nixwickedgarden

T. secunda anchored in pot w/ Orchid bark, charcoal, perlite & gravel (my cat’s in the background)

Tillandsia secunda is a large growing species native to Ecuador.  This plant was a MUST HAVE for me.  As someone who likes not only to collect all types of Bromeliads to grow as container plants, but also to use for landscaping where at all possible.  Secunda is capable of growing very large (usually, when grown as an bare-rooted Air plant or epiphyte–it tends to dwarf it somewhat. To grow faster and larger, grow as a potted plant in a fast draining potting mix).  It will eventually throw up a tall, colorful, jaw-dropping & long-lasting inflorescence AND WILL GROW BUNCHES OF NEW PLANTS on the bloomed out flower stalk!  A perfect opportunity to test out growing some of your newly grown brood in trees or mounted to patio beams. 😉  Also, when you have baby secundas to spare, you can give them to your plant-friendly friends and help introduce them to Bromeliads they wouldn’t normally encounter at your local home & garden center!   I purchased this plant from Scott McKenzie at Scotts Airplant Paradise on eBay.

Here in the So. Cal Desert, I keep my T. secunda under my covered back patio where it is shielded by the scorching afternoon sun by other plants.  It gets bright light though, the suns refection from the glass of the French doors bounce filtered light all over it in the late afternoon.  Normally, I would keep my Tillandsias outdoors under a 50 to 65% shade-cloth to keep them from burning.  But we get very high winds from time to time and this can dry out Tillys very quickly–Not to mention, rip apart a shade-cloth  and launch it many blocks away!  I keep most of them growing indoors, safe in my bathroom window.  The secunda needs more room to grow, and seems to be quite durable thus far.