New bloomer- Tillandsia stricta albifolia - Orchid Board

Izzie · #1 05-15-2010, 12:49 PM

Got my first Tillandsia!
There were huge baskets of them at a garden center I just applied to, and this little one just wouldn't let me go home without it!

I can definitely see myself getting more of these guys. I want a T. aeranthos var aemula...
Now I just need to find a cool mount to make a display on!

Tindomul · #2 05-15-2010, 04:19 PM

Wow, really nice. I have T. ionantha and its a real pretty display. As well as T. cyanea

Izzie · #3 05-15-2010, 04:35 PM

Yours are beautiful Tindo! I bet they're much happier than mine in that nice humid enclosure.
This guy's just gonna have to stick it out.

I love the cyanea, does it only produce one bloom on that stalk?
Reminds me of a bird with a comb on top.

Izzie · #4 05-15-2010, 04:37 PM

I have a piece of wood I want to mount mine on (and maybe an aeranthos when I get it), just haven't decided how I'm going to fasten them- monofilament, glue, or hot glue or something....

Tindomul · #5 05-15-2010, 04:51 PM

Yea, my ionantha did not attach itself, to this day I can just pick it up whenever.
The cynea blooms from every identation on the quill. So in the end you get like 20 blooms. None of them last more than one or two days and they all come in at different times.

Izzie · #6 05-15-2010, 04:56 PM

Neat! Does the cyanea stay pretty small?
I'm trying to find some smaller species/hybrids...

Tindomul · #7 05-15-2010, 08:31 PM

Its stayed small enough to fit in a small corner of my 20gallon tank. Much bigger than the ionantha though.

Orchidbyte · #8 05-15-2010, 10:49 PM

I have been growing tilliys for over twenty years, and have well over 100 of them. they are very easy as long as you give them good air movement and good water, bright light and some can take full sun. there are about 6 species that have a strong fragrence and very pretty flowers. A good place to look is rainforestflora.com, they have just about every species there is and they raise them from seed and they have been around about 20 years.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 05-16-2010, 01:12 AM

They're about 8 to 12 inches in diameter. The inflorescence sports a flattened paddle shaped pink flower bract that's about 6" to 7" tall and about 4" to 4 1/2" across at the widest area. The three petaled flowers are a bright blue-violet and are about 2" across. This is a fragrant species of Tillandsia. They're very popular everywhere (supermarkets, garden centers, non-specialist nurseries, florists, specialist nurseries all carry them).

In my opinion these are not the easiest of the Tillandsias to grow. I'd say they're kinda more for people who know a bit about Tillandsias already.

They're from a tropical forest type of environment. I'd say...perhaps it's best described as a tropical "dry" forest. The humidity is moderate to high (roughly between 60% to 80%), and it rains throughout the year with monsoon season having the heaviest rainfall. Temperatures are intermediate to warm (55 F - 90 F).

These do not grow in bright light. They grow in bright shade.

There are many small Tillandsias that don't get larger than 1" to 2" tall. T. crocata is one of them (and it's fragrant).

You might also wanna check out the little known group of terrestrial bromeliad from the genus Cryptanthus.

Izzie · #10 05-16-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

There are many small Tillandsias that don't get larger than 1" to 2" tall. T. crocata is one of them (and it's fragrant).

You might also wanna check out the little known group of terrestrial bromeliad from the genus Cryptanthus.

I'll definitely look into that smaller one!

And you know, after doing a little research, I think I already have a Cryptanthus and didn't know it- thought it was a succulent of some sort.
See it here- Unhappy succulent ID and help