I am so glad you told the truth about the PROPER care: you do not dunk them for hours unless they are VERY dehydrated. Mother nature doesn't go around submerging them, so other than to rehydrate a dying one, why would anyone think this is the right thing to do at every watering? Not only that, but if you submerge the bulbous types, water can get inside and they will rot out! You dip them in water to cover the entire surface with water and then pull them out and you are done. I dip mine once a week but I mist them lightly every day. Mine ARE in high light (not sun) and are thriving. Every time a so called "expert" talks about submerging them for hours every time they water I get this ridiculous image of these plants detaching from their trees in the wild and diving into rivers to swim, emerging and climbing back into their trees to dry off. Of course, all this only when no one is looking... Lol!
Thanks for sharing, Paul! I’m no longer a beginner, still, when you talk I listen, always very helpful. And I love shopping at Rainforest Flora! 95% of my plants are from your store. Visiting there is always fun and inspiring... it’s truly an oasis...
Thank you so much for the kind words. After having dedicated 47 years (& counting?) to these wonderful epiphytes and coming toward the end of my journey it does mean a lot for me to know that I have been able to share my passion and that it is appreciated.
@@rainforestflora8691 hello! I’m not a beginner well maybe I am lol I have two Pothos and succulents and snake plants and a new air plant! This was very helpful thank you very much
Thank you 🙏 I really love how much you want us to be successful, it comes across very clearly, it's lovely to see how gently passionate you are about the care of these plants, very inspiring, your explanations and examples make it very clear and you've shown what looks well and what needs a little care in the most comprehensive manner, you've made it feel very achievable to help my plants flourish. We live in a sail boat so normal plants have struggled greatly, these are airplants are beautiful, I've 13 and feel really confident after watching that these will survive, thank you so so much 🙏
Just purchased my first at a local Farmers Market and was searching for care tips and whala I found You !! Thank You, Thank You for indepth care information 😊. Lynn, Apex Nc.
I just killed my first air plant. It was so beautiful with a deep red color!! I will definitely take your advice so that I won't kill anymore air plants
HI Vivian, Yes, that would be nice BUT the photos are so nice and so many people enjoy being able to hold the actual book in their hands. Maybe someday, we'll see.
@dylans cornner thank you Dylans! Tbh I didn't even get notified when Taylor commented so it's not like ir ruined my day for picking just 2 samples 🤣 Hope you can come someday and pick a sample too!! They are everywhere depending of the season. They even grow in the electric cables on the street! Although they're not invasive so people only take them off because of aesthetics (I would let mine grow but my house never gets them naturally :( )
I loved your video but am so conflicted by all the different watering directions I have received. I bought a few on line & they came with instructions to water 4 hours a week or 8 hours every 2 weeks. I then bought one from a local nursery & there directions said to submerge in water for 2 hours once a week.
A lot depends on where you live, that is, how low or high is your humidity? And the temps-cool, warm or hot? That being said, if they're indoors and you have about 50% humidity and temps in the 70s, we recommend submerging your plant once or twice a week for five seconds or so. If your conditions are different, just adjust for that-as I say in the video. We've been doing this for going on 48 years. Good growing, Sandra!
Hi Paul. Thank you for your video, it was very informative however I have a question in regards to the caput medusae. Is it normal for the outer layers to have a slight tinge of violet or black? I am not sure if it's either black or violet but it is darker than the rest the inner layers. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge with us.
This was great and thank you very much for sharing. I am trying to look up the names of the 6 most common ones, but I can not spell th words to save my life let alone grow my plant knowledge. Maybe in future you can have the names as part of the video. Thank you very much and I am very happy to have stumbled upon your page. Have subscribed!
Thank you for our idea of saying the names. We'll do that going forward. There are so many great species, cultivars and hybrids. Most are just as easy to grow as any other.
I've recently thinking of buying a few tilansia especially since I have a few items that they would look really cool displayed on or in. Question how would you glue one to something? You are the first video I've watched on these plants.. thanks for being there
Hello George, We use an adhesive called Tilly Tacker that we have distributed wholesale and retail for over 30 years. It's waterproof and room temperature and dries in half an hour to an hour depending on how much you use. It's available on our website under accessories. That being said, if you're in SoCal, Home Depots and Armstrong Nurseries will have it as well other independent nurseries and garden centers. If you run into any issues you can always get back to us.
I have always wanted air plants for my garden, and I decided a week ago just to go to my closest nursery and get some! Thank you for your videos, I was nervous about caring for them, and your videos has made it very easy and understandable! I am looking forward to watching my baby air plants grow!
