Shingle plants are gaining popularity among indoor gardeners due to their unique growth habit and striking appearance. They earn their name from their tendency to press their leaves flat against a surface as they climb, much like shingles on a roof. This distinctive aesthetic makes them sought after for creative home displays, adding an exotic touch to indoor spaces.
Understanding Shingle Plant Growth
Shingle plants exhibit a unique growth habit where their foliage adheres closely to vertical surfaces. This “shingling” is an adaptation common among hemi-epiphytic plants from tropical rainforests. Hemi-epiphytes start rooted in soil, then climb trees, developing aerial roots that attach to the host surface and absorb nutrients from the air and rain. These roots emerge along the stems, gripping supports and allowing the plant to ascend. This pattern provides physical support and positions leaves to maximize light absorption in their native, often shaded, forest environments, creating an overlapping leaf arrangement.
Popular Shingle Plant Varieties
Several species showcase the shingling habit, each with distinct foliage for indoor displays. Monstera dubia exhibits small, heart-shaped juvenile leaves with silver variegation that lie flat against a support. As it matures, its leaves grow larger and develop fenestrations (holes or splits), sometimes losing their shingling nature.
Another popular shingle plant is Rhaphidophora hayi, known for popularizing the trend. It features solid, dark green, oval-shaped leaves that remain relatively small. Rhaphidophora cryptantha is similar in size and shape to R. hayi but has intricate silver veins across its dark green, velvety leaves. Both maintain their shingling habit throughout their lives, making them ideal for consistent vertical coverage.
Dischidia species also offer shingling characteristics. Dischidia nummularia, or String of Nickels, has small, round, coin-like leaves that are thick and succulent, forming dense masses as they creep. Its cascading trails make it versatile for displays. Dischidia ruscifolia, or Million Hearts, is another popular choice, featuring small, heart-shaped leaves that grow densely along its stems, creating a sprawling effect. These Dischidia varieties are epiphytic, growing on other plants or rocks and deriving moisture and nutrients from the air.
Creative Ways to Display Shingle Plants
The unique growth pattern of shingle plants allows for creative indoor displays. Mounting them on boards or plaques is a popular method highlighting their shingling habit. This involves securing the plant onto wood, cork bark, or a specialized moss board, often using sphagnum moss and string until aerial roots attach. The leaves then press flat against the surface, creating living wall art.
Terrariums and vivariums provide an ideal environment for many shingle plants, especially juveniles, due to high humidity and stable conditions. Plants can be trained to climb back walls or decorative elements, adding vertical interest and a lush, miniature jungle look. Their ability to cling to surfaces makes them excellent for creating dynamic landscapes inside glass enclosures.
Utilizing trellises and moss poles is effective for encouraging shingling growth. These supports provide a porous surface for aerial roots to grip, allowing the plant to ascend and display its leaf arrangement. For moss poles, damp sphagnum moss wrapped around a central support offers a moist, stable climbing medium, promoting robust growth. Training stems gently against the support with clips or soft ties guides growth until self-adhesion.
Beyond traditional mounts, shingle plants integrate into innovative installations. Miniature living walls can feature shingle plants as a textural element, covering surfaces. Custom-built structures or artistic displays can be enhanced by these plants, making their climbing tendencies a focal point. Their adaptability to various vertical supports makes them versatile for adding botanical artistry indoors.
Essential Care for Shingle Plants
Providing the right environmental conditions is important for shingle plant health and growth. Most varieties thrive in bright, indirect light, mimicking their natural habitat. Direct or harsh afternoon sun can scorch delicate leaves, causing discoloration or damage. If natural light is insufficient, supplemental artificial grow lights provide illumination.
High humidity is a key factor for these tropical plants; levels above 60% benefit growth and root attachment. Placing plants on pebble trays with water, using a room humidifier, or grouping plants together creates a humid microclimate. While shingle plants appreciate consistent moisture, their watering needs vary by whether they are potted or mounted. Potted plants need watering when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry, ensuring moisture without waterlogging to prevent root rot. Mounted plants, especially on moss boards, may require more frequent, sometimes daily, watering as moss dries quickly.
The choice of substrate or mounting medium is important. For potted shingle plants, a well-draining, chunky soil mix rich in organic matter is preferred, incorporating horticultural charcoal, orchid bark, perlite, or coco coir. This mimics their native aerated conditions. When mounted, sphagnum moss or cork bark provides a surface for aerial roots to attach. Fertilization should be done during the growing season (spring and summer) using a general-purpose liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength, usually monthly. Pruning is minimal, primarily to manage size, remove yellowing or dead leaves, or encourage bushier growth if leggy without support.