How do gray tillandsia species differ from green ones, and what kind of care do they need?

How bizarre and varied the plant world is! Some, in search of the sun's rays, climb high up, clinging to the giant trees of rain forests, and then fall down in a cascade of fancifully curled leaves. Others, fearing to remain unnoticed in the lower tier of the impenetrable jungle, suddenly release a bright bract, similar to the feather of an outlandish bird, or lure to themselves with a delicate aroma. Still others stubbornly cling to the rocky soil of rocky mountains and stretch to life, despite drought and large temperature changes. It's hard to believe, but we are talking about representatives of the same genus - tillandsia. Nature did not skimp on shapes and colors, creating these outlandish plants, and caring for tillandsia in an apartment was not at all difficult. Therefore, recently such exotics have become a real decoration of home collections and the pride of the owners.

Let's take a closer look

Tillandsia is a perennial herbaceous evergreen plant belonging to the Bromeliad family. In nature, it can be seen in the countries of the American continent: the USA, Chile, Mexico and Argentina. Moreover, representatives of the genus feel equally comfortable in humid tropical forests, in arid savannah and at an altitude of more than 3000 meters above sea level. The appearance of these exotic plants is due to their familiar habitat.

Some species differ little from those indoor plants that we are used to seeing on our windowsills, except that they surprise with bright colors and exotic flowering. In nature, they grow in the soil of the lower tier of tropical forests or on rocky soils of high mountains, therefore they are called terrestrial or potted. Distinctive features of such tillandsias are:

• the presence of roots;
• underdeveloped stem or its complete absence;
• potted specimens are called green due to the shade of dense curved leaves that form a rosette, which helps to accumulate moisture;
• a large peduncle with an inflorescence similar to an ear of unusually bright color appears in the center of the rosette;
• later, paired small tubular flowers with curved petals bloom;
• flowering lasts from September to January, after which babies are formed, and the mother plant itself dies.

Tillandsia, which grow in tropical forests and are epiphytes, are of particular interest. They use tall trees of the upper tiers for life, but do not parasitize, drawing sap from the donor, but only lean on the trunk, trying to rise to the sunlight. For their ability to receive moisture and nutrients from the air, such specimens were called atmospheric. They have a number of specific features.

• The roots are undeveloped or completely absent - after all, this plant does not need to get moisture or nutrients from the depths of the earth. And the aerial processes only serve to attach to the bark of trees.
• Leaves are dense, narrow, long, covered with scales that attract and retain water. For their unusual color, atmospheric tillandsias are often referred to as gray. When exposed to moisture, for example when spraying, they change color to green.
• In some epiphytes, the stem is powerful and developed, in others it is completely absent.
• Inflorescences are smaller and not as bright as those of green specimens.
• The flower is single.

Advice

It is easier to grow green varieties at home. Atmospheric ones require high air humidity and survive better in special greenhouses or floraria.

What to choose for a home collection?

Nature is a great creator, and the variety of plants created by it never ceases to amaze. There are about 700 species of tillandsia alone: ​​similar to moss or a ball of thread, changing color before flowering or after contact with water, with bright colors or a delicate scent - they all become a cherished dream of collectors. But at home, just over 10 species are grown. Let's list the most popular ones.

Atmospheric

• Tillandsia usneoide (Tillandsia usneoide) is a bright representative of gray species. Long, fancifully curled stems are covered with 5-centimeter silvery leaves. People compare these plants with a waterfall falling from a great height, or the beard of an old man. Flowers are less impressive: they are small, yellowish-green in color.
• Tillandsia "Medusa's head" (Tillandsia caput-medusae) really resembles an inhabitant of the deep sea: the leaves collected at the base diverge upward in a bizarre wave. Why not squid or shrimp? The picture is complemented by a long "tongue" - a peduncle with red grains of spikelets and lilac flowers.
• Tillandsia sticking out (Tillandsia stricta) - a fluffy rosette of rather long, up to 20 centimeters, silvery leaves resembles a torn bush of grass.
• Tillandsia violet-flowered (Tillandsia ionantha) - usually grayish leaves turn red during flowering and surround a spike with purple segments with a fancy halo.