I had 2 T.ionata but they died shortly cos they were suffering a sort of disease that I found again in the same shop. Now I try to manage a T. xerografica that is with me for about an year and half, but with no flowers. How can I make it doing well ? I have a mother plant and a son attached to it , do I have to divide them to make them made a flower or are there a period of time in witch the plant do not flower at all ?
Lots of great information on this video! Thank you for putting it out there! Is there any way to find out what the name of the book is that you reference at the 3:20 mark?
Heh. In order to curb my "buy ALL the Tillis" tendencies, I thought about restricting it to Ionanthas; turns out, it doesn't help. In fact, I bought an ionantha Macho a couple of weeks ago, and a Silver Base & a tiny vanhyningii last week, along with an andreana and a couple of caput medusae. What? I can stop any time! One question; would it be a good idea for those of us in the west to be using rainwater for awhile? There is a *lot* of ugly things in the air right now. Thanks for the terrific video! It's great, as always.
So if you have them in a room that is a little dry should you soak them twice a week? I spray them in-between also. Some seem a little dry however. I'm enjoying these so much. It's addicting. Thanks for the info. Tami
HI Tam, I would think that dunking once or twice a week for 5 seconds or so would be enough. I wouldn't spray them much or at all in-between the dunking. Unless, of course, you have air conditioning or central heating. Better to put a tray of water around the plants so that that evaporation cuts the edge off the dryness of the air. Good Luck!
The hardness of tap water varies from place to place. Take the place where I live as an example. The tap water in some cities within 200 kilometers is almost pure water, while some actually reach 300 mg per liter. I want to know the upper limit of hardness that can be used to soak air pineapples, thank you.
New subscriber! How or what to do to acclimate air plants in a new environment? And how do I often should I water them when the humidity level at my place is between 65-86% everyday? It is pretty bright here even inside the house so I think they'll like that- I'm just not sure about watering them. Planning to buy spanish moss and some ionantha air plants- beginner here!
Either way is fine. The glue needs to be water proof. You can also use Velcro dots with one glued to the item and one to the plant and then you can remove the plant to water.
This video was really helpful, thanks! Some of my plants are very brown and others are rotting... I don't know whether I've given them too much water or too little water. I really don't want to kill them all!! Please help me if you see this. Also what book was that that you had?
I am a bit confused because many people making air plant videos mention to soak them for up to one hour once per week. A few say soak them for only 5 minutes. And the most important factor is to shake them vigorously upside down and let them drain and dry out upside down for a long time to prevent death by rot. Maybe you can clarify this conflicting advice.
This can't be answered succinctly in a sentence or two. It's all laid out in the booklet, Genus Tillandsia that is available on our website. That being said, people use hoses outside. For inside, mine have done fine for years by dunking them in good water for 5 seconds once a week and then turning them upside down for a couple of seconds before putting them back. IF over time the leaf edges begin to curl up more than usual then that is the time to submerge them over night to rehydrate them and then dunk them a little more frequently going forward. All of this being said, if anyone waters their indoor Tillys differently and it works, then just keep doing it that way.
I live in Oregon and of course it's winter time. So there's very bright sunshine. So do grow lights work? I grow succulents too. Also what kind of fertilizer do you use. Can I let my city water sit a few days then use it? Thank you for all your information. Tami
Hello Tam, Yes, you can use grow lights with the bulbs a foot above the plants. We use Epiphytes Delight that we sell from our website (which is down right now but will be up soon). You can also call the nursery. We sell through the Home Depots but not in Oregon. You should be able to use city water there. Tilly like a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Our water here is alkaline and it has a pH of over 8 which is the big reason to use bottled drinking or rain water.
Air plant like out door - bright lights from summer thru winter. I use faucet water - spay twice a day . I hang 2 big baskets air plant under Asian Magnolia tree.
If the bases of leaves that aren’t the oldest start turning brown that’s not good. That being said, older leaves gradually die off as newer leaves come out but they usually start dying back from the leaf tips, not the bases.
No. They start to rot from inside to outside. When you realize black leaves it is impossible to save it. When you have dead plant you can feel weight of plant turning so so light.
I think I'm doing something wrong. I have several plants that live in my bathroom. They get enough light but the leaves feel hard, they sort of curl ( which I've been told needs water). And have dead ends of the leaf ( which I've been told they need water). Here's my problem. I have soaked them for a hour or longer. The next day I dunk them. The days after that I mist them until I dunk them again. Even after all that water the leaves still shows signs that they need water. What am I doing wrong? Would love feedback from anyone that can help. Air plants are supposed to be easy to grow, like a succulent but I don't know
I have 8 air plants one of mines leaves was turning purple/brown and seemed to be drying out at the bottom I read in a book to soak in water for 13 hours.. well I said I'll just give it 2 hours due to it still having life in the middle. I soaked it in bottled water for 2 hours pulled it out went to dry it and it was wilting by the minute I grabbed a paper towel to tap it and it fell apart!!!!!!! What happened in such a short period of time? It was the biggest one I had with velvet leaves and purple tinted!! Please help!!
