Tillandsia cyanea is native to Ecuador. It grows epiphyte on trees in rainforests at altitudes between 0 and 850 meters. The Latin specific epithet cyanea means "blue", referring to the intense purple-violet hue of the flowers. Its popularity is due to its ease of cultivation, its availability in all the garden centers and especially its spectacular flowering.
Tillandsia cyanea, also called as Pink quill, Platystachys cyanea, Wallisia lindenii, Phytarrhiza lindenii, Vriesea lindenii, Tillandsia morreniana, Tillandsia lindenii, is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species was described by Jean Jules Linden & Karl Heinrich Emil Koch in 1867. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
IDENTIFY TILLANDSIA CYANEA AIR PLANT
Tillandsia cyanea is native to Ecuador. It grows epiphyte on trees in rainforests at altitudes between 0 and 850 meters. The Latin specific epithet cyanea means "blue", referring to the intense purple-violet hue of the flowers. Its popularity is due to its ease of cultivation, its availability in all the garden centers and especially its spectacular flowering.
It is a medium sized perennial epiphyte which growing to 50 cm high by 50 cm wide, with stemless rosettes of thin, recurved, 30-45cm long and 1-2cm wide, grey-green with reddish brown, lengthwise stripes on the underside leaves.
Pink quill blooms in spring and autumn from a 5-8cm long flower stalk appearing from the center of the mature rosette. The rose flowers head are fan-shaped, 10-15cm long and 5cm wide, last for up to 10 weeks. The actual flowers, which appear singly from the notches formed on the edge of the flower head by the overlapping of the bracts, are tubular flaring out into three broad petals. Flower colour is bright violet-blue and each bloom measure about 5cm across.
TILLANDSIA CYANEA 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 cyanea requires a moderate brightness. Be sure to avoid any strong, direct sun as the leaves of the plant will burn. This air plant will grow well, but will not flower if kept in dark.
Temperature:
The plant will grow actively throughout the year if the temperature is kept above 15°C, being suitable for warm environments with temperatures that does not drop below 13°C. Get it early enough in the fall if you grow it outside, so that it does not face night temperatures below 8 ° 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:
This plant prefers high level of humidity. Good aeration is required, the plant must dry quickly (in less than an hour).
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Tillandsia cyanea can be grow in pot and 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:
If the plant is grown as epiphyte, water every day, almost summer, and once every 2 days in winter (no need to return the plant to empty the excess water). If grown in pots, water them a little less often. Although epiphyte, this species is often sold in pot. It is not useless in this case to slightly wet the root ball but do not do it every day, you could rot the base of the plant.
Fertilizer:
This air plant can be fertilized with the moderate doses. 2 to 3 times a month in the summer and 1 time a month in the winter, depending on the light available and the growth of the plant.
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