Tillandsia grow and care – epiphyte leaf plant of the genus Tillandsia also known as Air plant or Sky plant, Tillandsia perennial evergreen used as ornamental plant, can grow in mediterranean, subtropics, desert climate or indoor as houseplant and growing in hardiness zone 10b+, when grow the plants in cold climate better to keep it in the winter not next to the window.
Tillandsia leaves (Air plant)
Leaves color green, purple, pink, red, gray, yellow or orange, mostly the colors mix with green-gray, and in some species change next to the bloom area to light colors, the leaves can be like hair (Spanish moss), linear and some can be with like bulb in the bottom, leaves absorb moisture from the rain or humidity.
Bracts color yellow, pink, orange, green, red or more than one color (not all the spices have bracts).
Flower color purple, yellow or white in roll shape or with 3 petals and small some, one stigma and three stamens, each plant bloom once in life, it takes few years to bloom.
Tillandsia for sale -Air plant Seeds or Plants to Buy
Hang on, or sit on location, watering by spray or washing, more than 10C, watering depend on the weather in the summer once a week, in hot location need twice and also depend on the location, humidity, indoor or outdoor, in winter need once a week or every two weeks, in mild winter or not at all in wet winters, more than 3C, soft water (rain water or clean),
How to care: Fertilizer need to be few times a year and fertilize the plant in spray and in cold winter better not to put fertilizers
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seedling / Seed (it’s not easy to start from seeds / Vegetative reproduction (daughter plants)
How to propagate: Propagation it’s to separate daughter plants from the mother after few leaves that grow it’s possible to separate but better in the spring, need to treat the same as fully mature plant and when find location try not to move it too much.
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction? Yes in order to get the same cultivars and it’s hard to start from seeds
Difficulties or problems when growing: Sensitive to hard water
Planting season: All year, if planted outside better to plant it in the spring to summer
How to plant: Most of the species need to sit on location without moving and consider to connect them as the plant hang on object like cork
Pests and diseases: Aphids, fungal, slugs, snails,
Pruning season: All year
How to prune: Dead and infected leaves
Size of the plant: 5-15cm, 2-6 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition: Slow growing
Water requirement: Small amount of water, spray on the plant or wash the plant, after put water need to put the plant in in a place that it can dry
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Half Shade / Full Shade with light
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? Yes
How to grow indoors Choose location with enough light and even with little sun, need to be aware that the plant need to be far away from ventilators, heater and air conditions, possible to grow it in the bathroom, be aware to that because of the high humidity need to use less water.
How to clean: Because it’s impossible use spray for cleaning it’s destroy the plant, need to wash it under water, after this it’s important to let it dry much more that regular watering.
Growing is also possible in a pot planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes but not to bury it in the sand just as location to lean on, except Tillandsia cyanea, that can grow in soil
Blooming information
Bloom season: Most of the year, flowers bloom only when the plant is full grown it takes few years, after blooming the plant will die
General information about the flower: Purple, yellow or white in roll shape or with 3 petals and small some, one stigma and three stamens, each plant bloom once in life, it takes few years to bloom.
Tillandsia species
Tillandsia bermejoensis – Flowers color is purple violet. Leaves color is green to gray. Grows up to 10 to 35cm (4 to 14 inches).
Tillandsia Bulbosa – Leaves color is green, purple, pink and red. Mostly the colors are mixed with green-gray. Flowers color is purple. Grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
Tillandsia circinata – Leaves color is green with white. Flowers color is purple. Grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
Tillandsia cyanea – Leaves color is green. Flowers color is purple-violet. Grows up to 10 to 35cm (4 to 14 inches).
Tillandsia diaguitensis – Leaves color is green with white. Flowers color is yellow or white. Grows up to 5 to 30cm (2 to 12 inches).
Tillandsia Fasciculata – Leaves color is grey-green. Bracts color is yellow, pink, orange, green, red or more than one color. Flowers color is purple. Grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
Tillandsia ionantha – Leaves color is green, purple, pink, red, gray, yellow or orange, mostly the colors mix with green-gray. Flowers color is purple or white. Grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
Tillandsia ionantha rubra – Leaves color is green-gray with pink and red. Flowers color is purple or white. Grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
Tillandsia juncea – Leaves color is green. Flowers color is purple violet. Grows up to 10 to 35cm (4 to 14 inches).
Tillandsia lautneri – Leaves color ois green, pink, red, yellow or orange, the leaves green the color changes next to the bloom area to light colors. Flowers color is purple. Grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
Tillandsia leonamiana – Leaves color is green to gray, flowers color is purple violet, grows up to 10 to 35cm (4 to 14 inches).
Tillandsia schiedeana – Leaves color is green to gray, Flowers color is purple violet, grows up to 10 to 35cm (4 to 14 inches).
Tillandsia Tricolor Melanocrater – Leaves color is green, pink, red or orange, mostly the colors mix with green-gray. Bracts color yellow, pink, orange, green, red or more than one color. Flowers color is purple, grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
Tillandsia Xerographica – Leaves color is green. Bracts color is yellow, orange, green, red mostly more than one color. Flowers color is purple violet, grows up to 5 to 15cm (2 to 6 inches).
How to grow Tillandsia from seed
Sowing requirement: Better to use fresh seeds and not more than 2 month old, use peat moss (sphagnum soil), high humidity, light moist soil, 25-30C (77-86F) in the day and colder in the night, a lot of light
Saving and care seeds until sowing: Dry and dark location
Sowing season: End of spring to early autumn
How to plant: Put the seeds in sphagnum soil and keep it moist
Planting spacing: 3*2cm (1.5*1 inch)
Depth of Sowing: On the soil
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil with high humidity
Watering requires for Seeds: Small amount of water (do not over water
Germination time: 1-2 month
Condition of seedling: The same as fully mature plant and need to transplant them to location without algae
