Tillandsia groupings

10 years ago

I would like to create globes of related tillandsias to suspend from my ceiling (in front of my windows). I am thinking of something that looks kind of like a ball of mistletoe - all plant, no visible vessel. Here's a link to a photo of what I am thinking: file:///C:/Users/user/Pictures/tillandsia-ionantha-beautiful.htm Does anyone know of a site where I can get ideas, instructions and/or materials to put something like this together? I guess I could buy a styrofoam ball and insert each plant until the entire ball is covered. I'm just wondering if there is a better way. I'm not sure how watering plants in a styrofoam ball would work out anyway.. Thanks!

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Comments (11)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
10 years ago
That file is on your computer and we can't see it. If you click on the "Browse" button in the "Post a Follow-up" below and go to that pix you can post it here.

tj
AntiqueWheels
10 years ago
It sounds like your describing what is commonly referred to as a Tillandsia "Specimen" where a plant is suspended usually by a thin wire and allowed to grow over many years. Certain species will form a "Ball" over time like this Bergeri Specimen.

While I suppose you could make it from individual plants it would likely cost more and would certainly require a great deal more effort.

I recommend you go to the Greenhouse where you buy your Tillandsia from ask them to order you a "Specimen" on there next shipment. While Retail Greenhouses would rarely stock them there Wholesale suppliers may have some available that they sell to the collector market.

Good Luck, let us know how you do.
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Beautiful Bob! Mass planting allways looks nicer than single specimens - except of coarse, when stephania puts up a stunner to make evey one envious! Some of mine are getting on quite nice, some are multiplying, others survive. But every now and then one of them surprises me. Never a dull moment! BTW, you got mail! Japie
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Kristy... When I purchased it, there were a few plants attached to a piece of bark. Over the years, the plants have grown a bit, and multiplied. They have made their way around the sides of the bark, and mounded in the center, to give it the round shape. I am sure that they will, eventually, totally engulf the bark, forming a ball. Even with my color blindness, I can see the red color of the plants... they are beautiful. Lucy... yes... its going to be a cold one tonight. I checked the forecast, about two hours ago, and it was for 35 tomorrow morning. I've been hauling everything into the garage. Just checked on-line again, and now the low is predicted to be 31! The bad thing is, that with the last two cold-fronts, it turned out to be 3 degrees colder than predicted. Every potted plant is coming in. I just finished out front, and am now headed to the backyard. All of those plants are coming into the Florida-room. Laura's going to have a cow, when she gets home from work. Its going to look like hurricane time around here, less the plywood on the windows. I guess some of the in-ground plants may get damaged, but I'm not too concerned. I've lived thru 3 recent hurricanes, and the damage they do. The only thing I am concerned about are the Plumerias. Not sure what I can do about them, at this point. They are good sized, and would be difficult to cover. I will just hope the freeze doesn't last to long. Oh... you don't need to tell this wimp to dress warm! If I had the time and money, I'd hop a flight to Puerto Rico. Bob
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I didnt want to make a new thread since there arent any palms in these pics, but I just wanted to mention that My Begonias actually survived the winter this year! Have anyone else had luck with having wax begonias come back? I always hear that they are tender annuals and they definitiely are not one of the hardy begonias. It was by one of my Trachys which means that it did get some heat on the coldest night, but still saw many hits to the 20s and even teens since I barely covered my trachys this winter (one of the trachys was completely uncovered all winter). Here are some pics of the begonias coming back! Here are a few other pics.... My Kramers Supreme Camellia is about to bloom! Very happy that it survived the winter with no protection (its much more tender than any of my other camellias) and the blooms are supposed to be really large and fragrant. The leaves alone are pretty nice! My Camellia "Arctic Rose" is a very cold hardy and a heavy bloomer too! This Lantana has seen temperatures into the upper 20s, but spent the worst of winter indoors. Now it's growing back and starting to bloom! Heres a pic of My favorite camellia bloom in my yard. Its a Camellia "Herme" and usually the flowers are very large and slightly fragrant (I dont think thats very common for camellias). Comparison in size between "Herme" and "Arctic Rose" Finally got a desert rose to survive a winter indoors, now its blooming too! I was happy to see a Monstera at a local grocery store, I have been looking for these at a good price for years now! Got some nice Tillisandias and didnt really know what to do so I made a hanging thing out of them and I think it looks pretty cool. Im declaring war with these opposums now. They dug up my crinum bulbs I just planted and some other bulbs also. I put these wired cages over the bulbs so hopefully this will work. I took some leaves off my oleander and put it under the wired cage because I'm hoping that the toxicity of the oleander will keep the animals away (oleanders are poisonous for opposums right?) Thanks for looking! -Alex
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It sounds like there are lots of interesting places to shop in your area, so that's promising. I was thinking this morning maybe flea markets might be good places to check. We have a huge one on weekends in our fair grounds (though it is chased away when the State Fair happens for several weeks in September), and I know there are plant sellers there. It's likely they sell garden or house plants but they might sell Bromeliads and that could mean such a seller would know about tillies and not realize there is a market for them, too. I've often thought that if I were rich I'd start a rare plants business, in a storefront, with grow lights, books, containers, proper soil (for those plants that use it), gift wrap, classes, advice... Sell tillandsias, orchids, cactus, etc. Maybe offer an office landscaping service. And I agree, I would not buy a pre-made terrarium (though my friend's terrariums are true works of art... I should take some pics of them and post them here), I prefer to put my own together using single or multiple plants and shot glasses, wine glasses, etc. found at flea markets and thrift stores.
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AntiqueWheels
10 years ago
Here is another photo of a "Specimen" grouping this made up of Streptocarpa.
AntiqueWheels
10 years ago
You can also purchase mail order from a place such as this. They have this spectacular Bergeri specimen listed available for only $37.00!

Here is a link that might be useful: Air Plants 4 U
hotdiggetydam
10 years ago
I tend to shy away from companies that dont have a live person to ask questions.....................
AntiqueWheels
10 years ago
I can certainly understand your concern about not being able to get someone on the phone. I had not dealt with this company for many many years but did have a positive experience.

I was doing some digging to find you the contact info and came across some very negative reviews many of them in more recent years. The bulk of them for very poor customer service. Unfortunately it seems the owner has become quite bitter over the years.

In light of there change in attitude I would recommend against ordering from them. I did find another company that has some specimens listed available with good reviews and full contact info.

They have these Ionantha "Balls" for $30.00 but if you order through Amazon you can get it for $26.00 and you have the security of ordering through Amazon.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Air Plant Shop
caligrown
10 years ago
I would give plant oddity's a try. They sell there specimen size Tillandsia clumps for next to nothing. I have ordered off them twice. Both times there service was exceptional, and there plants were amazing. Well worth a inquiry. They also sell the orbs you are talking about.

Regards, Patrick

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Odditys
User
10 years ago
Those T. ionantha "balls" are worth maybe...$5 most.
Lars
10 years ago
I buy tillandsias from Rainforest Flora partly because they 15 minutes away and partly because they have a very large inventory and decent prices. They also wholesale to a lot of nurseries around here, including HD. If you are in the neighborhood, you should give them a visit. They also do mail order, I think.
cahac
10 years ago
I got this clump of Variabilis on Ebay last week for less than $15.00 shipped, about 14 plants in it.
cliff
hotdiggetydam
10 years ago
LOL Gonz..true statement

Tillandsia groupings

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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

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