Tillandsia ionantha is found in Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, in tropical forests, growing at an altitude of 450-2000 meters...
Tillandsia ionantha also called as Blushing Bride, Ionantha air plant, Sky plant, Silver urn, Pityrophyllum gracile, Tillandsia rubentifolia, is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species was described by Jules Émile Planchon in 1855.
IDENTIFY TILLANDSIA IONANTHA
Tillandsia ionantha is found in Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, growing in both xeric and mesic tropical habitats and is found in at least 12 ecoregions, comprising: lowland to montane, semi/deciduous, sub/evergreen, gallery and mixed primary and secondary forests, mangroves, areas near beaches, cliffs, thickets, ravines and also along roadsides and highways, pastures and orchards, rocky savanna, chaparral and in riparian habitats, at an altitude of 450-2000 meters.
The main subspecies are: Tillandsia ionantha var. ionantha (from Mexico to Guatemala, altitude of 500-1700 meters), Tillandsia ionantha var. scaposa (Guatemala, altitude of 1500-1700 meters), Tillandsia ionantha var. mexico (Mexico, altitude of 400-1500 meters), Tillandsia ionantha var. Haselnuss (Mexico, Nicaragua, altitude of 500-1500 meters), Tillandsia ionantha var. rubra (Nicaragua, altitude of 400-1500 meters), Tillandsia ionantha var. fuego (Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, altitude of 400-1700 meters).
It is a small and evergreen epiphyte, which reaching 8 to 12 cm in height, with compact rosettes of green and silver-hued, turning to a deeper shade of green when mature leaves. This species blooms in March to May from the lanceovate, acute, equaling or exceeding the sepals, membranaceous, lepidote toward apex bracts, and the leaves will turn bright red. The flowers are long-tubular, purple-violet. The fruit is a subcylindric, acute, septicidal capsule about 3 cm in length containing the seeds, each having a feathered tuft of hairs.
TILLANDSIA IONANTHA CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Almost all the subspecies of Tillandsia ionantha (except the scaposa) appreciate considerable amounts of light and therefore need a very bright position; the ionantha scaposa thrives in semi-shaded conditions. All subspecies develop well even under artificial lighting: with needs ranging between 12000 and 20000 lux.
In the hottest climates, it is best given some afternoon shade. In a dark location the plant will gradually weaken and wither. In winter, you need to find a luminous place. Its color is generally more intense when budding and when getting lots of light.
Temperature:
Tillandsia ionantha can live in a wide range of temperature, from 15°C to 45°C. They can tolerate light frost, but they grow best with summer temperatures of 20-30°C or higher and winter temperatures around 15 ° C.
When night-time temperatures are above 10-12 ° C, this plant can be grown outdoors in a place protected from direct sunlight and rain. Excellent air circulation need ensured.
Mounting:
This species refer to be mounted on a solid substrate that does not retain water. You can glue the plant directly to the surface with a strong adhesive, or you can wire the plant to the base. Don't cover the base of the plant with moss or it may rot. It can be grown on almost any imaginable decorative mount, including shells, rocks, slate, driftwood, etc. Group them in decorative clumps for maximum effect.
Watering:
Tillandsia ionantha is quite sensitive to excess water and is predisposed to leaf rot: it is therefore necessary to ensure the drying of the plant within 2-3 hours from the time of watering (especially if grown indoors).
When grow this plant outdoors, it gets wet every 3-4 days with a hot shower, and if placed indoors, it is sprayed every 3-4 days during the summer and every 5-6 days during the winter.
Fertilizer:
Fertilizing is not absolutely necessary to survival, but will increase the growth and vigor of the plants and their blooms. This species need a fertilizer that can be absorbed directly in to the plant via the leaves and use Bromeliad fertilizer (17-8-22) twice a month in summer, once a month in winter is recommended.
COMMENTS