Potted

• Tillandsia blue (Tillandsia cyanea) is interesting for the smooth transition of color on the leaf plate - from red at the bottom to brown at the tips. The appearance of a spike with bright lilac bracts is hard to miss. And the blue flowers with diamond-shaped petals are a very beautiful but fleeting sight, as they fade instantly.
• Tillandsia dyeriana resembles an exotic bouquet. Its "wrapper" consists of leaves tightly twisted around long peduncles with oval symmetrical leaves that change their hue from orange at the base of the bouquet to bright red at the tips.
• Tillandsia Anita (Tillandsia Anita) is a hybrid of Tillandsia blue, bred by breeding. Green dense leaves form a dense rosette. It is even hard to believe that the bright pink bract is natural, so precise is its shape and rich colors. The blue-violet flowers of three petals seem to be butterflies perched on a tropical flower. They fade quickly, but the buds flaunt for about two months. Interestingly, after flowering, the spike turns green and soon dies off.
• "Caraguata" - a vessel for water - this is what the aborigines originally called an unknown species. The first scientific description of the plant was made by the Swedish botanist Elias Tillands, whose name was given to the whole genus of these unique plants in 1753.

In a flower shop

First, decide what type of tillandsia you would like to purchase. The choice of a green copy should be approached responsibly.

• Examine the leaves of the plant carefully: they should be fresh, firm, without spots and traces of drying out or mold.
• Shake the pot lightly: the plant should sit quite tightly in the ground - this indicates the degree of its rooting.
• Pay attention to the bract: remember that tillandsia blooms only once, and after that the mother plant dies off. If the peduncle has already appeared, it means that the plant will not please you for long and will soon have to start reproducing it.

Buying atmospheric tillandsia is also worth starting with a look.

• The dried plant will become light, darken, and crumble easily when pressed.
• A large number of dried out tips will indicate that the plant has been kept in unfavorable conditions for a long time and it is better to refuse to buy this specimen.
• In the center of the rosette of a healthy plant, young leaves of a lighter shade should be visible.

Advice

Sprinkle epiphyte leaves with water. A fresh plant will change its leaf color from silvery gray to green.

5 rules for caring for a plant at home

It is believed that tillandsia creates a special atmosphere in the house. It helps people find peace of mind and independence, including material independence. An exotic perennial gets its energy from the surrounding space. Therefore, it is necessary to organize it so that the flower actively grows and develops without knowing the problems.

Every breeder should know 5 basic rules for caring for an unusual plant.

• Rule # 1 - you need to find a place with the right lighting. Potted species require a lot of sunlight, but are afraid of direct rays. Atmospheric representatives live well in the shade, but also need the sun. Therefore, it is best to place the plant on the east or west side, protected by a light scattering screen.

Advice

Keep in mind that tillandsia is a long day plant. Therefore, in winter, it needs additional lighting, which is created using a conventional fluorescent lamp.

• Rule # 2 - provide a comfortable temperature. In summer it is 20-24⁰C, and in winter - 18-20⁰C. Considering that many potted specimens came to us from the highlands, it is advisable to create a slight difference in daily temperatures for them. It is also worthwhile to constantly ventilate the room to provide fresh air, but at the same time remember that a draft will harm bromeliads.
• Rule # 3 - to organize competent watering for potted species. Green specimens need a regular supply of moisture. Drying out of the soil in the pot is unacceptable. It is recommended to pour water directly into the center of the outlet, and after a couple of hours it is imperative to remove the excess in order to avoid decay of the plant. In summer, perennials need to be watered daily, in winter - as the earthy coma dries out.

Advice

Tillandsias are very sensitive to chlorine, so they need to be watered only with settled, or even better - melted warm water.

• Rule # 4 - maintain air humidity at least 60%. This rule is especially important for atmospheric species that take moisture directly from the air due to the lack of roots. Therefore, regular and thorough spraying (about three times a day) is important for them, which replaces watering. Keeping air humidity at this level is a difficult task. Therefore, pallets with wet pebbles, containers of water are placed next to the plant, or tillandsia is placed in a greenhouse or florarium, where it is much easier to maintain the conditions necessary for the life and development of the plant. Potted specimens should have a warm shower every two weeks to flush out the dirt between the leaves.

