Tillandsia

There are more than 400 species in the genus Tillandsia: herbaceous perennial crops, including epiphytes (they use another plant as a support). They are grown as houseplants; tillandsias are small in size compared to other bromeliads and are valued for their spectacular, though not too large, flowers. Tillandsia cyanea is a rosette species with a height of 20-30 cm with numerous narrow gray (brown-red at the base) leaves with a large peduncle, on which greenish or reddish bracts are arranged in a tiled pattern, from which blue flowers protrude. Tillandsia Lindenii (T. lindenii), like the previous species, belongs to the green tillandsia, an epiphyte up to 50-60 cm tall, with dark green leaves and 20-cm inflorescences consisting of pink and crimson bracts and blue flowers blooming in summer with a white throat. Tillandsia usneoides (T. usneoides) - gray tillandsia-epiphyte with drooping thin blue-colored branched shoots, giving it the appearance of moss. Leaves are gray scaly; flowers are yellow-green.

There are more than 400 species in the genus Tillandsia: herbaceous perennial crops, including epiphytes (they use another plant as a support). They are grown as houseplants; tillandsias are small in size compared to other bromeliads and are valued for their spectacular, though not too large, flowers.

Tillandsia cyanea is a rosette species with a height of 20-30 cm with numerous narrow gray (brown-red at the base) leaves with a large peduncle, on which greenish or reddish bracts are arranged in a tiled pattern, from which blue flowers protrude.

Tillandsia Lindenii (T. lindenii), like the previous species, belongs to the green tillandsia, an epiphyte up to 50-60 cm tall, with dark green leaves and 20-cm inflorescences consisting of pink and crimson bracts and blue flowers blooming in summer with a white throat.

Tillandsia usneoides (T. usneoides) - gray tillandsia-epiphyte with drooping thin blue-colored branched shoots, giving it the appearance of moss. Leaves are gray scaly; flowers are yellow-green.

Cultivation

Tillandsia requires a lot of light and sun, a lot of air with sufficient humidity. Gray tillandsias are mostly not planted in flower pots - they are attached to pieces of bark and branches (they receive water and nutrition with regular spraying, and their white scales absorb the necessary moisture). Sometimes they are placed in hanging baskets filled with sphagnum and osmund fibers. Green tillandsias (not clothed with white scales) require high temperatures and humidity even in winter. For growing in a pot, use a soil rich in humus and consisting of sand and leaf humus, or from peat and pine needles, or from peat, sand and osmund roots. It is important that there must be very good drainage. Feed carefully (in the ratio of nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium - 1:2:1). Once a month, fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation at the rate of 10 g per bucket.

Location

Gray tillandsias need full sun, green - light, protected from direct sunlight place (except in winter).

Temperature

Gray tillandsias are kept in a warm, ventilated place (in winter 10-15 °C; in summer, you can put them in the garden in the sun). Green species are kept warm all year round (at least 18 °C).

Watering

Green tillandsias are constantly kept moist, but without excessive water. Gray tillandsias in the spring and summer period are sprayed 1-2 times a day; in winter they are rarely sprayed. Do not use hard water.

Transplant

Transplanted into a new pot in the spring every 1-2 years. Epiphytic species do not need transplanting, only when they want to divide a large plant or reattach it to the supports.

Reproduction

Gray tillandsias are separated by lateral shoots. Depending on the species, they are propagated by children.

Diseases

In addition to rotting of the root neck caused by a fungus of the genus Fusarium, worms can settle on the leaves; on the paddy from their bites, rabble subsequently develops. Remove pests with a rag or cotton swab soaked in alcohol, and treat with special preparations against aphids and worms.

Acquisition

Blue tillandsia and Linden's tillandsia are easy to find; more difficult is tillandsia usnee-prominent. Choose well-formed plants that do not show signs of damage by pests and diseases.