Can anyone help me ID my first Tillandsia?
Hi, everyone! I got this Tillandsia at a fancy-shmancy grocery store. It was unlabeled as to species, and no amount of googling around has allowed me to ID it. It is my first Tillandsia and I kind of bought it on a whim, so I really have no idea what I'm doing, LOL. It has silvery, velvety leaves with purple tips. I think it looks a *little* like T. ionantha "Purple Velvet," but those usually show up in my Google image searches as being a redder, warmer purple, whereas mine is a pretty cool, bluish-purple at the tips. You'll see some damage to leaf tips...it was like that when I bought it. Honestly, sometimes I see plants at stores looking sad and I buy them because I want to save them, even if I don't know how. She just looked kind of sad and forlorn. Anyway, here's some photos:
When I bought it they told me to mist it once a week, or to dunk it at the same interval. I was doing misting only at first, but then thought I'd try dunking. So glad I did! The plant looked soooo much happier after dunking. The leaves were firmer and not so floppy, the purple in the tips came out more brightly. So yeah, I'm doing regular dunkings with occasional mistings in between now. I keep it in a small fishbowl with a wide opening at the top, pebbles on the bottom. All of the windows in my apartment are west-facing; it gets indirect light during most of the day, but it's far enough from the window that it doesn't get hit with too much of that direct light in the afternoon.
Someone at a greenhouse I was at recently suggested I use orchid fertilizer at half-strength in my dunking water. Is this a good idea? Haven't been able to find a fertilizer specifically for air plants at any store, but I have some orchid fertilizer handy in my cabinet. Haven't given it any fertilizer yet; trying to be conservative and cautious about that.
Any ideas on how long it will take to bloom, or how fast I should expect it to grow?
Thank you!! =)
Comments (11)
wildhyacinth
8 years agoRelated Discussions
First time Tillandsia cyanea owner and need help
Comments (10)Hi Elk, The bracts turning color is natural. No need to worry. This was recently discussed in this thread: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/bromeliad/msg0114505819901.html?2 Was your plant completely dry when you returned? Lack of or excessive watering as far as i know shouldn't cause the flower bracts to turn green, unless maybe it is stressed from absolutely no water. Or maybe you have the plant in very high light. That may make it green and hot temps would brown the edges. Just move it into a shadier but still bright spot and that may preserve the pinkish color somewhat. But it will eventually turn green anyway. With watering, I would wait until the leaves are clear of water and then fill them again with water. On mine that's about once/week. During periods of fast growth and hot temperatures that may be 2-3 times per week. This probably sounds tricky, but don't have it wading in water, as well as try to keep it from drying out either. They are pretty durable so you shouldn't have to worry. Yes, when Tillandsias (and all bromeliads) finish flowering the mother is finished growing and will bloom no more. But soon it sends out small pups which will eventually mature. You can split them off with a sharp knife, but I would wait until the pups are large enough before you separate them from mommy. On mine I like the clumped look so I just leave them be. A colony of T.cyanea in bloom is breathtaking. Hope this helps....See MoreCan anyone help me ID these bugs? :)
Comments (7)Hi girlsgirl, I've just been looking at this forum, and I suspect your bug (the star in the series of photos) may be some form of ladybug larva. It looks like a bunch of the ones I've seen on the site called "whatsthatbug.com". I also think this because some ants farm aphids for honeydew, which would explain the presence of the ladybird larvae. I would send your photo to that website just for a verification. If they're ladybird/ladybug larva, I hope some of them made it! Not as a criticism, but I would be a little wary of using a single post from anyone as a reason to eradicate anything in my garden. There are folks here who recommend using pesticides like sevin to kill any kind of bug for what seems like any reason. It is also a fantastic resource full of kind, intelligent, helpful people, thank goodness! I hope things are great in your garden! Please post again if you find out anything new about those bugs..:)...See MoreNeed help raising my first Tillandsia!
Comments (3)Sooo ... your plant is small Tillandsia ionantha. Answers for your questions: White substance on leaves are trichomes (scales) - plant organ that protects it from sun and helps absorbing water. Watering depends on weather. I mist my plants twice a day during hottest summer days, once a day when weather is normal and I don't water them when weather is cold, humid and cloudy. As you noted, conditions should be good enough to make the plant dry within 3-4 hours. Method of watering is mostly personal choice. I prefer misting. Soaking them for few seconds would have the same effect. Most natural for tillandsias is rainwater. Low quality (hard) tap water can cause precipitation of limescale on your plant. You can add orchid/bromeliad or any other fertilizer once per 3-4 weeks. Concentration 4-10x lower than the one recommended on the bottle. If the plant isn't glued too firmly, I would give it better place, definitely without that moss. Piece of old wood or maybe a stone are better choice. The plant should have fresh air around its base to prevent rot. I grow them this way (used a drop of Pattex 100% gel glue): You can trim off the dry tips if you find them unaesthetic. And one more tip from me - ionanthas can get some sunlight (a lot of it when they are acclimated). It helps them to grow and to get dry faster after watering. Good luck :)...See MoreCan anyone help me ID?
Comments (10)Djacob, here's a laugh for you...I thought for some reason both posts were about the same plant! Dhaven suggested RF first in the other post and Don did too....then suggested it in this one too. I am now befuddled....but whilst in that befuddled stupor I still think both are RF... you can also not pay any attention to me at this hour, lol....See Morewildhyacinth
8 years agowildhyacinth
8 years agowildhyacinth
8 years agowildhyacinth
8 years agoUser
8 years ago
lynngun