Tillandsia xiphioides is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. This species grows epiphytically and saxicolously in dry regions at elevation of 700-2700 meters above sea level.
Tillandsia xiphioides, also called as Anoplophytum xiphioides, Tillandsia suaveolens, Tillandsia macrocnemis, Tillandsia sericea, Tillandsia xiphioides, is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species was described by John Bellenden Ker Gawler in 1816.
IDENTIFY TILLANDSIA XIPHIOIDES AIR PLANT
Tillandsia xiphioides is native to Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. This species grows epiphytically and saxicolously in dry regions at elevation of 700-2700 meters above sea level.
It is a medium sized saxicolous or epiphytic, which reaching up to 30 cm, with a short branching stem, and numerous, rigid, polystiques incouplets (rare) leaves, sometimes turned to one side that form a rosette. It is a very variable species and therefore differs from many varieties (T. xiphioides var. Lutea, minor, tafiensis) and subspecies (T. xiphioides ssp. Prolata).
This air plant blooms from the short, simple and distich inflorescence, with elongated spike. The bracts of the flowering stem are large, imbricate, scaly at the base of the inflorescence and almost glabrous at the top of it. The floral bracts are very nested, veined, little or not scaly, yellow sometimes reddish. The flowers are very fragrant (lemon scent), sessile, non-tubular, 4 to 5 cm long, white. The petals have the serrated end.
TILLANDSIA XIPHIOIDES 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 xiphioides requires good light and can tolerate full sun (avoid the afternoon in summer). It is best placed in a sheltered spot in the garden during the summer to facilitate flowering.
Temperature:
The required temperature ranging from 10 to 32°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:
This species need a weak level of humidity. Good aeration is required, the plant must dry quickly (in less than an hour). If not, find a cooler place.
Substrate, growing media and repotting:
Tillandsia xiphioides 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. Do not over spray it indoors in winter. Obviously when it rains and if you grow it outside, it counts as a 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.
COMMENTS