Tillandsia ixioides

[MrHappyRotter]

Tillandsia ixioides

This is unfortunately not the fragrant variety of this species, but it's certainly lovely either way. I grow this "upside down" in the same conditions as my paphs and phrags, with regular (almost daily) misting, warm-intermediate temps, moderate humidity, and bright shaded light.

Usually the Tillies with stiff and silvery gray leaves like this prefer drier conditions, but this one seems to be very adaptable. It flowers regularly for me, at least once a year.

When I saw it was in bloom this year, I set it into a clay pot, oriented upright just for something different. The spike is very thin at the base, and thus it flops over. Again, I normally grow it upside down, so the spike can hang pendulously as it prefers.

I love the bright yellow color on these and the flowers are good sized for a Tillandsia.

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[WhiteRabbit]

Very nice!

[Paphluvr]

Very nice. These are great companion plants for the orchids and require pretty much the same conditions.

[RosieC]

Nice!

[Tindomul]

A very unique Tillie. Love the colour.

[kg5]

Very nice but very expensive here.

[Pattywack]

Nice Tillie. I have a few that I've had for years, a couple are about to bloom soon. They really are an easy plant and so unique.

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by kg5

Very nice but very expensive here.

Does that apply to bromedliads in general or just T. ixioides? Some of theTillandsia hybrids are pretty pricey in the USA as are some select clones of any type of bromeliad.

Conversely, there's tons of inexpensive options, too. Lots of cheap T. cyanea and T. ionantha (or ionantha hybrids) to be had, available at many supermarkets, hardware stores, department stores, and garden centers. Many of those same places will carry Guzmania, Vriesea, Aechmea, and Neoregelia.

Of course, other than Spanish Moss (T. usneoides), in most of the USA, these are strictly indoor plants.

[kg5]

Tilly's are not native to Australia so imports from USA have been very important but xylella has stopped all tilly import into Australia (Nov 2015) with no end in sight. This has really pushed their price up here.

Your plant at present has a price tag of around AU$180 for a mature plant. I do not have any.

Another example I see ionantha for sale in the US for 35c each. The same plant here is AU$6 whether you buy 1 or 100.

My Tillandsia shade house has the shady side being the south wall & the east wall totally open all year round. Have a solid roof to stop monsoonal rain problems. We get really stunning growth rates where I live. My climate is perfect for the very most of tilly's. Have a lot of new plants I have grown and plants that have grown enough to be broken down into smaller clumps to grow them on again.

Plants equals quality of life to me full on. Am just having the time of my life.

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by kg5

Your plant at present has a price tag of around AU$180 for a mature plant. I do not have any.

Wow. I like this species, but not THAT much.