Gardening: The healing power of old man’s beard

The old man’s beard, which is sometimes also called the Spanish Moss is a member of the bromeliad family. 

Diana Mbabaali, a gardener says this plant is a long, lacy, greenish lichen that grows on tree trunks and branches. 

“The old man’s beard does not only beautify your flower garden but is medicinal and an excellent gauge of environmental pollution. It is a strong antibiotic used to prevent infections and decays such as gangrene,” Mbabaali says. 

Old man's beard hanging on other plants.

According to her, the old man’s beard can be applied on external wounds by first steaming and drying it into powder form. 

Joan Kizza, another gardener says the old man’s beard is an excellent gauge of environmental pollution. 

It uses its lichen property to damage sulfur dioxide and acid rain by burning fossil fuels that may be in the environment, hence making it free from pollution.

Growth tips and care 

Kizza says the old man's beard is one of the easiest plants to grow because it doesn’t need watering, fertilisers or weeding. 

“This plant can grow from seeds which develop after the tiny green flowers are pollinated and are typically spread by wind-blown fragments or from rubbles incorporated in birds’ nests. Although it has no roots, it can also be grown by taking a small portion of it from a fully-grown plant and hanging it on a tree trunk. It can be hung on strings under trees which are later suspended on tree trunks or thrown on short plants and hedges where it needs to be supported. The best spot for it is under trees, in a semi-shaded position,” Kizza says. 

She adds that the plant is self-fertile and can establish a new population because it has an extremely high growth rate compared to most indigenous vegetation. 

As it grows, the wind can break it off, hence falling onto another branch and growing there. 

These positions should be semi-shaded because the old man’s beard survives on air and gets its nutrients and water from rainfall. 

The bird droppings and dusts are also a good source for this plant to survive, Kizza says.

 Common pests

Mbabaali says adult gall mites attack the old man's beard by sucking out plant juices and creating tumour-like galls on leaves and shoots. 

These mites do not fly but melt in the wind, which often leads to the death of that part of the plant. Therefore, floral pesticides should be used to prevent this. 

Disadvantages of the old man’s beard plant

Mbabaali says although the old man’s beard is medicinal and has environmental benefits, it’s a vigorous climber which pokes through the bare branches of neighbouring trees and shrubs, hence making it a bad plant for small gardens. 

She says similar to other vines, the old man's beard prevents trees and bushes from getting sunlight and adds considerable weight to trees, eventually weakening and even killing supporting trees and bushes. 

“After the tree dies, the old man's beard continues to grow, creating dense thickets of growth. Young plants can grow up to six feet a year and once established, vines can completely cover existing vegetation. The airborne seeds allow this vine to spread quickly to new locations,” Mbabaali says.