Do you know that there are plants that do not need to be planted? Who live "from the air"? Called tillandsias, or air plants, they are becoming very famous and more and more people are noticing them. For this reason, in this case, we want to focus on a specific one, the tillandsia ionantha rubra. You know how it is?
Its characteristics, the care you must provide and some curiosities is what you will discover if you continue reading. Go for it?
How is the tillandsia ionantha rubra
Source: Little Prince Plants
The first thing you should know about tillandsia ionantha rubra is that it is a perennial. It is part of the Bromeliaceae family and, unlike other plants, this one is actually "airy", that is, it does not need to be planted in the ground. We could say that it is somewhat «parasitic» since It usually grows on other plants or trees. But, unlike the parasitic ones, it does not feed on them, but only uses them to stay hanging.
Its natural habitat is Nicaragua, although it can also be found in Central America.
And how is it? We talk about one plant about 5-10 centimeters, quite small, which also grows very slowly and rounded. Throughout the year it has a grayish-green color although, when flowering approaches, many of its leaves turn pink (it is the most beautiful sight). In addition, it gives violet flowers.
As for the the leaves, you should know that they are elongated and end in a point. They are flat but thick leaves. For its part, the flowers are tubular and quite elongated. The petals are deep purple with yellow stamens and can grow as a solitary flower or in a cluster of several.
Tillandsia ionantha rubra care
Now that you know what tillandsia ionantha rubra is like, how about we help you choose it? Its care is very, very easy and the fact that you do not have to water it or have to transplant it is a plus. But don't worry, it does have some care that you must provide for it to get ahead. And then we will see them.
Lighting design
Air plants need a lot of light. There are some that tolerate even a few hours of direct light, while others do not because their leaves burn. In the case of the tillandsia ionantha rubra? Well It will need a lot of light, all that you can give it. If it has direct sun first thing in the morning, or late in the afternoon, you should not worry because it tolerates it well (but first you must get it used to the climate you have). In summer it is preferable to put it more in the shade but with light so that there is no problem.
Temperature
It is a plant that It tolerates both low and high temperatures well. Although in these second ones it does suffer a little more compared to other tillandsias. Still, you won't have much of a problem with this.
Irrigation
As we have told you before, the irrigation of the tillandsia ionantha rubra is not the same as the one we know for plants. It's much "easier". And it is that it feeds on the air, and if you have a house in which humidity is present, you will never have to water it. In case you need it, you just have to spray, with rainwater or without lime, the plant between one and two times a week.
Inside you always have to spray more than outside, but it will really depend on the weather, dryness, etc. that you have where you live. What you should avoid is that there are accumulations of water left because that will only cause it to rot.
Subscriber
The subscriber in this case is very necessary. And it is because in the environment in which you will have it, it will not be able to absorb organic components from the air, so if you pay it once a month in spring, and every 2-3 months in the rest of the year, it will to thank.
Now, although there are many fertilizers for these plants, many professionals what they do is use orchid fertilizer which is closest to the needs of tillandsias. The only thing is that you have to use less than half the dose so that you do not have a problem.
Plagues and diseases
At this point, you will have to worry only about diseases. And of them only related to excess water, since it can cause rotting of the plant. Therefore, it is better to control the irrigation well to avoid this problem.
Reproduction
One thing you should know about tillandsias is that when they bloom, they die. But they leave you a "gift", which is the suckers around it that, although they develop slowly, they are new plants that you will have from the original. And after a few years of growth you can have them and enjoy them again.
Another option is seeds, but these take years to grow and are not something that many use to grow tillandsias.
Where to buy a tillandsia ionantha rubra
Source: Etsy
We are not going to say that it is easy to find tillandsias, because in nurseries they do not usually have them and in stores and supermarkets these plants are not yet seen. But the truth is that, through the Internet you do have several places to find them. For example:
- In stores specializing in tillandsias. They are the first option because these people are also experts in these plants and can advise you and help you with your hobby.
- In plant stores. Not all the ones you find online will have tillandsias, but there will be plenty to choose from. Of course, sometimes the price can be higher than in the specialized ones.
- In forums. Plant forums are a place where many garden lovers meet and they also sell some specimens, cuttings, etc. Some even sell tillandsias.
- In Wallapop. Or similar. If you search for the name of the tillandsia you can sometimes find it cheaper than on other sites.
And a little more. As you can see, the tillandsia ionantha rubra is a very easy-to-care-for plant that won't give you any trouble enjoying it. So you just have to get down to work to get it.