One of the fun parts of growing Tillandsias, since they don’t grow in a pot of soil, is that you can be creative in how you display them! Three main things Tillandsia xerographica needs are good air circulation, water, and light. And since they seem to be a good option for those of us with limited space, I thought I'd share some of the great Tillandsia-related stuff I've seen online. 6 Ways to Mash-Up Bikes and Gardens, 8 'Shower Plants' That Want to Live in Your Bathroom, 15 Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality, 5 Simple Ways to Create a DIY Living Wall, The Benefits of Grouping Houseplants Together, How to Help Succulents Survive Winter Indoors, How to Get the Most Out of a Tiny Garden Space, this project on Rue LaLa about making your own tiny Tillandsia planters from wine corks. I'm not sure about crazy glue. Method 2:  Another way to water your Tillandsias is soak the plant while holding it under a running faucet until every leaf is wet. Well first of all, don’t even think about placing your Tillandsias in a bowl on a table that is away from any window. Here’s how to water an air plant: On the other hand, if you have any Tillandsia that are just dried out, but not dead, you can easily revive them. This video from Urban Dirt TV is full of useful tips for growing air plants: I came across this project on Rue LaLa about making your own tiny Tillandsia planters from wine corks. A little morning sunshine will serve it well. If you would like to learn how I mounted the Tillandsias above, check out my YouTube video below! Just don’t forget to take it out the next day! Tillandsia cyanea, or Pink Quill Plant, is an epiphyte like its now-trendy air plant cousins (which we sell on our website by the way) but this one can grow in a fast-draining mix. The leaves have brown at the tips. Of course this goes for loose Tillandsias that are not mounted on anything. ress_js("//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=3727937f-fd2d-4a8e-aac6-737ec7e1cc2a"); Ohio Tropics (Raffaele Di Lallo) is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Air Plants or Tillandsia (till-LAND-zee-uh) grow without soil and make for incredible living sculptures in any medium to bright light indoor space. Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Tillandsia do not use their roots for nutrients, just as an anchor! Tillandsia are such a fascinating groups of plants! Brown patches on the leaves may indicate that it got too much sun. You can email me a photo if you'd like and I can try and help. In order to understand the basics of growing air plants, let’s take a look first at where and how air plants, or Tillandsia, grow in nature. An Eastern exposure is probably better. I normally don’t like to tell people how often to water plants, but for Tillandsias, I can say that I soak most of mine once a week. ... Products like Miracle-Gro can be used but are formulated for plants that grow in soil which utilize the bacteria, etc. Also, check out my shop on Amazon for all your houseplant care needs:OHIO TROPICS PLANT CARE STOREFRONT. West and South would work as well, but many Tillandsias will burn if they receive too much sun. It is one of the easier going Tillandsias, but it does enjoy more light than most Tillandsias. There are 3 main methods of watering your Tillandsias. I soak mine all the time and they thrive. thank you ohiotropics for giving me wonderful information. Due to their epiphytic way of life these plants will not grow in soil, but live on the branches of trees, in deserts and on other substrates that will not be saturated with water for very long. Light should be your number one concern when growing any plant. While they are called "air plants" as they do not require soil and take their nutrients from the air, they still need water, nutrients, and light to survive. Tillandsia in Nature. North windows will probably work as well, provided that there are no big obstructions outdoors, such as trees. If you don't have a bright window, you can also grow Tillandsia under a grow light. For an air plant that has suffered dehydration, place it in a bowl of tepid or room temperature water, and let it soak for a few hours. They may get some sun, but it is filtered sun. I have them in a clear plastic bowl that I got from a salad at the grocery store. Just don’t forget to water it though! The most important considerations when cultivating airplants are their requirements for air, light, water and warmth. Especially since you live in Florida and is humid there. What am I doing wrong? You’ll know when it needs water because the leaves will get more and more curly. But remember, the warmer it is and the more light they get, the more water they will use up and need. Place your plants within 2 or 3 feet at the most of a window, as long as they are not touching the window. for you to pick from. where can I get similar wooden thing for mounting? Tillandsia needs bright, indirect light. The Streptophylla variety is also called the "Shirley Temple" because of its characteristically curly leaves. Their natural habitat can vary from rainforests, mountains and even deserts mainly throughout Central and South America. 