Re: Bromeliads....Tillandsia

Oh Kitty, I love Tillandsias.  They are so cool.  Very  unique.
Some Tillandsias can be potted......as in T. cyanea.  However most are  much 
better mounted.  I've found that on Tillandsias, they are really easy  to 
grow, if you keep them misted but not soaked.  Like the little ionanthas  that one 
sees readily available mounted on shells, or magnets or such for the  
kitchen???  Bright light is essential with all, and a regular  misting.  Mom has a 
tiny "tree" in a small pot, piece of branch and a  cluster of the T. ionanthas 
on top to form a tree......once a week or  two she sticks it under the faucet 
to wet it, lets it drip dry, and it sits  on her kitchen window above the 
sink....but she lives in very dry San Antonio,  Tx.   It is more humid here, so I 
just spray mine with a spray bottle with  rain water.  Rule of thumb is if they 
have silver foliage they take less  water...misting.  If they have green 
foliage they can take more water and  probably can be potted up more readily.   
When potting up most bromeliads (except terrestrials) pot in orchid  mix, 
bark chips, or other very well draining medium, for excellent  drainage.  
 
I have found though.....this might be getting more technical....but there  
are two types of Tillandsias....(as with orchids)...those from high altitudes  
and those from low.  Here, being pretty darn near sea level, we cannot grow  
the high altitude plants at all.  So perhaps this is something to consider  as 
well when purchasing the plants depending on your location.  
 
A great source for Tillandsias is also Birdrock nursery out in  California.  
They carry a lot of the high altitude types.  I'm  not sure if Tropiflora 
would carry that many, considering their  location.    Birdrock has a website 
also:   _http://www.birdrocktropicals.com/_ (http://www.birdrocktropicals.com/) 
 
Noreen
zone 9
Texas Gulf Coast
 
In a message dated 5/16/2005 11:02:20 PM Central Standard Time,  
gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:

What a  find!  Great site Noreen.  I fell in love with Tillandsia funkiana  -
pretty funky!
How big are the plants they sell?  I was looking at  the Tillandsias briefly.
These can't be potted?  Must they be  mounted?

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