Note: I’ve updated the list of plant sales, and made a correction in the Tamiami Orchid Sale, which will be Friday to Sunday, May 13 to 15 at the Miami-Dade Youth Center.

Tillandsia copanensis is a member of the bromeliad family. I have it in a wire basket, hanging from a pole. It is positioned to get a couple hours of direct sunlight in the morning, and the rest of the day, it is pretty shady. It has generated a few offsets, so I’ve bought a few more wire baskets. I’m really lucky how well it is doing, given I haven’t watered or fertilized it. I mean never, but sometimes it got wet as I was tending to the orchids.

The picture below is Tillandsia intermedia, and it is hanging from a tree. Photographing tillandsia can be difficult. T. intermedia is easy, but I’m running out of places where I can hang the offshoots, and still be sure it gets some direct sun light.

I think this one is Tillandsia capitata ‘red’ but if someone knows better- please let me know. It seems happy at the base of a tree. It’s got a really striking red color.

Finally, Tillandsia dyeriana, which was for sale recently at a local orchid sale and I couldn’t resist passing it up. I’ve just got one inflorescence. Not sure how to propagate this one, it may be difficult to get offsets. The photo could be better, as there are small white flowers at the end of the bract.

Tillandsia are air plants and they take up water through very fine hairs (trichomes) on the top surface of the leaf. Pretty cool. Google trichomes to learn more.

Happy gardening,

Dave