Atmospheric tillandsia is an attractive airy flower that is very popular with exotics lovers. And this is not surprising, because the tropical guest is distinguished by an unpretentious character and original appearance. And if desired, even an inexperienced grower can grow it, the main thing is to adhere to the rules of agricultural technology.
Description
Atmospheric tillandsia is a vivid representative of the large Bromeliad family. This perennial epiphytic plant parasitizes on trees and stones, clinging to them with its tenacious roots-hooks. It receives moisture and nutrients from the air, thanks to special scales on the leaves. You can meet tillandsia in the wild in the tropical and subtropical forests of Argentina, Chile, Mexico, as well as in the southern states of the USA.
Unlike most exotic plants, many types of culture easily take root at home. The main thing is to choose a suitable place for culture, and maintain high humidity in the room.
Kinds
There are many varieties of this plant. But at home, as a rule, these types of atmospheric tillandsia are grown:
- Usneevidnaya, or flywheel. An atmospheric plant, devoid of roots, which clings to the support with a thin antennae. The length of the stems reaches only 15-20 cm. The narrow leaves of the awl-shaped culture are covered with thin whitish hairs. In summer, modest yellow flowers appear on the tops of young shoots.
- Silvery. This tillandsia differs from other species in the thickened base of the outlet, resembling a bulb. Thin and filiform leaves of the variety are cast in the sun in silver, for which it was named. It blooms in small red and blue buds.
- Bootsy. An original variety that resembles a tangled bundle of emerald-colored wires. The leaves of the plant are heterogeneous: with thin tips, and extension to the base. The culture reaches up to 60 cm in height. It blooms in large tubular buds with a pink bract and purple petals. Unlike its “relatives”, Tillandsia Bootsy lets out children even before flowering.
- Andre. A decorative variety with thin, curved back leaves, on which there is a gray or brown fluff. Reaches up to 25 cm in height.
- Head of jellyfish. This species really looks like a mythological creature. She has swollen, and strongly twisted leaves resembling tentacles. The plant produces a flat, bright pink peduncle, on which blue buds form.
- Violet-flowered. This variety looks like exotic corals. The plant has small rosettes, reaching no more than 5 cm in height and width, and thin curved leaves. The most unpretentious species that clings to any support and survives in almost all conditions. In the summer, before flowering begins, the inner leaves of the culture acquire a bright pink color. Releases spiky buds of a blue-violet hue.
Each of these varieties will decorate the interior. But for this you need to create comfortable conditions for the plants.
Home Care
Atmospheric tillandsia is a plant that is characterized by an unpretentious nature. Nevertheless, in order for the tropical guest to please her with her appearance, she needs care, which consists of regular watering and feeding, prevention of diseases and pests. In addition, it is important to provide the plant with a dormant period, and maintain a comfortable temperature, lighting and humidity in the room. And then tillandsia will take root and will quickly grow.
Temperature
Atmospheric tillandsia is a thermophilic plant, but it does not tolerate heat. From spring to autumn, it is advisable to maintain the temperature in the room within + 20 ... + 25 ° C. From November to February, when the tropical beauty comes to rest, it is better to transfer the plant to a cooler room with a temperature of + 14 ... + 18 ° C.
Lighting
The plant is shade-loving, but nevertheless, for normal growth it needs sunlight. It is especially useful for the rays to fall on the leaves of tillandsia in the morning and at sunset. Therefore, it is advisable to grow plants near the east or west window. In winter, when the sun is not too active, it is worth rearranging the culture closer to the south side. Better yet, provide tillandsia additional illumination with a phytolamp. In addition, a tropical guest can generally be grown under artificial lighting. But it is worth considering that the daylight hours for it should last at least 14 hours.
Humidity
Like most epiphytes, tillandsia absorbs moisture from the atmosphere with its leaves. Therefore, when growing a tropical beauty, it is important to maintain high humidity in the room, and this indicator should not fall below 75%. Of course, it is best to put a special device next to the flower - a humidifier. If not, then spray the foliage of the plant every morning using a spray bottle for water. At the same time, cover the peduncle with cellophane so that moisture does not get on it.
In winter, when the air in the apartment becomes drier due to the operation of central heating, it is much more difficult to maintain optimal humidity. And at this time, spraying alone will not work. Experienced growers are advised to purchase special florariums for winter in Tillandsia. Others grow crops in aquariums, vases, or in flower cases.
If you do not have such devices, then try to spray the foliage culture several times a day, using a spray bottle for water. Also, place water containers next to the plant and cover the batteries with wet towels.
At any time of the year, do not forget that the exotic beauty needs an influx of fresh air. Therefore, do not forget to regularly air the room. But since tillandsia does not tolerate drafts and sudden changes in temperature, take it to another room during this procedure.
Watering
The plant receives most of the moisture through spraying. But still, 1-2 times a week, he needs more substantial hydration. How to water a plant? To do this, immerse it together with a support in a container of warm water and leave it for 20-30 minutes so that it is saturated with life-giving moisture. And then wait until the excess fluid drains and return the flower to its usual place
Before watering the plant, you should remember that it is better to use rain or melt water for irrigation. In extreme cases, you can use a tap, but before the procedure, you need to filter it and stand for at least a day.
If you notice that the leaves of tillandsia began to curl along the vein, immediately immerse the flower in a container of water. After all, such a phenomenon is a sign of serious dehydration. In this case, hold the flower in the water for 3-4 hours, and only then return to the usual place.
