Air Plant (Tillandsia sp.) Clump of Six Individual Rosettes

Family: Bromeliaceae (the bromeliad family)
Genus: Tillandsia (air plants)

Botanical/Binomial Name: Tillandsia sp.
Meaning of Name:
Tillandsia, after the Swedish physician and botanist Elias Tillandz (1640-1693)
species unknown, awaiting flowering to assist in identification

Common Name: Air Plant, Tillandsia

Botanical Characteristics: Evergreen | Perennial | Epiphytic| Frost tender to tolerant (no lower than -10 °C)
Propagation: Division of rosette clumps

Item Description:
This is a clump of a yet-to-be-identified Tillandsia species. Each clump measures from 150-200 mm in three directions and contains six individual roettes for you to either leave as is, or further divide to form new clumps.

Photos are indicative of, but not necessarily the exact plants you will receive.

Plant Description:
Tillandsia species are bromeliads commonly called ‘air plants’ as they obtain all their water and nutrient requirements from air-borne dust, dew, rotting leaves, and rainwater collected by their leaf rosettes.

Most are epiphytic, anchoring thsemelves to trees but not harming them. Their root system is small, fragile, and designed for anchorage and not to take in water or nutrients as soil-bound plants do.

Growing Information:
Unlike other epiphytic bromeliads such as the matchstick bromeliad, Tillandsia species will not grow in soil but do better tucked into nooks of branches or attached to boards or any other object which doesn’t retain water. There they will happily anchor thsemselves and pretty much fend for themselves.

Tillandsia do need humid air to grow this way outdoors. They will thrive in greenhouses or terrariums with regular misting if your climate is not humid, or alternatively as houseplants they can be misted or even dunked in water a few times a week.

This species likes good light, but does prefer the protection of a bit of shade during hot summer days.

On Arrival:
The air plant is a tough plant and won’t require urgent immediate attention on arrival, but it is still a good idea to unpack these plants as soon as you can though, so that they can begin photosynthesis and resume growth.

Simply give them a good misting or dunk them in water before placing them in their prmanent position. Individual rosettes come away easily as the clump expands, and are easily relocated elsewhere to colonise a new area.