Tillandsia House Air Plants Lichens

[kg5]

The part of the Simpson Desert we in was a big area and most of it is around 80' below sea level. The huge dust storms would come off the salt lakes, the famous one is Lake Lyre. The pilots hated going below sea level. It just freaked them out.

Every 2 weeks we would get a huge dust storm. The temp would peak at around 50's but this is only a guide. The longer it took for the dust storm to happen made the temp go stupid, go real high.

We waited 5 weeks one time for the dust storm to come. It took all of mid summer. Every crew change twice a week would have 6 new people and 6 new people going back home. The last night before the dust storm was 45c or 113f at midnight. It peaked at 64c or 147f next day. Out of 55 men only me and another guy, the biggest man I have very seen. He had to turn sideways to get through the doorways. Were the only 2 left standing. All the rest were in aircon that got the temp to a cool 45c lol lol. Then the dust storm hit us next night as we were walking to the rig for shift change. None of us knew it was happening as they normally come in daylight hours. The wind hit us lifted all off the ground the flung us backwards at a great pace. I stopped about 4km or 3miles next to the only small bush per square 1km and remember thinking if anything lives out here it is where I am.

[DirtyCoconuts]

WOW!!!
that is terrifying!

[kg5]

With the dust storms much better things happened too. I hated the Simpson Desert but 18 months later I fell in love with beautiful of it. It is just so big, so beautiful. When I left the Deserts I left a piece of me with it. Have never been the same since.

The most beautiful thing I have ever seen is the all the Desert country receiving rain, even in the Simpson Desert had a lot of rain. It is a very rare event for the Simpson Desert to get rain. Especially the part we were in.

The whole Deserts from the air were totally green & gold for as far as you could see. You could of sold it for the best pasture land in the world. Watching the desert turn into flower.......On the way to the sand runway for our planes I counted 16 different flower types. Month later it was all gone except for the seeds that resemble fiber glass splinters. It got into everything at Fly Lake. After that hole everything was so badly effected with seed all bedding clothing was destroyed. It is something you had to experience to really know bad it was.

A big step for me into Horticulture.

[kg5]

Another Tillandsia that looks like it will grow here OK. At the unusual dry heat last summer it took out 3 of these plants but they were small as per these images. They are strong growers and good lookers.

Tillandsia neglecta. Notice the different colouring.

[kg5]

Tillandsia ehlersiana: Seems a strange Tilly to grow here but I took an educated guess and got 1,1000 seedlings 10mm 3/8 lenght under misting for me for the 1st time out in the open. 3 months on and all looks good. Have had strongh growth and no losses as yet. It is a long summer coming up though. 50c per plant 1,000 buy.

Tillandsia ehlersiana Native distribution: native to Chiapas, Mexico.

Habit: Tillandsia, forms a large bulbous base, has white lepidote foliage and rose colored spikes. When allowed to grow in to a large clump it creates a bizarre shaped ball.

Cultivation: Protect the plant from direct burning sun in summer, especially during hot periods, but in winter, find a luminous place. I place them in location where they get early dappled sunlight and afternoon shade. The plant is surprisingly cold-hardy.

My very cheap misting system. Battery lasts 2 months replace every 6 weeks.



pegs are 25mm or 1"



---------- Post added 08-31-2020 at 12:08 AM ---------- Previous post was 08-30-2020 at 11:39 PM ----------

In 5 to 10+ years and they could look like this.




---------- Post added at 12:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 AM ----------

In 5 to 10+ years and they could look like this.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[estación seca]

Be careful with these. They grow sideways in habitat, sticking out horizontally from the vertical trunks of pine trees, not upright as in the photo in a pot. Water shouldn't accumulate inside the plant at the bases of the leaves. The way you're hanging them should work well.

[kg5]

Have just received my 1st lot of seeds from the Tillandsaia Seed Bank Netherlands.

Got 10,000 seeds of Tillandsia bablisiana. Cost EUR 140.00

The seedlings I purchased for 50c each after 5 to 6 years old! Sad really. But great for Tillandsia.

[wisdomseeker]

That is a very unique/inventive mount. Great idea (especially for a large amount of plants, and good use of space). All those clothes pins must have taken some time & work. Well done! Keep us posted on your seed growing.

[kg5]

Thank you wisdomseeker!

The pins/pegs are a great way to deal with Tillandsia. All my bulbous type Tillandsia are hung with different size pegs so as the get the plants upside down. The small ones grab the wire and weight real tight.

Make about 400 a day that is 800 pegs with stainless steel wire. Makes growing seed a lot user friendly for me.

[Leafmite]

This is just such an amazing thread. I really enjoy following it!