Plants from a science fiction movie?

I was talking to a banker friend in my quest for collectors and their collectibles. I’ve come to realize that it’s not that easy to find people who collect rare objects, much less living objects. Jonathan came up with “wow” photographs posted on Facebook. I initially thought they were giant props from a science fiction movie. After a second and third look, I was quite certain they were plants made out of plastic or silk. Upon closer scrutiny I noticed the velvety surface beneath the leaves; then he broke the news to me: “Nope, they’re for real. My friend collects these air plants.”

Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. “I had no space and at that time BF Homes had no water!” is how Atty. Raymond Gomez explains his unique collection. “No problem, I’ll find something that needs neither space nor water.” Gomez, or Bom as we fondly call him, decided he would create a garden regardless of constraints. Whereas we normally associate gardening with fertile soil and abundant water, his garden is quite contrary.

A lawyer by profession, and married to Rhia, a doctor of nuclear medicine, they have two wonderful children, Gabby and Luis.

Growing up, Bom was not much of a plant lover. “I didn’t think I had a green thumb,” he says. Today, his home in Paranaque is a testament to what he thought he wasn’t.

When they moved to their home in Paranaque, they had a small space for a garden yet he was determined to completely landscape the perimeter of their home. “The landscaper was asking too much for his services and plant requirements,” so right then and there Gomez decided to take the matter into his own hands.

At that time, water was hard to come by in their village so he went on Google. “I started looking for plants that were low maintenance, requiring very little care and water and no soil. And I came across air plants,” says this attorney.

“I started collecting in 2008 when we moved to our present house. I wanted to be surrounded by plants that were drought-tolerant and easy to maintain — halaman ng tamad (plants for the lazy),” according to Gomez. “I got extremely interested in Tillandsias while doing my research.” These are unique in the sense that they are the only plants considered to be true “air plants.” Other epiphytes, like orchids, still absorb moisture and nutrients through their roots. Tillandsias don’t need roots to survive because they absorb moisture and nutrients through trichomes — hair-like growth or appendages found on plants.

Bom certainly knows his air plants.

“I was also attracted to the different designs and composition of air plants which are literally out of this world. Many species look like they came from outer space,” he adds.

Now a gardener at heart, Bom finds gardening very relaxing. “I’m a busy person so when I find some free time, I look forward to gardening. It’s a world of its own and it’s where I always find myself when I want to ‘lose’ myself. However, it’s not all fun especially if a plant that’s very dear to me dies,” explains Bom.

One of the challenges he faced was stray cats. “They jump from my fence to the nets I use to protect the plants from direct sunlight.” The plants would fall and leaves would break. “I tried everything to dissuade the cats from invading my garden including the use of pepper and chili powder on the fences.” Obviously, it didn’t work. So Bom had to somehow round up the cats and deposit them some distance away from his garden. He’s been lucky so far: the cats haven’t returned.

Bom’s children somehow did not share his love of air plants. Once, he said to them, “Look at this,” and they feigned interest just to shut him up, Bom says. That was when he found a colony of ants inside one of the plants. He told his son about the amazing, mutual and symbiotic relationship between the plant and the ants — the plant protected the ants while the ants pollinated the plant. “Oh, nice,” his son said, and after that, “Wala na.”

Bom is surrounded by over 200 species, forms and hybrids of air plants. Not bad for someone who started collecting only nine years ago.

He has prehistoric plants that are as big as a human head called Cycads. “These are even older than dinosaurs,” according to Bom. And air plants are not always cheap — some rare species can run up to six figures.

Air plants thrive in a wide variety of habitats. Desert species can be quite delicate and, ironically, require high maintenance: a lot of sun, though not water. For plants like these, Bom waters them only every two weeks.

“I say ‘high maintenance’ because I hang them close to the eaves to shield them from the rain but on the other hand they need a lot of sun.” That’s a tough balancing act. Rainforest species need high humidity and constant rain. They will burn under a full sun, so he places them under eaves as well. Then he needs to bring them out to get more rain. So much for low maintenance.

Bom says it’s quite easy to tell where each plant is from by their color. White, gray and pale green ones are from the arid desert areas and the darker green ones are from the rainforest.

The good thing about air plants is you need not lift heavy pots to move them around and give them the sun or rain that they need.

Asked if he has any favorite among this collection, Bom gamely gushes about his 35-year-old alien-looking Tillandsia duratii.  

Unfortunately, there are very few air plants available in the Philippines. Tillandsias can be found in the southern part of the US, the Caribbean and South America. He mostly imports them or brings them back from his travels. “More often I buy from or barter with other collectors. There’s a small group of air plant collectors here in the Philippines,” added Bom. He laments that air plants are not very popular here because they have no attractive-cut flowers and lush foliage to arrange in a vase, unlike “traditional plants.”

What does he intend to do with his collection? “I haven’t really thought about it. Sometimes, I give them away to close family and friends. I want to educate people and get them interested in the wonderful world of air plants.”

He is hopeful that the number of air plant enthusiasts will increase as home lots have become less affordable and the only way to go is up. Condominiums and townhouse dwellers need not fear! They thrive without soil, fertilizers and pesticides. All they need are hooks, wires, sunshine, air and very little water.

Those who have a deep-rooted fondness for the unusual and the surreal can find an air plant garden very fulfilling. Just a word of caution: since they are extremely slow growing, one needs tubs and tubs of patience and love — the very ingredients that got Bom started, kept him growing and has kept him wrapped up in the world of air plants.

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Email the author at nikkicoseteng2017@gmail.com or text +63997-433-7154.