¡Bienvenidos Ceci! That is a beautiful orchid!
I believe the problem is only with this particular tillandsia recurvata, which is apparently called 'ball moss' in Texas. There seems to be some evidence that it can constrict the circulation of the tree and cause bud loss. If there is really a lot of it, it can block sunlight to the tree's leaves as well. It is present here in the Yucatán but it mostly favors the Ramon (Brosimum alicastrum) trees which are cut frequently as food for livestock. I have never seen it in the decorative street trees like Flamboyán, Lluvia de Oro, Bauhinia. I do see it frequently on the electric lines out in the countryside. It mentions in one of the articles that Ceci linked that it prefers hot and humid weather and that the changing weather patterns in Córdoba, Argentina with higher temperatures and increased humidity had accelerated the problem. I've brought many of them home after a storm and none of them have survived on my terrace, I guess I was too nice to them
