Great plant, I must get one for myself. How do you plant them?

Pegi: They don't get planted in soil ... they are Epiphytic and live in and on the sides of trees, getting nutrients from fallen leaves and moisture from the rain. This one is a native here in Florida and can be seen in large Oak trees but sometimes the wind blows them to the ground. They are endangered here because of some sort of weevil that is killing them.

Giant Air Plant (Tillandsia utriculata)

http://www.jaxshells.org/utric...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T...

I'll have to go around going up into Oak trees now. Thanks for the information and links.

I don't think it is legal (or a good idea) to collect this plant in the wild. My big T. utriculata came from a friend who had grown it from seed, and I have 3-4 smaller plants that I rescued from a brush pile at a construction site. Removing it from its natural home could result in its death, further devastating the species. It is also a monocarp and doesn't produce pups like most Tillandsia, and the seeds are not simple to germinate in captivity.