Advice

Usneiform tillandsia should be periodically immersed in water for several minutes, especially if the leaves begin to darken and curl.

• Rule # 5 - top dressing. And again, it all depends on the type of tillandsia: we fertilize green species during the growth period monthly, using ready-made dressings for bromeliads or orchids, only the concentration indicated on the package is reduced by 4 times. We introduce substances during watering into the soil and into the center of the plant outlet. In winter, we stop feeding. Atmospheric specimens take nutrients from the air, so you can occasionally add fertilizer to the spray water and spray around the plant.

Advice

Avoid fertilizers containing boron and copper - they are detrimental to any type of tillandsia.

Does the plant need a transplant?

Like any other potted plant, green tillandsias need replanting. It needs to be done several times at different stages:

• within a week after purchase, to replace the transport soil mixture with a more suitable and nutritious soil;
• as the plant grows - given that tillandsia grows slowly, this can be done every two to three years;
• in the absence of flowering.

It is better if this crucial moment occurs in the spring. To begin with, choose a suitable pot: let it be shallow, wide enough, a couple of centimeters larger than the previous one.Ceramic pots are very good for tillandsias: they are stable, they let air to the roots well.

An exotic perennial cannot live in an ordinary universal soil - for it you need to create a special mix according to an individual recipe:

• pieces of coniferous bark;
• peat;
• deciduous land;
• coarse sand;
• shredded moss.

Advice

If it is difficult for you to prepare such a mixture, purchase orchid soil in the store. He's fine too.

Pour a drainage layer into the pot at the bottom, preferably from charcoal, then pour the prepared substrate. Now is the most crucial moment.

1. Carefully, trying not to damage the small roots, remove the plant from the pot.
2. Keeping the old earthen lump, we place the perennial in the new soil.
3. Fill the empty space with soil, compacting it slightly around the roots.
4. Water abundantly.

That's all the wisdom. It is not necessary to water the plant for the first week after transplantation; it is better to spray it from a spray bottle three times a day.

Advice

Bringing home an atmospheric look, wrap a leaf rosette with sphagnum moss and attach to a support. An additional transplant will not be required for such a specimen.

How to propagate tillandsia?

It is a pity that such beauty dies soon after flowering. But the ability to extend the life of an amazing plant is in your hands.

The easiest way is to renew your tillandsia with the help of kids.

1. Even before the flowering time has come to an end, small green side shoots appear at the base of the mother's outlet - babies. We carefully separate them so that the roots are preserved.
2. We transplant the processes into pots according to the scheme already familiar to us.
3. New plants will gain strength in 1.5 - 2 years.

You will have to tinker with the seeds longer.

1. First, prepare a mixture of peat and sand and fill the box with it.
2. Spread the seeds evenly over the surface of the substrate, drowning slightly with your fingers and not sprinkling them on top.
3. Spray generously with water from a spray bottle.
4. Cover with foil.
5. Place the container in a well-lit, warm (20-25 ⁰C) place.
6. Remove the film for airing the greenhouse and watering every day.

Within a month you will see the first green sprouts. When they grow up to 10 centimeters, it's time to transplant each into a separate pot and enjoy their development.

It is quite simple to propagate atmospheric tillandsia - just divide it into bundles and attach each to a support wrapped in moist moss.

What does the plant want to say?

Tillandsia is not spoiled by nature. The harsh living conditions hardened the plant, so it perfectly resists disease. However, sometimes a green pet does not feel very comfortable and in every possible way lets its owner know about it.

• Weak drooping leaves are a signal that the plant is cold.
• Darkened tips of the outlet indicate the hardness of the irrigation water or the effect of a draft.
• Brown spots are evidence of sunburn.
• A soft and loose rosette in combination with brown leaves is the result of excessive watering.
• A faded leaf plate is the result of excess sunlight.

An attentive owner at first glance will understand what he wants to tell him a favorite flower, and will take appropriate measures in time.

“We are responsible for those we have tamed” - said the hero of Saint-Exupery the Little Prince. Don't forget these wise words. And if a person has moved plants, accustomed to a free life, into the conditions of city apartments, he is obliged to create such conditions in which green residents will feel welcomed guests, not captives.