The Tillandsia , also known as "air plant," belongs to the bromeliad family. It is an extraordinary plant that over the years has adapted to the most extreme conditions, including living without soil.
When we think of the parts of a plant, the roots come to mind, among them, well, the Tillandsia does not always have roots, and when it does, it uses them for something different from what we are used to seeing. In his case it is more a function of support and anchorage.
Tillandsia, an epiphytic species
This plant can grow in the most unexpected places, such as around a telephone pole, on top of other plants, around the trunk of a tree…in fact, the name of the species, epiphyte , means that it is a plant that lives on top of other plants.
This is a perennial, herbaceous plant native to the Americas. However, it's not limited to any specific environment but thrives in a wide variety of locations, all within the Americas . It can be found in tropical rainforests, deserts, and even on the Andean plateaus. To learn more about these unique plants, you can visit this article about air plants and their care.
How does a Tillandsia feed?
You might wonder how this plant feeds if it doesn't have roots, or if it uses them only for anchorage… well, it does so through its leaves and the air . Hence its name, "daughter of the air," because it feeds on elements found in its leaves known as trichomes. These elements capture moisture from the air and use it as sustenance. But it can't live on water alone; it also obtains nitrogen through nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
What are Tillandsias like?
It's very difficult to describe this plant because there are no fewer than 730 species , each one different from the others, so you can imagine the variety of colors and shapes. However, we can say that one of the plant's characteristics is that it usually has vibrant and varied colors; let's not forget that it's a tropical plant, even though it can live in desert areas. But I'll show you the three most common ones.
Tillandsia Cyanea
One of the best-known species is Tillandsia cyanea, which has very thin, narrow, long, green leaves and very pretty pink flowers. The flowers are with flat petals, mounted one on the other as an image of a "pineapple". But these flowers do not last more than 4 months and they do not appear more than once in the entire life of the plant. It is a very delicate plant and is usually in warm and humid areas.
tillandsia aeranthos
This is another well-known plant, prized for its flowers that combine purple and pink. However, it shares the same drawback as the Cyanea: it only blooms once in its lifetime. It's small and needs plenty of sun. For more information on different types of plants, you can consult this list of plant names.
Tillandsia Usneoides
This plant is very unusual and very different from the ones we've mentioned so far. It's known as "Moses's beard" because of its long, grayish beard. When it flowers, it looks like a tangle of gray threads drooping toward the ground, but when the summer heats up, green and yellow flowers with an intense and pleasant scent appear.
Growing Tillandsias Outside of America
Although, as we have said, it is a plant that is only found in America, it is true that it can be seen in more and more areas due to its peculiar appearance, because it does not need a substrate and because it is still an exotic plant and everything exotic always calls the attention. Well, if we want to have it in our lands we must know that they hold up better inside the houses.
It's one of the plants that are starting to be used to purify indoor air because it captures not only water with its trichomes but also pollutants. To learn more about growing houseplants, you can visit our article on indoor plants.
Depending on the variety we have chosen, they will need more or less humidity. In the case that they need humidity, the ideal is to put them in the kitchen or bathroom. If they don't need so much humidity, any room is good.
If we want to keep it outside, we must pay attention to the heat. They need heat. They can tolerate no substrate, but not cold. So, we can keep them in the garden in summer, but we shouldn't put them in direct sunlight. If you have a tree, you can place it on the trunk and it will grow roots on its own to anchor itself to the tree. Keep in mind that when the cold weather arrives, it will die.
How much should you water Tillandsia?
Special care must be taken in areas with a dry climate, if not, let's remember that it only captures water from the air through the trichomes. You don't need to water it a lot. A curious fact, the Tillandsias with green leaves need more water than those with gray leaves.
When you water them you have to do something similar to when you water orchids. You have to take the plant and put it under the tap for a few minutes.
When should pruning be done?
Maximum twice a month and without going overboard. It is a self-sufficient plant but we must remove the leaves that are sick or dry. They usually get sick from the attack of aphids and mealybugs.
When we get too much sunlight, the leaves turn darker, it will be the sign that we are loading it, we must move it to a place with less sun. In case the leaves begin to fall, it means that there is too much air, you have to put it in a place more sheltered from the wind.
Growing in pots
Ideally, these plants should grow on other plants or logs, not on potted substrates. The only species that can withstand potting longer are Tillandia cyanea, which we've discussed before, and Lindeliana, another Tillandsia species we haven't covered today but will later.