Tillandsia House Air Plants Lichens

[kg5]

The T. ionantha's image as in full flower before taking the seed from them.




As the flowers began to wilt could see the seed starting to come away so I pulled all the flowers out and have put them into a cotton bag to dry out. Just to see how well this works for seed collecting. Afterwards my fingers were peppery as I touched my mouth with them and found out. It quickly spread into my whole mouth.

[estación seca]

I didn't know the flowers had a bite. Good predator protection.

I'm confused by your last post... are you harvesting seed or pollen?

It takes the seed pod months to ripen after the flowers fade. Next time let the flowers fall off on their own. If the flower was pollinated, a small, narrow and pointed tubular structure will gradually grow from the center of the calyx. This is the developing fruit. When it is ripe it will turn very dark brown or black, and be very shiny. As the color changes you can cover with the bags. The fruit splits into three parts, exposing the seeds and their parachutes.

[kg5]

Thank you estación seca.

The flowers showed black/grey parachutes already on some flowers that is why I thought I was on track but not so.

Have broken open the wilted flowers to find the seed as described but a lot of immature looking seeds that have white deformed looking parachutes.

We live and learn. Picked a seed that I would not be upset experimenting with so as to get the idea of collecting seed.

Am reading that some seeds loose the viability when the pod bursts. So they cut the immature seed pod opened and this seed was viable for some Tillandsia's.

Very confusing, reading heaps. Will get it to work but time is need.And a helping hand as well thank you.

[kg5]

Finally found a search that opened up the whole world of Tillandsia seeds.

Mr Google Search : "Tillandsia Seed Storage". Simple as that!

[kg5]

This is T. plagiotropica and they flowered maybe as much as 4 months ago. The seed pods appear to be full, hard as, and not opened at all.

How do I harvest the seed from this type of seed pod?




This is my growing stock of T. plagiotropica and almost all have swollen seed pods attached. So there are enough plants for some experimenting to take place any ideas?

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When they're close to opening they turn from green to brown or near black. They open during dry spells. I think the three fruit valves come under tension as they dry out, then pop open suddenly. This leads to the parachutes being as dry and fluffy as possible when the fruits open.

I don't know how far before natural capsule opening the seeds are viable. In some kinds of plants the seeds are viable long before fruits open (orchids), and in others they are not viable until the last second (Burseraceae: Boswellia, Bursera, Commiphora.)

[kg5]

We are at our coldest now. With temps around 50f or 10c & 72f or 22c.

Have not watered the Tillandsia's or Staghorns for 3 weeks now.

Lots of different swollen seed pods but still have not collected any seed.

All the plants are still growing. The Stags are really enjoying having no water. Lots of grow leaves budding. The Tillandsia's are all looking great also.

We had some very unseasonable rain. The Tillandsia's have a hard roof so no worries. The Stag really did not like the cold wet as they are in the open but now all is good.

[estación seca]

The Tillandsias at my mom's house get those temperatures all winter. Sometimes colder at night. They don't mind the (some years) substantial winter rain. If you have a warm spell I think it would be good to water the Tillandsias in the winter, if you know they will dry in a day or so.

Many get a long dry winter in habitat but I don't think they need that. The ones from Florida and the Caribbean get rain all year.

[kg5]

Thank you estación seca.

Today was a hotter day so I have watered the Tillandsia's at 12pm, 1pm & 1.30pm. They were dryish again at 5pm so tonight's temps will not be in the wet cold zone.

There is a storm coming it's 7pm so watering the Tillandsia's turns out to be perfect timing. They are soaking up the nitrogen's etc in the storm air & the dampness in the air as well.

Winter storms are not common here!

[kg5]

So now after using photobucket for over 12 years for no cost but to put up with their adds they now want $400 per year to support my forum image postings. I belong to a lot of forums......

Not happy!