Tillandsia Hat and Earings?

[Vivian Tristesse]

Hello!

I recently purchased an excellent Tillandsia xerographica specimen whom I have decided to name either Yvonne, Yvette, or any other dignified, 'foreign' name (suggestions, please!) which seems fitting for such an elegant specimen.

I am thinking about mounting her on a straw hat. I will not constantly, or even usually, wear her, but I would like to mount her on a straw hat, perhaps adding Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia ionantha, and Tillandsia stricta in the future. I will mount the hat on a stand and place it near a southern window.

The Tillandsia usneoides earings are simply hoop earrings draped with live Spanish moss.

Has anyone on these forums attempted to grow plants on items which might occasionally be worn? Is this a terrible idea for the plants?

I would only consider wearing them if I knew the weather was not going to be too upsettingly sunny.

Has anyone here

[Ordphien]

I'm not sure how that will work out....
I say go for it....
Why not?

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[orchidsarefun]

I wouldn't know..........but please, please, please post a photo of yourself in that getup !

[Ordphien]

I'd like to make the suggestion of a hat made from a more durable material.
Straw seems like it would degrade too fast for long term enjoyment.

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[lambelkip]

Originally Posted by Ordphien

I'd like to make the suggestion of a hat made from a more durable material.
Straw seems like it would degrade too fast for long term enjoyment.

I have to agree - straw does not hold up well in the humidity required for Tillandsias. Another option would be to mount it on a pin, or a wire hoop that could easily be tied to the hat when in use.

[Vivian Tristesse]

I'll keep your suggestions in mind while I craft my plant accessories!

orchidsarefun, it's going to take me years to make the hat and earings (because I don't really have access to Tillandsia species), but I will certainly upload a photo when I do. I hope you chance upon it in the future!

[orchidsarefun]

you could go the Les Mis romantic route - Cosette ? Fantine ?
Good Luck, its certainly original.

[birdybrain]

I've always loved epiphytes (though I avoided orchids for years due to their difficult reputation). A few years back I bought a really small tillandsia bulbosa, used aluminum wire to hold it & made it so I could attach it to a brooch. It grew too large to wear within a very short time & I eventually lost it to bulb rot.

I agree it may be best to go with a straw-looking hat that's really made from woven plastic as that would last much longer. Another option would be to affix the tillandsia to a ribbon that can be removed from the hat for watering. And even attached to other hats or worn as a headband

I see no reason why you couldn't mount a micro mini orchid to a tiny piece of cork & wear that on a necklace or brooch or hat.

Also on etsy you can get necklaces made to hold tiny plants. Maybe you could use orchid media or hygrolon instead of soil if one of the little necklace pots seems suitable.

[birdybrain]

The plant necklaces I was thinking of on etsy are like Listing # 126051838 & 90852362 & 120192138. But there are several specifically meant for tillandsias & succulents.