Hi Kayla, You did the right thing by soaking it like that. If it was too dried out, it would have rehydrated. The problem was that it was already dead-either from drying out too much or, more likely, the area where the leaves grow out from, the meristematic tissue, had stayed too wet for too long and the plant rotted. That area can be moist for a couple of days or more but the plant will rot it moist for too long which is why we don't recommend misting. The plant can look dry but deep inside it can remain moist, especially indoors where there isn't a lot of air movement. I wouldn't stress over it, we all lose plants at one time or another.
Thank you Paul .. I am a beginner and would love to know what book you could recommend buying. I live in Australia .. and it’s hard to find any tillandsia books. Thank you
D r oooo thank you ... so that must of been that big bible book on Tillisandia’s that’s he showed us in the video. I’ll google it now ... thanks heaps 🤗
@@Amanda-zm4ud Hi Amanda! Yes, the book I wrote is incredibly comprehensive! You can buy it here, thank you so much for the support and comments! www.rainforestflora.com/store/accessories/H10010/Tillandsia-II/
Rainforest Flora ... Hi Paul, I’ve gone to order your book, but it looks like you don’t send to Australia. Is that correct? I really want to buy your book. Thanks Amanda
What does it mean if the Leafs are turning black? I got it stuck to drift wood and was told it didn’t need watering. I haven’t watered it since I got it , so 3 months and no watering and just noticed it’s getting black leafs.
Dear Bling Bling, ALL living things need water so that person was mistaken. Take the plant(s) and submerge them overnight in water. They can stay attached to the wood. In the morning if the plants are still basically green, tug gently on the centermost leaves one at a time. If they come out, keep pulling. If they don't come out easily, you're in good shape and the plant(s) is/are still alive. Going forward, soak them under water for five seconds once or twice a week and give it/them bright light and you should be on your way.
Hi Louise, Don't put it down inside the shell but rather on the shell. Give it bright light and submerge the Tilly under water for a few seconds once a week or so and you should be good.
I could’ve sworn you just said you dunk them for five seconds and then the example was underwater for 12 hours?! Any clarification would be much appreciated!
Hi Alexandra, I just saw your question for the first time. The normal way that I use to water the Tillys that are indoors is to dunk them for 5 seconds or so once a week and then turn them upside down for a couple of seconds before putting them back. April will be seven years and they are still doing fine. That being said, IF a plant starts to dehydrate (normally you can see the edges of given leaves curling up (pinching) toward each other) then you would submerge them overnight for 12 to 14 hours to rehydrate them. Good Luck!
Certainly, Theresa. You can grow them in or on virtually anything-or nothing-as long as they get the requisite amount of light (at least over time) and water. Air movement is also good.
I have some Spanish moss, and the place I got it from didn’t even know what it was (it was a garden shop.) the photo also showed some kid wearing it on its head?? I’ve gotta be honest, I don’t think a lot of people know what an air plant is
Alas, Rowan, that is still true. I was introduced to the Tillys and fell in love with them back in the mid 60s so it's been a long, wonderful road for me. Hopefully others will discover them as time passes by.
A couple contradictions to other videos I've watched: "Only dip for seconds to water"? And: Other videos have said they only flower once in the lifetime of the plant, and the lifetime isn't that long. The more I search, the less I understand lol.
Watering frequency is a function of the temperature, humidity and air movement. The hotter, drier, and more air movement there is, the more frequently the plant would be submerged for five seconds or so. In average conditions, once a week should be fine. The plants, over time, also need exposure to bright light although not much direct sunlight. Yes, the plants bloom once and then produce offsets that then grow to maturity and bloom over the course of the next year or two IF they’re receiving sufficient light and water. The lifetime is usually at least a year before the first purchased plant blooms and it can be longer. Once it blooms it will then produce the offsets, etc. Indoors the plants can go years without blooming because they are strong enough to bloom because they don’t get enough light daily.
I'll be growing mine in a vivarium with bright light and high humidity. I worry the light might be too bright, but I've heard the three species I have do well in vivariums, so long as they aren't directly misted everyday. The humidity will remain between 60-80%. I wonder if I'll ever need to directly mist them at all, with humidity that high. I also worry about them rotting under these conditions though. I sure would like them to thrive and send out pups. The inflorescences are sublime. It's gonna be hard to tell if they need water by looking for curves on the leaves. The ones NEherp sent me are exceedingly, disappointingly small. I wasn't expecting full grown plants, but established one would have been nice. At the prices they charge, I guess it's uncerstandable.