Top dressing
Tillandsia responds well to fertilizers, but it is strictly forbidden to overfeed the flower. In addition, you cannot use for these purposes compounds that contain nitrogen, copper, boron and zinc. Also, do not feed the tropical guest with universal preparations, any growth stimulants, and organics in the form of infusions of grass, bird droppings and mullein.
What then fertilize the culture? Give preference to top dressing intended for bromeliads and orchids. But choose solutions that do not contain boron and copper, which are poison for tillandsia. And also consider that you need to use only a quarter of the dose that is indicated on the package.
Fertilize from March to September directly to the flower outlet, combining top dressing with watering. Hold this event once every six weeks. In winter, completely exclude top dressing.
Rest period
Providing care for atmospheric tillandsia at home, we must not forget that the plant needs a dormant period. If you grow a tropical beauty near the window, then in winter it will come by itself. Indeed, during this period the amount of light and heat decreases, and tillandsia goes into hibernation. At this time, remember the extreme temperatures that the plant can withstand.
If you grow a culture in the back of the room, then provide it with additional illumination with a phytolamp.
Transfer
As such, a tillandsia transplant is not only not required, but also undesirable. Indeed, during the event, you can damage parts of the plant, which will affect its health. Therefore, even if you do not like the support, and you want to replace it, it is better not to transplant the culture, but wait until it releases the children. And already attach them to the new stand.
Bloom
Atmospheric tillandsia blooms once in a lifetime, and this happens at the age of two or three years. And after the formation of the buds, the tropical guest spends all her efforts on the formation of children, and she dies. The flowering of tillandsia looks very exotic: the plant produces an ear of corn, on which buds of a bright color alternately open. Each of them does not last long, but the flowering itself can last several months. In addition, the spike looks very decorative, even after the last bud has departed. Therefore, it is not necessary to cut it, because over time it will die along with the mother plant.
Caring for tillandsia during and after flowering is no different from normal. It is necessary, as before, to regularly spray and water the flower so that it grows the children. Each specimen gives from 3 to 8 lateral processes, due to which you can create a large collection of these exotic plants.
Breeding
If desired, you can grow a large collection of these amazing plants. Moreover, even a beginner can cope with the task. To get started, prepare all the necessary materials.
Plants do not need soil, most often they are attached to bars, snags or felt. When creating a composition with a flower, remember that the use of materials treated with varnish, paint or chemicals is strictly prohibited. Indeed, from contact with them, the plant will quickly die. An ideal option would be a piece of natural tree bark, a fragment of a root or branch, as well as a small wicker basket. If you plan to hang the stand on the wall, then make a hole in it first, and thread the wire.
Proceed with the reproduction of atmospheric tillandsia when the children grow to 5-6 cm in diameter. How to conduct an event:
- Cut the kids with a sharp knife from the mother plant, and be sure to treat the cut sites with powdered coal.
- Press tillandsia to the support with the root neck, root inward. It is advisable to place some sphagnum moss or coconut fibers between the plant and the stand. So tillandsia will be easier to catch on the support.
- Gently attach the plant to the stand using a soft, elastic thread or wire in the sheath. To make the composition look spectacular, select the threads to match the color of the support or tropical beauty.
- Spray the plant with warm water from a sprayer, and then hang or set in a permanent place.
In the future, provide young cultures with routine care.
Growing problems
If you ensure proper care of atmospheric tillandsia at home, then there will be no problems with it. But if you regularly violate the rules of agricultural technology, the tropical guest begins to act up. Most often, flower growers encounter such problems:
- The leaves of the plant are twisted, the tips are dried and yellowed. Lack of watering, too dry indoor air, or the use of hard water leads to a similar phenomenon. Normalize irrigation and do not forget to spray the crop more often, and it will quickly recover.
- Tillandsia does not release buds. A plant may refuse to bloom if it lacks light and heat. Transfer the culture to another place with more suitable conditions, and if necessary, arrange for additional illumination with a phytolamp.
- The base of the outlet has rotted. Excessive watering, or excess fertilizer leads to a similar phenomenon. In addition, contact with contaminated material may cause decay. To save the plant, immediately change the support. If there are kids, then attach them to other coasters. In no case do not use fungicides to treat the bark, because they are absorbed into the material, and will gradually poison the flower. If you want to disinfect the support, pour boiling water over it or dry it in the oven.
Diseases and Pests
With proper care, this unpretentious plant practically does not get sick. And in rare cases, leaf spotting strikes him. This fungal disease can be recognized by the fact that blisters appear on the plant. Over time, they grow and turn into brown spots. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to cure the diseased tillandsia, and the plant will have to be destroyed.
Of the pests, the tropical beauty is often attacked by scale insects. These parasites with a wax shell are attached to the leaves of the culture, and take its juices. It is forbidden to fight pests with any insecticides, because the preparations contain a lot of substances poisonous to the plant. Therefore, insects will have to be destroyed mechanically. Carefully remove the parasites with a wooden spoon or spatula, and then wash each leaf with soapy water.
Reviews
Atmospheric tillandsia is becoming increasingly popular with domestic flower growers. And users leave positive reviews about her. They note that the plant is unpretentious, and does not cause much trouble. In addition, it looks very impressive and original, and becomes a living decoration of any interior. Of the disadvantages, only exactingness to high air humidity is distinguished. But this problem can be solved in simple and affordable ways.
Ensure the proper care of atmospheric tillandsia at home, and she will surely thank her with rapid growth and attractive appearance. To do this, adhere to the basic rules for growing this crop, and clearly follow the necessary agrotechnical measures.