It takes patience to grow

After years of experimenting with soil and clay ball drainage, I decided to try using false bottoms made from pond filter foam. I cover the foam with a thin layer (0.5 - 2 cm) of aquarium gravel, mixing sizes between 3-6 mm and 1-2 mm. In spots where I want plants to grow, I add some fine bark, which also provides a nice substrate for isopods and springtails. Finally I cover it all with dried tropical leaves.

Fittonia verschaffeltii 'Fortissimo'

Besides attaching epiphyte plants to the branches, I plant climbers, begonias, and other creeping plants in the substrate.

It takes a few weeks for the plants to start growing, but they eventually root into the gravel and find moisture in the filter foam.

False bottom of pond filter foam and gravel

The foam stays moist, with about 1 cm of standing water in 3 cm thick foam and around 2 cm of water in 5 cm thick foam.

So, it definitely requires some patience to see growth, but once it starts, everything really begins to flourish.

Here are some plants that successfully grow in the false bottom setup I described above.