Spanish moss - Tillandsia usneoides BLOOMS!!!

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Spanish moss - Tillandsia usneoides - we are all using it, but when watering today I found something, I had no clue about - it does bloom! Cute little green blooms! LOVE IT!

[Bud]

What a surprise....I never thought they even flowered....

[howze01]

You learn something new every day! Pretty awesome

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Bud

What a surprise....I never thought they even flowered....

The same here Bud, I was really staring at it when watering and could not believe I have never seen it before, I have so much moss on the balcony plus there is moss on the trees all over Miami, but never saw any flowers till today. It is pretty cool, I would love to see the whole big bunch blooming at the same time, it would look amazing:-)

---------- Post added at 08:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 PM ----------

Originally Posted by howze01

You learn something new every day! Pretty awesome

So true, every watering there is SOMETHING new at the balcony:-)

[Sharry]

Question for Southerners: How does Spanish moss hold up in freezing weather? Does it all die back or does it just freeze and thaw? Also during droughts - does it just die or does it green up when it finally rains?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by Sharry

Question for Southerners: How does Spanish moss hold up in freezing weather? Does it all die back or does it just freeze and thaw? Also during droughts - does it just die or does it green up when it finally rains?

Sharry, no clue, however considering the fact it grows all over Florida on the trees, and also I saw it all over Georgia, Alabama etc. I would assume it can stand some freezing nights just fine. I am leaving mine outside at all times, even when morning temps dropped to 35, and no damage at all.

[Orquiadicto]

I was just wondering when I last watered it of it might bloom or not. Now I know it can bloom. Thank you for posting this. Very cute little blooms.

[RosieC]

Cool! Mine flowers quite regularly in the summer. Such tiny cute flowers.

The question on freezing temps, I would guess it would not cope well. Mine has done OK in a cool greenhouse 5C over the winter, but it struggles in the winter. Growth stops and parts die off. The clump as a whole survives the 5C, but it definitely doesn't like it.

[WhiteRabbit]

Cute! I'll have to inspect mine

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Cute! I'll have to inspect mine

Thanks Sonya, I did check it today, 5 blooms on the same moss open at the same time, so cute:-)