Featured Plant of the Week (Tillandsia)
Tillandsia
Over the last year we have featured many plants that are what botanists call epiphytes, or plants which live on other plants. Orchids, Bromeliads, and Anthuriums are all examples of this curious class of plants. But we have not featured the quintessential epiphyte yet: Tillandsia. This broad genus is very easy to care for, unique in appearance and very novel. The reason Tillandsia stands out even more than the others is it doesn't take root on other plants. In fact, it doesn't take root at all.
For readers unfamiliar with the term, an epiphyte is a plant that doesn't root in soil, but instead grows on other plants or something like a rock or building. It isn't like a vine or a creeper which roots in the ground and reaches up. Instead an epiphyte draws in the majority of its moisture and nutrients through the skin of its leaves using miniscule hair like structures called trichomes. The term epiphyte comes from the Greek word's epi, which means upon, and phyton, which means plant.
The reason one could call Tillandsia excellent examples of epiphytes is because unlike the others they hardly use their roots at all. What roots they do have are used at most to hold on to their host, and almost all of their nutrition and moisture is taken in straight from the air. This has earned them the name "air plants", because they grow on nothing other than the air around them. To water them you only have to spritz them or soak them with water for a minute, every other day. No fertilizing required and no special formulas.
Aside from this unique trait Tillandsias come in a bewildering array of shapes, sizes and colors. The genus includes something around 600 species, and dozens of hybrids. One species featured here before is Tillandsia dyeriana, a comparatively root bound species with a bright orange inflorescence. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Tillandsia usneoides. Every BloomRite® Gardens shopper should be familiar this ubiquitous species! It's on every single Blooming Basket, and on many of our orchid and dish gardens. It's none other than Spanish Moss! Yes, that's right. Each stringy fiber of that fuzzy grey moss is in fact a diminutive, living Tillandsia plant.
Displaying air plants is a slightly tricky business, since many have hardly any root system at all. You can pot them, but the soil must drain very well as Tillandsia is very susceptible to rot. If you want something a bit different the plant can be mounted on almost anything you want. Driftwood, stones, seashells, or anything else that will survive being frequently damp and will prevent the air plant from sitting in water. You can use wire, staples, or glue to mount the plant, but make sure the glue is waterproof (and preferably clear). You could even hang the plant from a string, and just let the plant stretch its way toward light. The orientation of the air plant doesn't matter either. Upside down, on its side, whatever, it's all the same to the Tillandsia!
Caring for Tillandsia air plants is much easier than figuring out how to display it. All you need to do is keep it in a warm and bright place and mist or soak it regularly. Misting it everyday or soaking it every other couple of days should satisfy its moisture needs. Strangely, if the leaves are stiff and feel like their dry, then it's getting plenty of water. However, it's when it becomes soft that it means the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, the first you'll know the plant is getting too much water is when it starts to rot. Light conditions should be bright but not strong direct sunshine, which will cause burning. Keep the room temperature above 50° F to avoid freezing the air plant to death, but avoid keeping it in temperatures over 90° F. High humidity is also important, but misting the plants is a fair (though not ideal) solution. For more lasting humidity put the plant over standing water, which will increase the local humidity as it evaporates naturally.
At BloomRite® Gardens you can find loose Tillandsia in four different sizes:
- Small, $1.95 per plant
- Medium, $2.95 per plant
- Large, $3.95 per plant
- Extra-Large, $7.95 per plant
The sizes listed here are relative, and so doesn't indicate a specific amount of inches. The 'small' air plants are approximately the size of a 2" mini rose, and the 'extra-large' are as large as or bigger than our potted 4" bromeliads. Currently we are well stocked in all sizes, but as always it's wise to call ahead about availability.
