Tillandsia andreana

[wisdomseeker]

T. andreana in bloom

[WhiteRabbit]

Very nice!

[wisdomseeker]

Thanks!

T. andreana is an easy one to work with, and fairly prolific with producing pups.

[Paul]

Quite nice. How large is it?

[wisdomseeker]

Originally Posted by Paul

Quite nice. How large is it?

Appreciate the compliment, Paul. About 5" in diameter and around 3-4 inches tall. This particular plant surprised me because it originally bloomed around the first of this year, producing 2 small pups. Both of those offsets just recently flowered, the reason for two flowers (disappointed because the pups are still very immature and was hoping to grow them out for awhile). The flowers of this species always seem to be short-lived (plus/minus 2 weeks) before dying back. I know the hummingbirds really have a ball when these plants bloom outdoors.

A few more photos.... first picture bloomed near the end of January and has formed four small pups (hopefully you can see one of them in the photo). Second picture is one that is getting ready for full flower mode, and the third picture is one with a more upright growth pattern.

[Paul]

Short-lived flowers is the norm for the brom family. Many have flowers that last only a couple days.

[wisdomseeker]

Yep, one of the drawbacks if you enjoy long lasting flowers.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Nice blooms. I have this one but I don't take proper care of it. How do you care for yours?

[wisdomseeker]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

Nice blooms. I have this one but I don't take proper care of it. How do you care for yours?

A little, but not a whole lot of care ~ grown indoors under artificial light (lights on about 10 hours a day). Watering method is by soaking for 6-7 hours (during the day) around every 7-10 days. Diluted nutrients are added to soak water bi-monthly. Indoor RH and temperatures can go all over the map (extremes are mainly in the summer during thunderstorm/hurricane season, and during winter months when it is cold and extremely dry). I really don't monitor RH and temperature anymore (although I still have hygrometers and thermometers on the walls). They do get plenty of ambient air. Most of my orchids (dendros, oncs, mini-catts) are also in the same conditions. But, I do put those plants on top of saucers/trays with hydro-balls to help a little-bit with humidity (and my various miniatures are grown inside of containers that are more closed-up, to help retain the humidity they need).

A few pictures to maybe help with a visual idea (most of my T. andreana are usually mounted down lower from the lights, in my growing enclosures (bottom center of first picture shows an example).











Tillandsia bulbosa (this one has been flowering for about 4-5 weeks now and is beginning to push out some flowers - almost a bullet proof Tilly that will handle neglect well - growing off light spill from a growing enclosure next to it -they do fairly well in lower light).

[Paul]

If you have tillie pups from any of the smaller species, we should talk later and see if there are any tillies (or other trade fodder) between us. I know you have a LOT more variety and number than I do, tillie-wise. (The downside to have very eclectic plant tastes.)