Question

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Followup To

Question -
hi,

i want to ask you if you know how to properly care of tilliandsia, bromeliads, or airplants. such as water, sun, propagations, fertilization, temperature, zone, how long it takes to bloom,trouble shooting and solutions, soil (such as can you use spanish moss). Can they live inside a mist machine that is constantly making mist? anything i need to know about the plants.

   Thanks danny

Answer -
Hi Danny,

All of the plants that you listed are in the Bromeliad family, which includes many hundreds of different plants. There are dozens of individual species of Tillandsia and "air plant" is a common name that is applied to many different epiphytes or plants that do not grow in the ground.

So there is no single answer to your quest for the cultural requirements of all these plants, as they have varying needs. If there are one or two specific plant species that you would like information on, please let me know.

Regards,
Will Creed


the 2 plants that i would like to know more about thier adequate care would be the Tillandsia ionantha "Peanut"- and the Tillandsia ionantha vanhyningii

if you would like to know the links to these plants here is the following:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Airplant-Tillandsia-ionantha-vanhyningii-PINK-BLUSH_W0QQitem
         AND

http://cgi.ebay.com/Airplant-Tillandsia-ionantha-Peanut-CUTE-PLANT_W0QQitemZ1200

thanks a lot...

Answer
Hi Danny,

The two Tillandsia ionantha that you referenced have the same cultural requirements, as they are simply slightly different varieties of the same species.

T. ionantha like lots of bright light with at least some direct sun each day. The more light it receives the more color it will maintain and the more frequently it will flower.

As an air plant or epiphyte, it should not be grown in soil or sphagnum moss, but should be mounted on a board or bark or suspended in the open air. It can be potted in tree fern fiber as long as the fiber is allowed to dry out in between waterings.

You can irrigate it by misting it daily or by soaking it in the sink weekly. You can apply fertilizer diluted to quarter strength and misted monthly.

The preferred temperature range is 50-90 degrees. It hails from Mexico, Zones 9-11.

Normally it takes 7+ years from seed to flowering. However, this can vary considerably from one environment to another.

To propagate this plant, simply remove several plantlets from the main grouping and keep them together. Single plants do not look as good as clusters or clumps. Keep them moist after severing them.

This particular Tillandsia tolerates moist air better than some others. It can actually be used in a terrarium, but I am not sure that a "mist machine" would work well if the plant never had a chance to dry out somewhat.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
  
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]

Visit my web site at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

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