creep along the ground in terrestrial mode before climbing a host tree. Soon changing its growth habit as it ascends a host tree.

When planting out we recommend that the plants are laid down parallel (15cm away) to the wall or host tree, burying the already grown roots from its container. It also helps to bury some of the main stem, just ensuring the new growth is protruding from the ground. This will promote terrestrial rooting much sooner, thus availing far more energy for the plant to grow. It can be remarkable how soon the new shoots creep along the ground and find its host, especially if the soil if fertile, humus rich and moist.

Our experience using this method has saved on average about 3 years in establishing such aerial climbing plants. Giving them a sound fixing to the wall from the very base, rather than being shuffled by every frustrating gust of wind rasping the soft new aerial roots.