Tillandsia plumose is native to central Mexico. It is found at various altitudes ranging from 1500 to just over 2250 meters. It has an appearance resembling the Tillandsia tectorum, with long and white trichomes, but it has smaller dimensions...
Tillandsia plumosa also called as Viridantha plumosa, is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species was described by John Gilbert Baker in 1888.
IDENTIFY TILLANDSIA PLUMOSA
Tillandsia plumose is native to Mexico and Central America. It is found at various altitudes ranging from 1500 to just over 2250 meters. It has an appearance resembling the Tillandsia tectorum, with long and white trichomes, but it has smaller dimensions. This species is often confused with: T. atroviridipetala (differs in size often higher, leaves slightly sinuous, often less numerous and succulent sheaths and wider), T. mauryana (distinguished by slightly sinuous leaves, more filiform (less flattened), hairy scales, succulent sheaths and wider), T. ignesiae (distinguished by a compound inflorescence which can sometimes be very short).
It is a small epiphyte (sometimes saxicolous), which reach the heights of 5 to 15 cm, with yellow-green, simple, linear, entire and sessile leaves in rosettes. It blooms from the scaly and pinkish bracts. The flowers are almost tubular, 1 to 2 cm long, not fragrant. The petals are dark green at the apex, yellowish at the base.
TILLANDSIA PLUMOSA 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 and temperature:
Tillandsia plumose needs a very luminous position, even in full sun. His long trichomes filter a lot of light, so the light comes to the leaves is not much. During the spring-summer season, it can be placed outdoors, in a place that is possibly protected from rains, as it suffers a lot of excess moisture.
The required temperature ranging from 10 to 32°C. It is quite resistant to cold and can withstand temperatures up to 5-6 ° C. It can tolerate the temperatures close to 0 ° C (sheltered and dry) for a few hours without damage.
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:
It is not necessary to water the Tillandsia plumosa every day. It is sprayed lightly every 2-3 days when it is hot and every 4-5 days when it is cold. It is better not to point the flow of water on the plant but to vaporize the surrounding air (especially above), allowing the small droplets of water thus formed to rest gently on the plant.
When you see the trichomes have adhered to the leaves, it will be the sign that it is time to stop the watering. Intense fluxes and frequent wetting lead the plant to the loss of trichomes and therefore to loss of health.
Fertilizer:
Fertilizing is not absolutely necessary to survival, but will increase the growth and vigor of Tillandsia plumosa 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.
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