Tillandsia caput-medusae is native to South America, mainly Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras. It grows on tree branches located in areas of strong sun at an altitude ranging from 0 to just over 2000 meters.
Tillandsia caput-medusae, also called as Octopus plant, Medusa's head is a species of air plant of the genus Tillandsia. This species was described by Charles Jacques Édouard Morren in 1880.
IDENTIFY TILLANDSIA CAPUT-MEDUSAE AIR PLANT
Tillandsia caput-medusae is native to South America, mainly Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras. It grows on tree branches located in areas of strong sun at an altitude ranging from 0 to just over 2000 meters.
Medusa's head is a large epiphyte, evergreen, herbaceous plant, which reaching 40 cm in size, with a very small amount of roots. This air plant has thick, channeled, tapering and twisting leaves which are up to 25 cm long and are covered in fine gray hairs. The rosette of leaves arise from an inflated pseudobulb.
Octopus plant blooms in early summer in their natural habit, and blooms from spring to early summer in cultivation. The bright violet flowers, about 3.2 cm long, arise from the usually unbranched or digitate red inflorescences. Pups are produced after blooming.
TILLANDSIA CAPUT-MEDUSAE AIR PLANT 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:
Tillandsia caput-medusae requires good light, even full sun (avoid the afternoon in summer if the plant is young or has not been used). Some morning or evening sun, with shade at other times is great.
Temperature:
Average to high temperatures help this air plant to flower, from 18°- 30 °C. Get it early enough in the fall if you grow it outside, so that it does not face night temperatures below 4 or 5 ° C, especially if it is wet. The plants can faced temperatures close to 0 ° C (sheltered and dry) for a few hours without damage.
Humidity:
Medusa's head likes average humid conditions. It does not like dry artificial heat, so if you bump up your heating during the winter remember to provide your plant with enough air and water spray. This species can withstand short periods of drought. Good aeration is required, the plant must dry quickly (in less than an hour).
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Tillandsia caput-medusae 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:
Twice a week in summer, once a week in winter according to the luminosity and the ambient humidity. Obviously when it rains and if you grow it outside, it counts as a watering. Like all others species with a bulbous appearance, it will prefer to be grown in an inclined position, to limit the problems of stagnant water at the base of the leaves. If you prefer to cultivate your head up, turn it over for a few seconds to drain the excess water after each watering.
Fertilizer:
This air plant can be fertilized with the moderate doses. 1 to 2 times a month in the summer and 1 time a month in the winter. Do not apply the liquid fertilizer in direct sunlight, since this could cause burns on the leaves.
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