WHY ARE AIR PLANTS FOUND ON A NAUTICAL WEBSITE?
Like sailors of old, plants, trees, animals and much more were brought aboard ships from foreign shores. My love for Marlinspike Seamanship and Plants gave me the idea to place information about my Tillies on my site. My Tillies are wonderful living creatures and should be shared.
If you see me at different Farmers Markets in the Tampa, Florida area and the Columbus, GA area, come say hello and thank you for buying one of my Tillies. I hope you provide them a good home to watch them bloom and give you buds for future Air Plants.
Like sailors of old, plants, trees, animals and much more were brought aboard ships from foreign shores. My love for Marlinspike Seamanship and Plants gave me the idea to place information about my Tillies on my site. My Tillies are wonderful living creatures and should be shared.
If you see me at different Farmers Markets in the Tampa, Florida area and the Columbus, GA area, come say hello and thank you for buying one of my Tillies. I hope you provide them a good home to watch them bloom and give you buds for future Air Plants.
WHAT ARE AIR PLANTS?
So what are these things called Air Plants??? I have had folks come up and ask if they are real..... Air plants are as real as you and I. Air plants are actually called Tillandsias, "Tillies" which happens to be part of the Bromeliad species. There are many different types and they have also been labelled as Epiphytes, as they do not need to have soil to grow.
Air Plants are often found in the jungles, mountain tops, and deserts, of Central and South America, and Mexico and the southern United States in North America. Most important of all they can be found in your home. People have mistaken them for Succulents or even Spanish Moss. In a way they are correct as they all belong to the Bromeliad species. People do mistake them for being parasites feeding off the nutrients of trees. This is simply not true. Tillies do not live off the host, they simply find a base to adhere to the host. Their nutrients are gathered from the dirt particles in the air, and the rain.
So what are these things called Air Plants??? I have had folks come up and ask if they are real..... Air plants are as real as you and I. Air plants are actually called Tillandsias, "Tillies" which happens to be part of the Bromeliad species. There are many different types and they have also been labelled as Epiphytes, as they do not need to have soil to grow.
Air Plants are often found in the jungles, mountain tops, and deserts, of Central and South America, and Mexico and the southern United States in North America. Most important of all they can be found in your home. People have mistaken them for Succulents or even Spanish Moss. In a way they are correct as they all belong to the Bromeliad species. People do mistake them for being parasites feeding off the nutrients of trees. This is simply not true. Tillies do not live off the host, they simply find a base to adhere to the host. Their nutrients are gathered from the dirt particles in the air, and the rain.
HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO CARE FOR AIR PLANTS?
Air plants are actually a hardy plant and are easy to grow. They can be grown basically anywhere, on rocks, in a seashell or on coral, in ceramic or pottery, attached to wood (not pressure treated wood as it will kill your plant). As long as you do the following:
1. Provide Indirect light 2. Provide Water and 3. Provide Fertilizers (FOOD). The last is not necessary but once a month it helps to promote growth and bloom. If this old Salt can grow my babies, anyone can.
Air plants are actually a hardy plant and are easy to grow. They can be grown basically anywhere, on rocks, in a seashell or on coral, in ceramic or pottery, attached to wood (not pressure treated wood as it will kill your plant). As long as you do the following:
1. Provide Indirect light 2. Provide Water and 3. Provide Fertilizers (FOOD). The last is not necessary but once a month it helps to promote growth and bloom. If this old Salt can grow my babies, anyone can.
HOW MUCH AND WHAT TYPE OF LIGHT?
Air plants require bright indirect sunlight or fluorescent lighting. Give your Tillies as much bright indirect sunlight as possible , but remember to never place them in an area where there is constant DIRECT Sunlight. The best temperature for your Tillies is between 60 and 90 Degrees F.
Air plants require bright indirect sunlight or fluorescent lighting. Give your Tillies as much bright indirect sunlight as possible , but remember to never place them in an area where there is constant DIRECT Sunlight. The best temperature for your Tillies is between 60 and 90 Degrees F.
HOW MUCH AND WHAT TYPE OF WATER?
Completely soak your Tillies for one hour, once a week. Thoroughly mist your Tillies 2-3 times per week; more often in a hot, dry environment; less often in a cool, humid one will help but do not forget to soak them. In conditions of extreme drying, and consequent moisture loss, Tillies cannot get replacement water from their roots like a terrestrial plant, or draw on internal reserves like a succulent. The Water you use is important. Never use distilled water! Softened Water is not good either because of the salt content. Filtered water, tap water that has sat long enough for the chlorine to dissipate, and bottled water are all fine.Outdoors you may never need to water Tillandsias if you live in the humid Southeast. VERY IMPORTANT AFTER COMPLETELY SOAKING FOR ONE HOUR, LET YOUR TILLIES COMPLETELY DRY FOR A PERIOD OF 2-3 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING THEM TO AN ATRIUM OR SHELL. YOU MAY SHAKE THE PLANT TO REMOVE EXCESS WATER.
Completely soak your Tillies for one hour, once a week. Thoroughly mist your Tillies 2-3 times per week; more often in a hot, dry environment; less often in a cool, humid one will help but do not forget to soak them. In conditions of extreme drying, and consequent moisture loss, Tillies cannot get replacement water from their roots like a terrestrial plant, or draw on internal reserves like a succulent. The Water you use is important. Never use distilled water! Softened Water is not good either because of the salt content. Filtered water, tap water that has sat long enough for the chlorine to dissipate, and bottled water are all fine.Outdoors you may never need to water Tillandsias if you live in the humid Southeast. VERY IMPORTANT AFTER COMPLETELY SOAKING FOR ONE HOUR, LET YOUR TILLIES COMPLETELY DRY FOR A PERIOD OF 2-3 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING THEM TO AN ATRIUM OR SHELL. YOU MAY SHAKE THE PLANT TO REMOVE EXCESS WATER.
HOW MUCH AND WHAT TYPE OF FERTILIZER?
While fertilizing is not absolutely necessary, it can result in faster growth and better flowers, Lightly spray plants once per month with a 17-8-22 Bromeliad or Air Plant Fertilizer.
While fertilizing is not absolutely necessary, it can result in faster growth and better flowers, Lightly spray plants once per month with a 17-8-22 Bromeliad or Air Plant Fertilizer.
Note from the Salty Gardner:
I hope you enjoy your Air Plants as much as I do. From time to time I will place new pictures of my Tillies on the site. If you have some and would like to show them off, send me a picture to [email protected] and I will be glad to post them. ENJOY.... below you will see some of my girls.
I hope you enjoy your Air Plants as much as I do. From time to time I will place new pictures of my Tillies on the site. If you have some and would like to show them off, send me a picture to [email protected] and I will be glad to post them. ENJOY.... below you will see some of my girls.