3 talking about this. can we use 'crazy glue' for this purpose? If it rains then they night get some blown on them. First let me tell you what will NOT work. Click HERE to read that post. It doesn’t rain every day. I need more details to help you. Tillandsiahave leaves coated in specialised water-absorbent cells called trichomes which in some species are so dense they give the plants a silvery, frosted appearance. These special fertilizers do not contain urea nitrogen, which air plants cannot use. At best, if there are multiple air plants attached together, remove any of the rotted ones and separate any of the remaining ones that are still alive. It is not green nor brown. Tillandsia is a species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants commonly called 'airplants'. Each plant will flower once in its lifetime, remember that each pup is a plant and it will bloom. Fertilize air plants once or twice a month with a water-soluble orchid or tillandsia fertilizer, following package instructions for dilution. This plant needs no soil to grow and gets its nourishment from the air. Not being a houseplant person (because I have this bad habit of killing them...) I didn't think much of it. The drier the air, the more curls th Remember, every time you water an air plant, you MUST shake excess water out in order to avoid rotting. They offer an exotic look, showy blooms, entrancing fragrances, and limitless arrangement possibilities. In these cases, you may need to filter the sun with a sheer curtain or blinds. This is one of my favorite Tillandsias! These unique epiphytes from tropical rain forests are the perfect low-maintenance plant for the home or office. Tillandsia xerographica originates from the middle part of the American continent, mostly from Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Phone (808) 286-9597. I think this is one houseplant even I can keep alive and happy! Tillandsia is the largest genus in the bromeliad family, accounting for approximately 550 of the over 2,500 species of bromeliads. I have some placed in little ceramic hands, and others I have set gently in a pot (with no soil of course…). She is the author of two books, including “Edible Gardening for the Midwest.”, Video: Urban Dirt TV on Growing Tillandsia, Project: Make Your Own Tiny Tillandsia Planters, 16 Houseplants That Are Almost Impossible to Kill, 10 Houseplants That Aren't Your Usual Houseplants, Explore the Wide and Wonderful World of Epiphytes, "Mobile Gardening," the Hottest New Trend? Air plants are unique plants that survive on air. […] Guzmania Plant Care Tips - Joy Us Garden says: 12/04/2019 at 4:45 pm […] I do love them that much. I soak approx. So, if you (like me) have been considering getting a Tillandsia or ten (I can see this becoming a bit of an addiction) of your own, I hope this information has been helpful. After they flower, they will slowly decline and die. Pity the poor tillandsia. You’ll need to give it a longer soak in water. The silvery color is normal. Tillandsias don't need a soil/substrate because of their unique specialized structures called "trichomes." Keep an eye on it. Some are aerophytes , which have a minimal root system and grow on shifting desert soil. The leaves seem silver or frosted. Bromeliad Tillandsia have a life cycle of one plant growing to maturity and blooming. Lighting: Tillandsia cyanea does best if located bright but protected from afternoon sun. Soil: The soil should There are no pots and no soil! This means that it doesn't need soil, but, instead, obtains water and nutrients from the air. I’ll fertilize whenever I remember or feel like it, except in the dead of winter. Tillandsia are very versatile plants. You can purchase special Tillandsia holders of all sorts, or you can simply display them in a bowl or dish, or with nothing at all. A wine cork, a knife, a magnet, and a tiny air plant and you've got probably the cutest refrigerator magnet imaginable. Most Tillandsia in nature are exposed to bright filtered light since they are epiphytic and grow on other plants or trees. I grow a lot of potted plants with success and was trying this because it came in a cute container. Air plants belong to the genus Tillandsia, and within that genus, there are over 650 species! This huge genusthe largest in the bromeliad familyis sometimes divided into the grey-leaved air plants and green-leaved terrestrial plants. The closer the better because the intensity of the light will drastically decrease the further you are from a window. Colleen Vanderlinden is a writer and gardening expert from Detroit, MI. In general, the Tillandsias with thinner leaves probably come from areas that receive quite a bit of rain. Its nickname–air plant–may reinforce the idea that it needs no special attention. Air plants have specialized leaves that draw in … Because Fuego is a type of epiphyte, the plant uses its roots to attach itself to anything it touches. 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