TILLANDSIA

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized

Aug 25

Written By Peter Morris

Air Plants

A grouping of Tillandsia on driftwood

Tillandsia - one of many genus of tropical plants we call Bromeliads. As tree dwelling epiphytes – they do not require soil to grow. Found in forests from Mexico to Argentina.Most have narrow, long, and thin leaves that grow from a center in a spiral. A floral spike usually sprouts from the center on mature plants. Those with grey, hairy or fuzzy leaf textures come from areas prone to heat and drought. Smooth leaf ones are from humid jungles.They are super easy to grow and care for in the home - on driftwood or in a terrarium or glass container. Or just place them on a platter! All good.

Light

As a general rule, keep air plants out of direct sunlight. They do best if you can put them in bright but indirect sunlight.

Water

Air plants don’t have roots like other plants – just a few to help them hang on to a tree! They get the water they need from the high humidity and rainfall. In your home, you need to water your air plants about once a week. Some varieties can go two weeks without being watered.The best way to water them is to dunk them in a container of lukewarm water and let them soak for an hour. Then shake off any excess and you are good to go!Have fun with them – here are some pictures of the smaller ones good for a home.

T usneoides (Spanish Moss)

T cyanea

T harissii

T ionantha

T albida

T andreana

T araujei

T bulbosa

T capitata

T caput-medusae

T ehlersiana

T fasciculata

T funkiana

T sucrei

Looking for some easy to care for plants?

Our Indoor Team can get you the right air plant for your home !

or office !

Call us - let's talk choices !

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

TILLANDSIA