Tillandsia streptocarpa – Flowering plants

Tillandsia streptocarpa is a unique air plant that forms small clumps with silvery leaves arranged into thick rosettes. The flower spike is slender with sweet, fragrant blossoms which are enormous compared to the size of the plant, and there are usually several blossoms open at the same time along the branched inflorescence. The blossoms are distinguished by short stamens and even shorter pistil and by broad showy spreading blueish-violet petal-blades. Tillandsia streptocarpa are excellent plants for terrariums.

Scientific classification:

Family: Bromeliaceae
Subfamily: Tillandsioideae
Genus: Tillandsia
Subgenus: Phytarrhiza
Species: T. streptocarpa

Scientific Name: Tillandsia streptocarpa Baker.
Synonyms: Tillandsia duratii subsp. streptocarpa, Tillandsia soratensis, Tillandsia bakeriana, Tillandsia condensata, Tillandsia apoloensis.
Common Name: Air Plant, Tillandsia.

How to grow and maintain Tillandsia streptocarpa (Air plant):

Light:
It thrives well in bright light, but not direct sunlight. The south, east, or west window is perfect. They can also be grown under fluorescent tubes.

Mounting:
Tillandsia streptocarpa refers to be mounted on a solid substrate that does not retain water. You can glue the plant directly to the surface with a strong adhesive or you can wire the plant to the base. Don’t cover the base of the plant with moss or it may rot. It can be grown on almost any imaginable decorative mount, including shells, rocks, slate, driftwood, etc.

Water:
Water two to four times a week with a mister. If your environment is dry, mist daily. Water until the leaves are thoroughly wet. The water that runs off should be enough to wet the roots. Do not soak the base of a plant. Use rainwater or filtered tap water for misting your plant. Soft water contains too much salt and some tap water contains chlorine and fluoride that can leave water spots on foliage.

Temperature:
Tillandsia streptocarpa thrives well in average room temperatures 60 degrees Fahrenheit – 75 degrees Fahrenheit / 16 degrees Celsius – 24 degrees Celsius.

Fertilizer:
Fertilize once every month with a low-copper liquid fertilizer, diluted to 1/4 strength.

Propagation:
It can be easily propagated by detaching offsets, or pups, from the base of the mother plant. When the pups are half the size of the mother, they can be divided and mounted on their own. Tillandsia streptocarpa can also be grown from seed, but this is a slow process that might take months.

Pests and Diseases:
It has no serious pest or disease problems. Sometimes susceptible to aphids & mealybugs.