Living off the air: all about tillandsias
Tillandsias or air carnations, as they are also known, are a family of bromeliads and are a species of plants that literally live off the air. As they do not need soil, these plants are very popular in interior design.
Substrates, pots, watering patterns and I don't know what else. Let's face it: there are people who find it very difficult to have plants, either because they have a very hectic lifestyle or because they simply don't want to deal with pots, soil and plants. If you have a restless cat or dog that likes to dig and you've found a mess of dirt and a dying plant in the middle of the living room, you'll know what I mean.
Does this mean that you have to resign yourself to living with horrendous plastic plants? Well, no, because tillandsias are there to save the day, fill your spaces with greenery and style.
Tillandsias or air carnations, as they are also known, are bromeliads family and are a species of plants that literally live off the air. They are epiphytic, that is, they develop by hugging another plant, but they are not parasitic because they obtain by themselves everything they need to live.
Most plants get food from the soil, using their roots to transport water and nutrients. Tillandsias, on the other hand, are so special that they do not have roots, but absorb moisture and nutrients with trichomes, cells modified for this purpose that are found in their leaves. Not needing a substrate, these plants are very popular in interior design.
There are about 500 spices of tillandsia. Depending on the species of tillandsia, it can be a succulent or semi-uculent. There are a few that produce beautiful, spike-shaped flowers that usually appear in spring and summer. All are native to the Americas and have been found in deserts, beaches, forests, mountains, and cities. This is because air carnations are able to adapt to any environmental condition.
So if you're an expert at exterminating every plant you touch, these are just the ones you need.
Tillandsias
area bit like cats, because they are very independent plants that don't require constant vigilance or excessive care. You don't need to keep it in a huge pot or buy it a special substrate. You can go into online plant nursery stores, search for the arrangement you like best, wait for your plants to be delivered to your home, and put them right where you think they look good. She will adapt to that space and offer you her colors and beauty.
Although they are not very demanding, there are some basic care that you must have so that your little tillandsia stays radiant and happy. It's much better to keep it out of direct sun, especially in summer. You don't need to water it, but you should spray it with water (hopefully rainwater or mineral) once a week, until you see that it is soaked.
There are those who prefer to water it by immersion. Take the plant and soak it completely in water (preferably rain or mineral) for a few minutes. It is then shaken well to remove excess water and placed in its terrarium. If you feel like it, you can put a liquid fertilizer dissolved in the water that you will spray every 3 or 4 weeks, although this is usually not necessary.
You won't have to worry about pests and diseases. They are very resistant species but check them from time to time in case they are attacked by a mealybug, spider or mite. It's very rare, but it can happen.
These
plants are beautiful, they have delicate and elegant lines, as well as very interesting colors ranging from the most neutral grays to the most vivid green. Many others bear flowers and almost all of them grow like a waterfall. They look beautiful in modern, minimalist or eclectic decorations, although everything will depend on the support you use.
One of the main advantages of air carnations is that they do not require substrate, they just need to be placed on some surface to which they can be supported. This means you can let your imagination run wild, because you won't have to worry about watering water, soil, or pot size. You'll be able to create arrays with tillandsias anywhere.
You can create tillandsia arrangements with glass terrrariums on tables, counters, and desks. Place them in glasses, in the center of a bowl with candles, on crust, in spirals, or wherever you like. The condition is that they are not completely enclosed, as they require air and humidity to live.
Glass terrariums offer an ethereal, natural and polished air, especially if suspended from the ceiling. You can hang several, playing with the heights of the threads, and create a beautiful composition in a corner. Because they are so bright and delicate, they are perfect in small spaces.
If you don't have much experience with plants or you're looking for a different species that is very easy to care for, that complements your décor and that you can't kill, you need a tillandsia.
Enter our online plant store, you are just one click away from having a new life partner.