My other Till finally got taken back outside Sunday.

Looks happy to be outside again Tiff.

My Tillandsia utriculata is blooming. I found this when it was a wee thing, probably a good four or more years ago on the ground while on a morning walk after we had some bad storms. This is a FL native and on the verge of becoming extinct do to harvesting and the Evil weevil. I put it in my oak and now it will send seedlings off to other trees, there are many growing in our area which is full of old oak trees. This particular tillandsia will not produce offsets like most tillandsias, it will completely die after the blooming.

Happened to notice T. Schiedeana (thin leaf form) in flower.

Awe, look at the little yellow flower. I don't see that species around here.

When I purchased my T. hildae, I was not able to find a lot of info on the web.

I read where it can be grown like an air plant without soil, but I never saw a picture that way.
This is the way I'm growing this plant, without soil.

When I purchased the plant.
August 2020


It continuously was declining in my care. I finally reached out to where I purchased the plant for some info.
June 2023.


Today


It has definitely come around.
Here is the big thing I learned when I talked to the seller.
I asked how they water there plants. I was told by a sprinkler system. I asked if there was water in the center of the plant and they said yes.
The way I was watering the plant was to dunk it in water for 15-30 minutes. I then treated it like an air plant. I turned the plant upside down for a half hour or so to get all the water out of the center of the plant so it would not rot.
I'm now growing this plant like a bromeliad. I put water in the center of the plant twice a week.
That seems to be the secret to grow this plant.

A great comeback! That sounds a lot like Neoregelia. The roots seem to act more like just an anchor and as long as the cups don't get dry for too long, all is well.

Discovered these two little Tillandsias hanging by one little root while trimming my Podocarpus last week.

Steve, glad to hear you're T. Hildea is coming around, it does look more like a bromeliad than a tillandsia.

Nice find Scott, I don't ever see tillandsias growing on my podocarpus, lots that look like those on my oaks.

I used to find those tiny tillies in shrubs. They were usually well hidden in dense foliage.

They do like Crape Myrtles that's for sure. My Podocarpus are probably 30 foot tall, no way to know what's up there.

Podocarpus trees?

sunkissed said: They do like Crape Myrtles that's for sure. My Podocarpus are probably 30 foot tall, no way to know what's up there.

I spend many hours a year on a ladder keeping my 2 at each of the front corners of my house from becoming trees.
I keep saying they may meet a chainsaw Massacre. 😄

They do make very pretty large trees, eventually. My neighbor has a 30ft. one in his front yard that is lovely, and provides nice shade to the sunny corner of their house.

Nice trim job Scott, I always cringe when I see landscapers use podocarpus as hedges in front of houses, knowing how large they can grow. Ours line the back fence and make a nice boundary the neighbors behind us love the shade it provides their backyard. Very wind resistant, especially in hurricanes.

Neo Hawaii blooming

HELP! My tillisandia is dying. I had cut off the brown tips on it months ago but they came back. Yesterday I saw that they got worse just in 24hrs after I misted it last. It stays on my rock-humidity tray and I mist it a couple of times a week. Am I giving it too much humidity? Not enough light? Its been overcast too much lately because we're getting too much rain.
Does this mean my plants on its way out and it won't survive much longer?

@TomatoNut95
Make sure to keep the base of your Tillandsia from sitting in water. I don't believe you can ever give it to much humidity. The brown tips are a sign of lack of humidity. I take it you are growing it inside your home and if so mist every other day with purified, spring or collected rain water.
Best bet at this time to get it back on track is to place it out side in bright light conditions (no direct sun) to enjoy the summer following the misting instructions above.

I was thinking along the same lines, perhaps is is caused by hard water.

@ScotTi @ardesia I'm using rain water ONLY and no I make absolutely sure the base of it is not touching the water.
I thought leaf curl was a sign of lack of water and brown tips was too much water. Should I soak my plant for a few minutes?

@TomatoNut95 Now that we know water quality is not the issue. Turn the attention to the quantity of moisture available for your Tillandsia.
Online instructions for indoor care say to soak in (morning hours) the plant for 30-60 minutes once or twice a week. Holding the plant upside down gently shake excess water off after the soaking.

ScotTi said: @TomatoNut95 Now that we know water quality is not the issue. Turn the attention to the quantity of moisture available for your Tillandsia.
You can soak in (morning hours) the plant for 30-60 minutes once or twice a week. Holding the plant upside down gently shake excess water off after the soaking.

Ok, I'll do that tomorrow morning. I've got to go uptown this morning. Brown tips bring back bad memories because that a how all my other air plants died, despite using rain water and frequent soaking and mistings.