Family: Bromeliad
Sub-Family: Tillandsioideae:
Genus: Tillandsia
Sub-Genus: Anoplophytum
Native distribution: Tillandsia araujei is endemic to Brazil
and closely related to T. tenufolia at altitudes 2,500 -3,000m - ( 8200 - 9,800ft)
Habit: The plant grows epiphyitically on trees or in direct sunlight while some varieties grow on boulders along the coast. It is normally grown hanging upside down or horizontally - there are many variations of the plant. Multiple leaves emerge from a long stem giving the appearance of a plume, with new stems forming from the older stems. If left the plant can grow to 4 -5 feet long producing a few roots.
Foliage: The plant has thick, succulent pine-needle-like leaves about 1 -11/2 inches long and it is caulescent. It forms a large, attractive clump over time.
Flowers: The extended inflorescence is a bright salmon to rose and the 6 to 10 flowers are white
Seed:
Pups:
Cultivation: The plant is adaptable and grows well in a range of conditions.
Fertilization: A mist every week with Epiphyites Delight or Epsom salts during the growing season will help the plant.
( Epiphyte’s Delight fertilizer was developed for a special reason. Nitrogen promotes foliar growth. If you have Tillandsias, Orchids, or other epiphytes and you feed them, take a look at the nitrogen content. If it’s high in urea, the plants can’t use it because the urea needs a bacteria in soil to break it down into ammonia and nitrates. Since the epiphytes don’t have any soil they can’t break down the urea. It was for this reason that we had Epiphyte’s Delight formulated. It contains only ammoniacal and nitrate nitrogen which is immediately accessible and usable by the plants.)
Availability: Not often vavailable
|