Tillandsia is a perennial herb from the bromeliad family. In nature, it can be found in America (from the south of the USA to Chile). The numerous and diverse genus is represented by epiphytic and terrestrial species. Domestic florists grow exotic and amazing tillandsia as an indoor flower. He is not capricious in leaving, but he amazes with unusual leaves and inflorescences. Sometimes they look like feathers of fabulous birds or the head of a jellyfish, and sometimes other mythical creatures.
Plant description
Tillandsia is a grassy, slow-growing perennial. Most representatives of the genus live on snags and trees of the rainforest. Some flowers have adapted to life on the rocks. All of them have a rather short and fragile rhizome, which serves only for fixing. The main nutrition is through the leaves.
The height of adult tillandsia is 5-60 cm. Rigid leaf plates have a narrow, slightly curved shape. On the dark green surface of the sheet, red-brown strokes and stains sometimes appear. The length of the sheet varies between 5 and 35 cm, and the width is 3-12 mm. The entire sheet, or only part of its surface, is covered with tiny flakes that absorb water and nutrients from the air.
In September, a strip-shaped inflorescence blossoms from a leaf-shaped center on a sturdy peduncle. The buds are flattened and hidden by hard perianths of raspberry or orange color. They are arranged in pairs on two sides of the stem. Flowers bloom 1 or 2 at a time. Soft violet-blue petals resemble moths, crouching to rest on a bright spike. The diameter of the open corolla is 20-25 mm. In total, up to 20 buds are on the inflorescence; their flowering continues until January.
After flowering, the rosette dies and tillandsia goes into a dormant state. In the next season, new shoots form from the formed buds. One outlet lives up to 5 years. Even before the complete death of the mother plant, children can be found on it. They are recommended to be separated in the year of emergence and grown independently.
Popular types of tillandsia
The genus Tillandsia consists of more than 400 species. They are conditionally divided into atmospheric and terrestrial plants. Tillandsia, atmospheric or epiphytic, has a very small rhizome. Her leaves are completely covered with light-reflecting scales, therefore they are painted in gray or silver. The most interesting representatives of this group are the following:
- Tillandsia is weeviform. For a very exotic appearance, this species is called "Spanish moss" or "old man's beard." Thin branched shoots grow up to 1 m in length. They are covered with narrow silvery leaves up to 5 cm long and about 1 mm wide. Crohn forms a dense cascade. In summer, the plant blooms with yellow-green unremarkable flowers. They grow it as an ampel plant.
Tillandsia is unshaped - Tillandsia "the head of the jellyfish." The plant attracts with an unusual form of base. Its leaves merge into dense spherical bulbs with a pimpled surface. By this structure, they resemble the body of a jellyfish or octopus. Narrow green leaves grow from the center. A panicle-shaped inflorescence of several narrow spikelets is painted in bright contrasting tones.
Tillandsia "jellyfish head" - Tillandsia xerography. The flower forms a compact leaf rosette. Silver-green leaflets reach a width of 1-2 cm and slightly twist along the vertical axis. The peduncle is larger and friable. It consists of pink-green buds that bloom in purple or blue flowers.
Tillandsia xerography
Potted or green tillandsia are grown in a classic way. They select special soil and plant it in a pot. Representatives of this group include the following plants:
- Tillandsia Anita. The decorative compact appearance has a dense rosette of gray-green leaves. Narrow and long foliage is only partially covered with scales. During flowering, a short, obovate inflorescence of pink color forms. On it, in turn, starting from the bottom, lilac or purple flowers blossom.
Tillandsia Anita - Tillandsia Duer. The leaf rosette consists of wider, linear leaves of a dark green color. On a thin peduncle is a long, two-row inflorescence in the form of an ear. It consists of pink or orange buds loosely pressed together. Miniature white flowers hide under the bracts.
Tillandsia Duer - Tillandsia is blue. A compact plant up to 25 cm high with long brown-green leaves similar to cereals. It blooms with a flat oblong spike, painted in lilac or pink. Single purple or blue flowers bloom from the ear.