Also, I'll be using tap water treated with a sort of dechlorinator marketed for using with reptiles. I wish I had reverse osmosis water. I hear that's best.
Hi Luke, Good question. See how it goes. If the Tillys start to dry out the edges of the leaves will curl up toward each other more and more. If this doesn't happen, you're good. If it does, put the plant(s) under water overnight to rehydrate them and then water them periodically. How often is a function of the humidity and temperature. Paul
T. Stricta x Duratii = Goomong T. Duratii x Stricta = Lilac Spire T. Strephylla x Psudobaileyii = Gorgon T, Psudobaileyi x Streptophylla = ??? Same plant but different names, why ? Thank u
I am so glad you told the truth about the PROPER care: you do not dunk them for hours unless they are VERY dehydrated. Mother nature doesn't go around submerging them, so other than to rehydrate a dying one, why would anyone think this is the right thing to do at every watering? Not only that, but if you submerge the bulbous types, water can get inside and they will rot out! You dip them in water to cover the entire surface with water and then pull them out and you are done. I dip mine once a week but I mist them lightly every day. Mine ARE in high light (not sun) and are thriving.
Every time a so called "expert" talks about submerging them for hours every time they water I get this ridiculous image of these plants detaching from their trees in the wild and diving into rivers to swim, emerging and climbing back into their trees to dry off. Of course, all this only when no one is looking... Lol!
Yeah it does sound ridiculous to submerge them. Ill also adopt this habit of dipping for a few seconds and shake it out I guess..
Can running under water or mist more often instead?
🤣🤣🤣
I just purchased my first air plants and this was incredibly helpful for determining species as well as care tips. Thanks so much! 👋🏽☺️
Thanks for sharing, Paul! I’m no longer a beginner, still, when you talk I listen, always very helpful. And I love shopping at Rainforest Flora! 95% of my plants are from your store. Visiting there is always fun and inspiring... it’s truly an oasis...
Thank you so much for the kind words. After having dedicated 47 years (& counting?) to these wonderful epiphytes and coming toward the end of my journey it does mean a lot for me to know that I have been able to share my passion and that it is appreciated.
@@rainforestflora8691 hello! I’m not a beginner well maybe I am lol I have two Pothos and succulents and snake plants and a new air plant! This was very helpful thank you very much
Thank you 🙏
I really love how much you want us to be successful, it comes across very clearly, it's lovely to see how gently passionate you are about the care of these plants, very inspiring, your explanations and examples make it very clear and you've shown what looks well and what needs a little care in the most comprehensive manner, you've made it feel very achievable to help my plants flourish.
We live in a sail boat so normal plants have struggled greatly, these are airplants are beautiful, I've 13 and feel really confident after watching that these will survive, thank you so so much 🙏
Well good luck with them, Zeb, and we appreciate your kind words.
Thank you, I just visited your nursery this afternoon, the collection was awespiring and the shopkeeper was incredibly helpful and warm!
Hi Rabbitonblue, Thank you for your kind comments. We work and try hard to make the experience of folks like you most enjoyable.
Nice air plants video thanks
So glad I found ur channel can't wait to purchase my first air plant ☺️❤
Just got my first air plant So definitely needed the help. Thank u for the tips.
Will definetly be running IN!!!💯🏆💯
Thank you so much! These videos are so great and helpful. Thanks for your teachings. ✌️👍
Thank you for the information!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙏 😊
Just purchased my first at a local Farmers Market and was searching for care tips and whala I found You !! Thank You, Thank You for indepth care information 😊. Lynn, Apex Nc.
Air plants like out door - sunny - bright lights.
I spay water twice a day for 2 baskets air plants hanging under Asian Magolia tree..
Thank you very much for this amazing video.
Thank you. Great information. GOD BLESS YOU
Very informative. Thank you for this. I'm a first timer with air plants and this is very helpful.
I'm so happy that I found your amazing place from watching your videos 😁🤑
Thank you Paul
I just killed my first air plant. It was so beautiful with a deep red color!! I will definitely take your advice so that I won't kill anymore air plants
This video was very helpful. Thank you!😇💜
Hi Miss Phoenix Gal, You're more than welcome. Thank you for taking the time to back to us.
A very informative video as always. Tillandsia exserta is beautiful. 😁
Thank you!
It would be nice to have that book in a digital version.
HI Vivian, Yes, that would be nice BUT the photos are so nice and so many people enjoy being able to hold the actual book in their hands. Maybe someday, we'll see.
