A Tillandsia Display idea

9 years ago

This is a baking dish I got at a yard sale. Picture taken in Dec 2014. Dish holds filifolia (or they may have a different name), a complacent ionantha in front, and in back a reddened up and currently (Jan 6) blooming (purple) ionantha of some kind. There are a variety of other plants, including a funkiana and some soft, gray strictas sitting around in little cups and wine glasses and other things I've found to use as displays. The look changes every time I soak the plants and return them to the display. Light is provided by a shop light with a grow light bulb and a cool white bulb. Oh, in the dish, under the tillies, are rocks and a bit of potting soil because in there is also some moss I lifted from my apartment complex's shady, overwatered landscape. I also have some of that same moss growing in a hanging globe meant for tillandsias; the moss likes that better than the tillandsia did. Finally, all these plants will go outside in the spring through the summer in a north-facing porch, like they did in 2014.

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Comments (6)

diane_v_44
9 years ago
Debby I just came across something in relation to gardening
Kokedama (mossball) gardening

it is similar to what you are trying to do
and I have as well been working along these lines in my garden in Florida I have now been looking on facebook at others using this method MIght be of interest to you
hotdiggetydam
9 years ago
Nice short term displays or gift idea.
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Hi askafasl Firstly I think we all need to know what your definition of a green house is. In Australia we would call the one shown on the link a "shade house" as it seems to be covered in some sort of woven shade cloth. The definition of a green house in Australia, is one covered in glass, plastic. Lazer Light or Fibre Glass and I imagine other countries call them by different names as well, so are we talking about a structure covered with shade cloth, slats, brush etc which will still let the rain and wind in - or some other covering such as glass, plastic etc which excludes rain and wind? The reason I ask is that both of these "houses" provide very different growing conditions for the occupants. Not knowing your climate and not knowing much about Tillandsia culture either as I don't grow them, I'm not really in a position to comment; but I would like to mention an idea a friend of mine uses in a part of Australia where it snows for part of the year. He has several old security screen doors which he bought from a re-cycling yard and he has these hanging by hooks on his fence where it gets sun for most of the day. He has his Tillandsia collection all hanging on these doors fully exposed to the elements where they get abundant light and and airflow for most of the year. During the snow season, he just lifts off the screen doors (plants and all) and hangs them by hooks on the inside of his garage wall until the snow season is finished when he returns them back to the fence. Depending on your weather conditions, I thought this may be a cheaper option than going to the expense of a green/shade house. As for the bugs, I use a spray called "Clensel", it's a natural contact insecticide but I use it as a repellant and not an insecticide. I find that by spraying the pots, the top of the mix and around the base of the plant I rarely see any bugs except the odd scale. As I'm not in favour of spraying toxic insecticides around my collection, I've found this to be a good alternative. As for the plants that occasionally get scale, well I treat them individually by immersing the whole plant in a container filled with a systemic insecticide. I do this for about half an hour and then quarantine the plant for a few weeks until I'm sure there are no new hatchlings...... Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but It works for me. All the best, Nev.
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debbyabq
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, Diane! Searching "Kokedama (mossball) gardening" comes up with a lot of hits. I think our local moss, which is low and flat, might have fun being part of such a project. If I were to harvest some now (slip a trowel under it), and I treat it well, it would probably green up quickly. I found some moss near a stream in the mountains north of Santa Fe (~8,000 feet altitude?) in early October. It was dry and just hanging on (stream spray didn't reach it). I brought a bit home, fixed up a wide-mouth jar with rocks and a little dirt, placed the dried out moss there, added water, covered it, and the next morning the plant was so green Ireland would have been jealous. If it continues happy, I can spread it out to Tillandsia dishes as well. I think unusual plants enjoy talking to each other.
diane_v_44
9 years ago
Debby that was good info
What I did yesterday down in South west Florida is go and pull down a good bunch most of the trunk full actually of that hanging moss that hangs off mostly trees. Is grey and whispy I have used it before for plants. More so in lining a hanging basket or some type of liner for something picked up here or there or sometimes on top of a large planter to make it look in my opinion fancier. But what I got yesterday I though I would try in a Kokedama way Making up a soil ball of no soil potting mix mixed with a product I bought yesterday Vermiculite I think it is and maybe some peat moss. I brought a couple of bags of it down from Canada. Large commercial bags of Peat Moss that are sold down in the U.S. so not a problem at the border.Anyway try forming a ball sort of shape and then wrap it in the moss and then I have some neat string type of product that I picked up somewhere a couple of years ago Will wrap the balls in that and tie them up I have some orchids that are struggling after being down here half a year with no care These moss balls might just fix the little darlings up. I just have to get doing the pictures to post Don't know why I keep putting off doing this For sure is a real good sign of old age. and not wanting to adapt to new and better ways in this case.
debbyabq
Original Author
9 years ago
Sounds like you gathered Spanish Moss. I have some and despite our dry climate, it seems to be doing okay as I soak it at least once a week at this time of year and mist it daily. If I watered it more, it would probably grow faster and fuller, but then I'd have to figure out where to put it!

There is a moss/ferns subforum on this website:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/crypto/?

You could post Tilly experiences here, moss experiences there, if you want to :) In any event, keep us posted
diane_v_44
9 years ago
Sure that is what the moss is called
I had forgotten
I have used what I brought home the other day
Don't think it is what I want really
Did find Japanese Gardening on Facebook which is for sure interesting
will look up moss and ferns on garden web Thank you

A Tillandsia Display idea

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A Tillandsia Display idea

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