If I told you that some plants live in the air, would you believe me? Other plants latch onto host plants for survival – some do not even photosynthesize! Keep reading to learn a little more about the vast world of plants.
Epiphytes
Epiphytes are plants that grow on top of other plants. These “air plants” don’t have any roots in soil and survive on moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere. You may be familiar with these kinds of plants if you’ve seen Spanish moss, ball moss, lichen, bromeliads, and orchids. While epiphytes attach themselves to other plants, the do not directly harm the host plant. Removing epiphytes is not encouraged on a healthy host plant as they are harmless and will likely regrow.
Fun fact: unless moss has fallen to the ground, it is unlikely that it contains chiggers, or redbugs, a biting insect.
Parasite
Parasitic plants grow on top of other plants, too. The difference is that these plants burrow into the host plant to steal nutrients for survival. So, parasitic plants cannot survive independently from their host. Mistletoe, ghost pipe, and dodder are common parasitic plants in Florida. Parasitic plants can become harmful to their hosts. Parasitic plants weaken plant structure and leech water and nutrients leading to less yields, slower growth, increased susceptibility to disease, and death.
For help in identifying a potential parasitic plant, contact your local Extension office.
Have a question?
If you have any questions about gardening in Central Florida, please contact UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County at 352-518-0156. For more information on UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County Community Gardens, and how you can join one, visit http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/pasco/. Supervising Agent: Dr. Whitney Elmore.
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More resources
- UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County
- Dr. Whitney Elmore’s Podcast: Rooted in Florida
- Extension Connection: Florida Friendly Landscaping
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