Your videos are very informative, thank you Sir.
Hehe You remind me of my grandfather who loves plants very well.
Nice and simple 👍🏽
This video was very helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. 🙂
You are more than welcome, Carrie.
Thank you very much for your information
Thank you for this video! I'm from Argentina and I just picked some samples from the wild. Didn't know it was a local speciality!!
Make sure you don’t disturb the environment😉
@dylans cornner thank you Dylans! Tbh I didn't even get notified when Taylor commented so it's not like ir ruined my day for picking just 2 samples 🤣
Hope you can come someday and pick a sample too!! They are everywhere depending of the season. They even grow in the electric cables on the street! Although they're not invasive so people only take them off because of aesthetics (I would let mine grow but my house never gets them naturally :( )
I loved your video but am so conflicted by all the different watering directions I have received. I bought a few on line & they came with instructions to water 4 hours a week or 8 hours every 2 weeks. I then bought one from a local nursery & there directions said to submerge in water for 2 hours once a week.
A lot depends on where you live, that is, how low or high is your humidity? And the temps-cool, warm or hot? That being said, if they're indoors and you have about 50% humidity and temps in the 70s, we recommend submerging your plant once or twice a week for five seconds or so. If your conditions are different, just adjust for that-as I say in the video. We've been doing this for going on 48 years. Good growing, Sandra!
First time buying an air plant. I have glued it on moss on a small branch, so I cannot dip in water. I just spray every day
Thank you! 🪴👍🪴
Thank you so much for sharing! You just saved 6 of my new air plants. I simply wasn’t watering them correctly!
You're welcome, Jane!
thank u so much
thank you for the video!
You're more than welcome, Kevin. Have a great 2021
Hi Paul. Thank you for your video, it was very informative however I have a question in regards to the caput medusae. Is it normal for the outer layers to have a slight tinge of violet or black? I am not sure if it's either black or violet but it is darker than the rest the inner layers. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge with us.
You didn’t show the big clump that you said you would, could you please add a video with it? I’m dying to see it. Great video :)
love plantas de aires
God bless you
This was great and thank you very much for sharing. I am trying to look up the names of the 6 most common ones, but I can not spell th words to save my life let alone grow my plant knowledge. Maybe in future you can have the names as part of the video. Thank you very much and I am very happy to have stumbled upon your page. Have subscribed!
Thank you for our idea of saying the names. We'll do that going forward. There are so many great species, cultivars and hybrids. Most are just as easy to grow as any other.
I've recently thinking of buying a few tilansia especially since I have a few items that they would look really cool displayed on or in. Question how would you glue one to something? You are the first video I've watched on these plants.. thanks for being there
Hello George, We use an adhesive called Tilly Tacker that we have distributed wholesale and retail for over 30 years. It's waterproof and room temperature and dries in half an hour to an hour depending on how much you use. It's available on our website under accessories. That being said, if you're in SoCal, Home Depots and Armstrong Nurseries will have it as well other independent nurseries and garden centers. If you run into any issues you can always get back to us.
Hi I have a few Tillandsia in Queensland Australia
very informative, passionate, loved it. 8/10 only because the 2nd plants larger form was not shared.
Thank you, Xdragon!
I have always wanted air plants for my garden, and I decided a week ago just to go to my closest nursery and get some! Thank you for your videos, I was nervous about caring for them, and your videos has made it very easy and understandable! I am looking forward to watching my baby air plants grow!
Thanks, Siobhan, you'll have fun! Where do you live and which nursery do you go to?
@@rainforestflora8691 I actually live in Pretoria, South Africa :) I go to a small privately owned nursery called Kilnerpark Nursery.
Hello. Can you tell me if using fish fertilizer is good for airplants if used diluted.
I had 2 T.ionata but they died shortly cos they were suffering a sort of disease that I found again in the same shop. Now I try to manage a T. xerografica that is with me for about an year and half, but with no flowers. How can I make it doing well ? I have a mother plant and a son attached to it , do I have to divide them to make them made a flower or are there a period of time in witch the plant do not flower at all ?
I'm a beginner in planting tilansia.. I want to learn more and your video helps me a lot.. 😊
Thank you for your nice comment, Miss Capacia!
@@rainforestflora8691 Please upload more videos about taking care of that specific plant.. I am from the Philippines and it is rare here I think..
Hi I have a eastbound fence can I use it
Thanks for this video.
As they grow, do the roots attach to the drift wood without glue?
Hello Mannish, In good Tilly conditions almost all of them will send out roots to attach to whatever the substrate is.
@@rainforestflora8691 thank you!! ❤
Thank you! I found this video to be very informative. How do you know if the airplanes are molded or brown for s bad reason.
