Bromeliads Houseplants

Tempting Tillandsias

After the “Air Guitar”, here are the “Air Plants”, air plants that do not need to be planted in the ground to grow. Big stars of trendy arrangements, they are said to be invincible. Not far from the truth… if you know how to do it!  

Image: Flickr

Yes, they have style. Suspended from a wire, attached to a piece of bark, planted in shells and cute containers of all shapes: in an interior decoration, they are all the rage. However, many admirers of the “air girls”, as they are also called, forget that they are plants… living plants.  

One would be inclined to think otherwise, given the stiff texture of some and especially the lack of roots in others. And yet their survival depends on our good care.

 

How to Live Without Roots?

If some tillandsias have no roots, it’s because they are epiphytic plants. Epiphytic plants can grow simply placed on another plant… or a rock. For these tropical species, it is common to live attached to the bark of a tree. Some only live at high altitude, in the treetops. Others, which like a more arid climate, grow directly on cacti. In both cases, the roots serve rather as hooks to fix the plants on their growing medium.

All native to South and Central America, tillandsias are a very diverse group. There are almost as many tips for caring for tillandsias as there are tillandsias. And there are over 550 different species of tillandsias!

The Winning Way to Grow Tillandsias

Let’s start with some general advice that works quite well with most species. First, most tillandsias like warm temperatures, between 10°C and 30°C (50 to 86F), and humid atmospheres. Growing tillandsias necessarily means having a vaporizer. They also like very bright locations, and at our latitude, a little direct sunlight. Most tillandsias like to be given a bath, about twice a month, by letting them soak for an hour or two in clear water. Finally, good air circulation is also beneficial to them. As for fertilization, it is really not necessary, but a very small dose of orchid fertilizer can be added to the water, only when the plants are looking perfectly happy. Thinking of reviving a tillandsia on the edge of the abyss with fertilizer would be a mistake.

The Vast Universe of Exceptions

And now, let’s take a quick look at the exceptions. The best advice we can give is to get well-identified tillandsias, with their Latin name. This way, it is easy to type the name on the Web to know in detail the specific needs of the chosen one.

If the plant name isn’t available, tillandsias can be divided into two large groups: dark green foliage and gray foliage. In general, plants with green foliage have glossy, flexible leaves and develop roots, which indicates that they can be planted in a container, in cactus soil. Those that develop rosettes of foliage like the heart of the plant to be filled with water, once or twice a week. These are also species that like very humid atmospheres.

The second group includes species with gray foliage, often covered in scales with few or no roots. These naturally grow in slightly more arid environments. They are generally the ones marketed under the name of air plants. Here, we are in front of a group of plants that can absorb water through the foliage. A happy mix of regular spraying and soaking is all that is required. To avoid rot, a common cause of mortality, it is very important to let the plants dry out before rehydrating them.

Tillandsia juncea is one of the most common and easiest to find varieties. This species has thin leaves, like those of a rush. Photo: Flickr

Conversely, the other way to lose tillandsias is to deprive them of water to the extreme. They then begin to shrivel. The drying out of the tips of the leaves is a sign that the plant needs a good soaking, which can last up to 24 hours, in the case of extreme resuscitation. For those who want to excel in tillandsia cultivation, let us mention that tap water is sometimes too heavy and mineralized. This is why epiphyte enthusiasts pamper their plants with spring water or rainwater.

A Plant Often Treated Poorly

Popular, tillandsias are also victims of their own success. Many retailers offer them as decorative trinkets. It’s 100% cute to attach magnetic containers to the fridge, but how many fridges are located near a sunny window? If air circulation is one of the essential elements for the health of tillandsias, why sell them in closed terrariums? Pretty? Yes. Good for the plant? Maybe not.  

To learn more about air plants, I highly recommend this article by Larry which covers every aspect of growing these fascinating plants in great detail.

A wonderful clump of Tillandsia bulbosa, grown in more than perfect conditions: heat, humidity, light! Photo: Bocabroms on Wikimedia Commons

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Julie Boudreau is a horticulturist who trained at the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. She’s been working with plants for more than 25 years. She has published many gardening books and hosted various radio and television shows. She now teaches horticulture at the Centre de formation horticole of Laval. A great gardening enthusiast, she’s devoted to promoting gardening, garden design, botany and ecology in every form. Born a fan of organic gardening, she’s curious and cultivates a passion for all that can be eaten. Julie Boudreau is “epicurious” and also fascinated by Latin names.

1 comment on “Tempting Tillandsias

  1. Because the climate here is somewhat arid for much of summer, epiphytic species prefer damp riparian situations or where they get broadcast irrigation. Tillandsias and a few other epiphytes perform well for us in such situations, although I would not put them out in more exposed situations.

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