Tillandsia

a solution to lousy gardeners ...

By parasitesdontlisten, February 10, 2012

Whether for your home, office or gifts for friends, these five air plants are sure to delight!

Place them in a that old jar from the flea market, your wedding china you don't use often enough, or in a cool ashtray (what's that?!). Anywhere you'd like to place them - no dirt required - and they'll be happy!

Easy to care for - just run them under water once a week and give them some light (they LOVE office flourescents) and the group will be happy. It's that easy!

Tillandsia are epiphytes and need no soil because water and nutrients are absorbed through the leaves. The roots are used as anchors only. Reproduction is by seeds or by offsets called "pups". A single plant could have up to a dozen pups.

Although not normally cultivated for their flowers, some Tillandsia will bloom on a regular basis. In addition, it is quite common for some species to take on a different leaf colour (usually changing from green to red) when about to flower. 

Temperature is not critical, the range being from 32°C down to 10°C. They are sensitive to frost, except for the hardiest species, T. usneoides, which can tolerate night-time frosts down to about -10°C.

Tillandsia is a primary ingredient in an herbal supplement to treat pollen allergies.