Air plants like out door - bright lights from summer thru winter….
I spay water twice a day for my air plants ( 2 full big baskets) .
What book was that!? I need it!😍
Lots of great information on this video! Thank you for putting it out there! Is there any way to find out what the name of the book is that you reference at the 3:20 mark?
Tillandsia II: The Worlds Most Unusual Airplants by Paul T. Isley
Hello, is there any chance you can tell me what book and author of the airplant book you shown on this v-l0g?
Heh. In order to curb my "buy ALL the Tillis" tendencies, I thought about restricting it to Ionanthas; turns out, it doesn't help. In fact, I bought an ionantha Macho a couple of weeks ago, and a Silver Base & a tiny vanhyningii last week, along with an andreana and a couple of caput medusae. What? I can stop any time!
One question; would it be a good idea for those of us in the west to be using rainwater for awhile? There is a *lot* of ugly things in the air right now. Thanks for the terrific video! It's great, as always.
Hi! If air quality is bad I recommend using drinking water for the time being. You can reuse the same water if you store it in a sealed container!
one of my plants is brown on one side, how do i help my plant
Wouldn't you want to water the larger ones more?
Watering option: Spray/Mist (almost every day) or soak in water ( ~30 mins every week).
Can i use washed rice water?
So if you have them in a room that is a little dry should you soak them twice a week? I spray them in-between also. Some seem a little dry however. I'm enjoying these so much. It's addicting. Thanks for the info. Tami
HI Tam, I would think that dunking once or twice a week for 5 seconds or so would be enough. I wouldn't spray them much or at all in-between the dunking. Unless, of course, you have air conditioning or central heating. Better to put a tray of water around the plants so that that evaporation cuts the edge off the dryness of the air.
Good Luck!
The hardness of tap water varies from place to place. Take the place where I live as an example. The tap water in some cities within 200 kilometers is almost pure water, while some actually reach 300 mg per liter. I want to know the upper limit of hardness that can be used to soak air pineapples, thank you.
New subscriber! How or what to do to acclimate air plants in a new environment? And how do I often should I water them when the humidity level at my place is between 65-86% everyday? It is pretty bright here even inside the house so I think they'll like that- I'm just not sure about watering them. Planning to buy spanish moss and some ionantha air plants- beginner here!
I have 2 full baskets hanging under my tree.
I spay water twice a day .
You mention dry tips in one of your videos, what is the cause??
What is the book you used in this video? I'd like to get more resources on Tillandsia.
Tillandsia II: The Worlds Most Unusual Airplants by Paul T. Isley
BTW It's his book [he is Paul T. Isley]
Glue or wired on to the base...seems glued would limit how you would display and then have to remove to water?
Either way is fine. The glue needs to be water proof. You can also use Velcro dots with one glued to the item and one to the plant and then you can remove the plant to water.
love all the tillandsia and you are Hot to look at too :)
This video was really helpful, thanks! Some of my plants are very brown and others are rotting... I don't know whether I've given them too much water or too little water. I really don't want to kill them all!! Please help me if you see this.
Also what book was that that you had?
I keep my air plants out door - in 2 big baskets- I spay water twice a day.
after a long time
I am a bit confused because many people making air plant videos mention to soak them for up to one hour once per week. A few say soak them for only 5 minutes. And the most important factor is to shake them vigorously upside down and let them drain and dry out upside down for a long time to prevent death by rot. Maybe you can clarify this conflicting advice.
This can't be answered succinctly in a sentence or two. It's all laid out in the booklet, Genus Tillandsia that is available on our website. That being said, people use hoses outside. For inside, mine have done fine for years by dunking them in good water for 5 seconds once a week and then turning them upside down for a couple of seconds before putting them back. IF over time the leaf edges begin to curl up more than usual then that is the time to submerge them over night to rehydrate them and then dunk them a little more frequently going forward. All of this being said, if anyone waters their indoor Tillys differently and it works, then just keep doing it that way.
Paul I have recently purchased first what I think is a cubii will it bloom if kept indoors as it will not pollinated
Air plant like out door - bright lights - from summer thru winter.
I live in Oregon and of course it's winter time. So there's very bright sunshine. So do grow lights work? I grow succulents too. Also what kind of fertilizer do you use. Can I let my city water sit a few days then use it? Thank you for all your information. Tami
Very little. Sorry.
Hello Tam, Yes, you can use grow lights with the bulbs a foot above the plants. We use Epiphytes Delight that we sell from our website (which is down right now but will be up soon). You can also call the nursery. We sell through the Home Depots but not in Oregon. You should be able to use city water there. Tilly like a pH of 5.5 to 6.0. Our water here is alkaline and it has a pH of over 8 which is the big reason to use bottled drinking or rain water.