Tillandsia blue
Breeding methods
Tillandsia propagates by seed and vegetative methods. Only potted varieties can be grown from seeds. In the spring they are distributed on the surface of sand and peat soil and slightly pressed into it. Crops are sprayed and covered with a film. Containers with seedlings are kept in a room with moderate lighting and air temperature + 18 ... + 20 ° C. Shoots appear within 2-3 weeks. After 3 months, 2-3 real leaflets are formed on the plant, and it can be transplanted into a separate pot.
All types of tillandsia form children. The process with its own small roots can be separated and transplanted. Its dimensions at the time of rooting should be about half of the maternal dimensions. Rooting of green varieties is done in the soil. Atmospheric plants are fixed on driftwood or in a special container. It is filled with sphagnum, charcoal and peat. Tillandsia is unispecific propagated by cuttings. It is enough to separate any shoot and fix it. It will continue to develop as a mother plant.
Transplant Rules
Wide and shallow containers are used for planting tillandsia, since the rhizome has a very modest size. Regular transplants to the plant are not needed. It is only necessary to periodically replace the old substrate. If a large number of children are formed, they need to be separated and transplanted into their own pots. Atmospheric specimens do not need a pot at all. In stores they are sold with a piece of stump or stone. During transplantation, it is important to be careful not to damage the fragile plant.
The soil for tillandsia should be well-drained and fibrous. It is best to use substrates with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. The presence of lime in the soil is unacceptable. Suitable mixtures for orchids and bromeliad plants. They can be composed independently of:
- moss sphagnum;
- pieces of pine bark;
- crushed charcoal;
- deciduous land;
- fern roots.
Every spring, the topsoil is replaced with a new one.
Content Features
Tillandsia require the florist to take care of bromeliad crops. These plants can not be called completely unpretentious. However, mastering the basic rules is possible.
Lighting. All species of tillandsia are grown in partial shade or in diffused light. Atmospheric varieties grow better in dark rooms, and potted species need lighter rooms. It is also recommended that the latter be exposed to direct sunlight in the morning and evening. In winter, bright lighting for green tillandsia is needed throughout the day.
Temperature. Tillandsia needs daily temperature fluctuations in the range of 5-8 ° C. The optimum daily air temperature is + 22 ... + 28 ° C. Increases to + 35 ° C and decreases to + 10 ° C are allowed. In summer, it is convenient to put flowers on the street, where they come closer to the natural conditions of detention. On the street, flowers are put under a canopy. Rain in a temperate climate is too cold for them.
Humidity. Near plants, it is necessary to maintain high air humidity. The crown is sprayed daily with well-purified water. Atmospheric plants need up to 3 sprays per day. The more intense the lighting, the higher humidity Tillandsia needs. In October-February, spraying is carried out in the morning. It is also important to regularly ventilate the room. Every 2 months, the flowers are bathed in a warm shower. The procedure should not be carried out during the flowering period, otherwise it will be short-lived.
Watering. Of great importance is the quality of water for irrigation. It must be rain or thoroughly cleaned. Chlorine, lime and other impurities affect the growth and appearance of the plant. Plaque may form on the back of the leaves. Atmospheric species moisten the soil extremely rarely, only after it has completely dried. Potted plants are watered sparingly, but regularly. The soil should always be slightly moist. Water should be poured into the center of the leaf outlet. Periodically, you need to immerse the pot in a basin with water.
Fertilizer. Every 1-2 months, tillandsia is fed with mineral complexes for bromeliads. A healthy plant is enough and half a portion of fertilizer. They are brought in from March to September. It is important to consider that part of the nutrition of the flower receives through the leaves. Therefore, top dressing is not only poured into the soil (in the center of the leaf outlet), but also added to the water for spraying.
Diseases and pests. In violation of the conditions of detention, namely dampness and excessive watering, leaf spotting may develop. At an early stage of the disease, the leaves are treated with fungicides, but the probability of saving the plant is very small. Affected flowers or their patches should be destroyed immediately. Tillandsia can suffer from attacks of spider mites, scale insects, aphids and mealybugs. Parasites are fought with insecticides.
