How well do epiphytes roots grab on to silicone and coco fibre

[frogfreak]

Originally Posted by donstr

While not exactly as "smooth" as glass I've had a philodendron climb up the high gloss paint of my bathroom wall with its aerial roots. It went from the floor to around the 6 foot mark before my children tore it down one day. Ahhhh, children.

Hi

That's cool! You must have a big bathroom Kids kill me. Just when you think you've seen everything AAAAHH!

Glenn & Laura

[Geckoguy]

You could use GS or even styrofoam blocks carved up on the back wall and then cover it in the epiweb. That way you can have some different surface levels and have the epiweb for a really stable root base. Ive thought about trying this but I really like the way GS covered in peat moss looks.

[LZeppelin513]

Originally Posted by frogfreak

Hi

Thanks harry. How could a plants roots stick to glass. We really don't know much about epipytes. Can you explain this

Glenn & Laura

I believe that vanderwaals forces are what allow these to stick. It was a bit over my head in chem, but as I understood it, they were weak forces unlike covalent or ionic, resulting from the instantaneous dipole moments of the atoms in a molecule interacting with surrounding molecules. Basically weak intermolecular forces that, with enough surface area, can cause the observed sticky affect.

[frogparty]

I think that additionally the little root hairs seek out the surface imperfections and use them as anchor points

[frogfreak]

Originally Posted by Geckoguy

You could use GS or even styrofoam blocks carved up on the back wall and then cover it in the epiweb. That way you can have some different surface levels and have the epiweb for a really stable root base. Ive thought about trying this but I really like the way GS covered in peat moss looks.

HI

We're in the middle of doing 3 large vivs right now. All the GS/ silicine method. We do like the end result. We're looking at doing something different on the next one. Racking our brains to come up with something different and more user freindly Anyone out threre that's done something out of the norm?? We would love to see some pics.

Glenn & Laura

[frogparty]

cork bark. miimal silocone, spagnum and live moss for plants and to fill in cracks

[pl259]

Originally Posted by frogfreak

Hi

Just wondering if you use the pinning method how well the roots will grab on to GS, silicone, coco fibre. Do you have to have crevices of small pieces of would also? wondering if Epiweb is needed in spots.

Glenn & Laura

All the epiphytes I've used have climbed and rooted in the foam backgrounds that I've made. My backgrounds are just black pond foam with peat moss and stuff smashed into it. No silicone. Some of the broms that I've used send out these really sharp spike roots that pierce the peat and foam easily. You could also use tree fern in spots for a more natural look.

[frogfreak]

Originally Posted by frogparty

cork bark. miimal silocone, spagnum and live moss for plants and to fill in cracks

Hi

I like this viv a lot. I really like the all cork bark texture. I may give that one a shot. Thanks

Glenn & Laura

[frogfreak]

Originally Posted by pl259

All the epiphytes I've used have climbed and rooted in the foam backgrounds that I've made. My backgrounds are just black pond foam with peat moss and stuff smashed into it. No silicone. Some of the broms that I've used send out these really sharp spike roots that pierce the peat and foam easily. You could also use tree fern in spots for a more natural look.

Hi

Do you have any pics Eric? It would be appreciated if we could have a peek.

Glenn & Laura