Air plant like out door - bright lights from summer thru winter.
I use faucet water - spay twice a day .
I hang 2 big baskets air plant under Asian Magnolia tree.
Just found your video, thank you. Can air plants do well in artificial lighting?
Air plant like sun - bright lights.
Is that a Bertram's on your left?
Could one put gravel in a cup and fill with water but not to top of gravel, and place air plant in the cup, in order to create humidity for the plant?
Hi Bobby, Yes, that would be a great thing to do especially if the air is dry. Also bright light and a bit of air at least periodically.
Thank you :)
Hello! Is some browning at the base of a tillandsia normal? Thank you!!
If the bases of leaves that aren’t the oldest start turning brown that’s not good. That being said, older leaves gradually die off as newer leaves come out but they usually start dying back from the leaf tips, not the bases.
@@rainforestflora8691 ill take note of that. thank you! By the way, do you know what might cause this?
Very informative for me I am a beginner air plant and I love it I have 10 so far
I spay water twice a day ….
Is beautiful in 2 baskets
Is there a way to save an overwatered tilandsia?! Mine has a brown root base and has lost most of its leafs!
No. They start to rot from inside to outside. When you realize black leaves it is impossible to save it. When you have dead plant you can feel weight of plant turning so so light.
I think I'm doing something wrong. I have several plants that live in my bathroom. They get enough light but the leaves feel hard, they sort of curl ( which I've been told needs water). And have dead ends of the leaf ( which I've been told they need water).
Here's my problem. I have soaked them for a hour or longer. The next day I dunk them. The days after that I mist them until I dunk them again. Even after all that water the leaves still shows signs that they need water.
What am I doing wrong?
Would love feedback from anyone that can help. Air plants are supposed to be easy to grow, like a succulent but I don't know
Air plants like sun - bright lights.
I spay water twice a day .
Great video, what is the title of the book?
Tillandsia II - On our website :)
I have 8 air plants one of mines leaves was turning purple/brown and seemed to be drying out at the bottom I read in a book to soak in water for 13 hours.. well I said I'll just give it 2 hours due to it still having life in the middle. I soaked it in bottled water for 2 hours pulled it out went to dry it and it was wilting by the minute I grabbed a paper towel to tap it and it fell apart!!!!!!! What happened in such a short period of time? It was the biggest one I had with velvet leaves and purple tinted!! Please help!!
Hi Kayla, You did the right thing by soaking it like that. If it was too dried out, it would have rehydrated. The problem was that it was already dead-either from drying out too much or, more likely, the area where the leaves grow out from, the meristematic tissue, had stayed too wet for too long and the plant rotted. That area can be moist for a couple of days or more but the plant will rot it moist for too long which is why we don't recommend misting. The plant can look dry but deep inside it can remain moist, especially indoors where there isn't a lot of air movement. I wouldn't stress over it, we all lose plants at one time or another.
Thank you Paul .. I am a beginner and would love to know what book you could recommend buying. I live in Australia .. and it’s hard to find any tillandsia books. Thank you
Buy Pauls book,Tillandsia! Its the best book you will ever find on the subject.
D r oooo thank you ... so that must of been that big bible book on Tillisandia’s that’s he showed us in the video. I’ll google it now ... thanks heaps 🤗
@@Amanda-zm4ud Hi Amanda! Yes, the book I wrote is incredibly comprehensive! You can buy it here, thank you so much for the support and comments! www.rainforestflora.com/store/accessories/H10010/Tillandsia-II/
Rainforest Flora ... Hi Paul, I’ve gone to order your book, but it looks like you don’t send to Australia. Is that correct? I really want to buy your book. Thanks Amanda
What does it mean if the Leafs are turning black? I got it stuck to drift wood and was told it didn’t need watering. I haven’t watered it since I got it , so 3 months and no watering and just noticed it’s getting black leafs.
Dear Bling Bling, ALL living things need water so that person was mistaken. Take the plant(s) and submerge them overnight in water. They can stay attached to the wood. In the morning if the plants are still basically green, tug gently on the centermost leaves one at a time. If they come out, keep pulling. If they don't come out easily, you're in good shape and the plant(s) is/are still alive.
Going forward, soak them under water for five seconds once or twice a week and give it/them bright light and you should be on your way.
I spay water twice a day for my 2 air plants baskets.
I baught one to go in a shell ...will it grow there.?
Hi Louise, Don't put it down inside the shell but rather on the shell. Give it bright light and submerge the Tilly under water for a few seconds once a week or so and you should be good.
Air plants sale in store in shell to look nice -
but I keep my air plants in 2 full baskets- spay water twice a day .
I get water from my creek but it’s very cold, am I hurting my plant with how cold the water is?
I spay water twice a day - from the faucet water.
How can I tell if my air plant is dead? Thanks
Does yours die or did it recover
I could’ve sworn you just said you dunk them for five seconds and then the example was underwater for 12 hours?! Any clarification would be much appreciated!
Yes for the air plant that was dying. You have to put in water for that period of time, bring it back to life.
Hi Alexandra, I just saw your question for the first time. The normal way that I use to water the Tillys that are indoors is to dunk them for 5 seconds or so once a week and then turn them upside down for a couple of seconds before putting them back. April will be seven years and they are still doing fine. That being said, IF a plant starts to dehydrate (normally you can see the edges of given leaves curling up (pinching) toward each other) then you would submerge them overnight for 12 to 14 hours to rehydrate them. Good Luck!
Can you use something plastic to grow them in
Certainly, Theresa. You can grow them in or on virtually anything-or nothing-as long as they get the requisite amount of light (at least over time) and water. Air movement is also good.
Is RO water considered good water for air plants?
I'm sure it is
Will led lights be enough for them to grow?
I don't know for sure Michael, but my strong hunch is no. You can download a light meter to your phone and then use it to measure the light levels.
Air plants like sunny area- bright lights.
I spay water twice a day - 2 big baskets hanging under Asian Magnolia tree.
How in the world do you dunk a huge air plant??
“ you know who you are and I can see you” *quickly puts on pants. *
I have some Spanish moss, and the place I got it from didn’t even know what it was (it was a garden shop.) the photo also showed some kid wearing it on its head?? I’ve gotta be honest, I don’t think a lot of people know what an air plant is
Alas, Rowan, that is still true. I was introduced to the Tillys and fell in love with them back in the mid 60s so it's been a long, wonderful road for me. Hopefully others will discover them as time passes by.
A couple contradictions to other videos I've watched: "Only dip for seconds to water"? And: Other videos have said they only flower once in the lifetime of the plant, and the lifetime isn't that long. The more I search, the less I understand lol.
Watering frequency is a function of the temperature, humidity and air movement. The hotter, drier, and more air movement there is, the more frequently the plant would be submerged for five seconds or so. In average conditions, once a week should be fine. The plants, over time, also need exposure to bright light although not much direct sunlight.
Yes, the plants bloom once and then produce offsets that then grow to maturity and bloom over the course of the next year or two IF they’re receiving sufficient light and water.
The lifetime is usually at least a year before the first purchased plant blooms and it can be longer. Once it blooms it will then produce the offsets, etc. Indoors the plants can go years without blooming because they are strong enough to bloom because they don’t get enough light daily.
So you're saying tillandsias hate our SoCal water?
; ]
what is your website address?
so 5 seconds or 14 hours ???? at 4:03
5 sec when plant are thirsty
14 hrs when EXTREMLY dehydrated.
Oh yeah!? If you really CAN see me, then how many fingers am I holding up? 🤔🧐
Good one, Rettsi!
at 2:19 he declared 5 seconds !!!!
Five seconds for regular watering, 12 to 14 hours for re-hydration.. Good Luck!
I'll be growing mine in a vivarium with bright light and high humidity. I worry the light might be too bright, but I've heard the three species I have do well in vivariums, so long as they aren't directly misted everyday. The humidity will remain between 60-80%. I wonder if I'll ever need to directly mist them at all, with humidity that high. I also worry about them rotting under these conditions though. I sure would like them to thrive and send out pups. The inflorescences are sublime. It's gonna be hard to tell if they need water by looking for curves on the leaves. The ones NEherp sent me are exceedingly, disappointingly small. I wasn't expecting full grown plants, but established one would have been nice. At the prices they charge, I guess it's uncerstandable.
Also, I'll be using tap water treated with a sort of dechlorinator marketed for using with reptiles. I wish I had reverse osmosis water. I hear that's best.
Hi Luke, Good question. See how it goes. If the Tillys start to dry out the edges of the leaves will curl up toward each other more and more. If this doesn't happen, you're good. If it does, put the plant(s) under water overnight to rehydrate them and then water them periodically. How often is a function of the humidity and temperature. Paul
anyone that puts their plants in a shoebox shouldn’t have plants!🤦♀️
Anyone who puts their shoes in a flower pot shouldn’t own shoes
T. Stricta x Duratii = Goomong
T. Duratii x Stricta = Lilac Spire
T. Strephylla x Psudobaileyii = Gorgon
T, Psudobaileyi x Streptophylla = ???
Same plant but different names, why ? Thank u
BOZO ??? or HUPID ????