Tillandsia stricta

The Tillandsia stricta plant is indigenous to eastern South America, where it may be found in a region that stretches from northern Argentina to Venezuela. It may be found growing among trees and on the sands of coastal dunes in the foothills of the Atlantic Range, between sea level to 1700 meters above sea level.

Tillandsia stricta is a species of the genus Tillandsia. It is also known as Anoplophytum strictum, Tillandsia rosea, Tillandsia conspersa, Anoplophytum bicolor, Anoplophytum krameri, Tillandsia langsdorffii, and Tillandsia krameria. Daniel Solander ex John Bellenden Ker Gawler first described this species in 1813.

TILLANDSIA STRICTA AIR PLANT IDENTIFY

The Tillandsia stricta plant is indigenous to eastern South America, where it may be found in a region that stretches from northern Argentina to Venezuela. It may be found growing among trees and on the sands of coastal dunes in the foothills of the Atlantic Range, between sea level to 1700 meters above sea level.

It is an epiphytic perennial that forms clumps, is evergreen, short-stemmed, medium-sized, reaching 10 cm wide and up to 20 cm high, with recurved and coated in a type of frost-like scales, lanceolate, pointy, longer than the scape leaves organized into dense rosettes. Tillandsia stricta plants come in a wide range of variants, including soft-leaved specimens, much tougher, stiffer kinds, and many colored forms, including pale green leaves, silvery leaves, and even leaves that are almost black.

Early in the summer, this air plant produces a single, short polystic spike that gives the inflorescence a spherical look. The imbricate, scaly, and green bracts of the blooming stalk. The oval, wide flower bracts have a more or less consistent pink or red tint, and they are especially noticeable near the top of the inflorescence. The actual blooms are fairly little (1.5 to 2 cm tall), non-tubular, purple to light purple, and only have a short lifespan—at most, they endure for one day before wilting—but the bright bracts can last for up to 10 weeks.

AERIAL PLANT CARE AND CULTURE IN TILLANDSIA

Only take cultural knowledge as a starting point; customize it to fit your needs. You will need to consider several other elements, like your geographical location, where you grow your plants, how much time you have to commit to caring for them, and many more. Then you may choose the cultural practices that work best for you and your plants.

Light

Tillandsia stricta needs excellent light to blossom, thus it grows best when put in a protected area of the garden throughout the summer. It can stand a lot of sun. Artificial light can be used to cultivate this species. The greatest artificial lighting is fluorescent full spectrum. In the winter, place the plant right next to a window indoors; in the summer, ideally outside.

Temperature

Tillandsia stricta prefers temperatures between 10 and 32 °C. If you grow it outdoors, harvest it early enough in the fall to avoid nighttime lows of 4 or 5 °C, especially if it is damp. The plants can withstand temperatures near zero degrees Celsius for a few hours if they are protected and dry.

Humidity

This air plant requires a moderate to low humidity level. The plant must have adequate aeration and dry out rapidly (in less than an hour).

Growing medium, substrate, and repotting

On rocks, in a seashell or on coral, in porcelain or pottery, connected to wood, or on a solid substrate that doesn't absorb water, Tillandsia stricta may grow almost anyplace. Strong adhesive can be used to stick the plant directly to the surface, or the plant can be wired to the base. The plant's base shouldn't be covered in moss or it might decay. Almost any beautiful mount you can think of, such as shells, pebbles, slate, driftwood, etc., can support its growth. For the best impact, arrange them in attractive clusters. Superglue and copper wire should not be used since they will destroy the plant.

Watering

According to the ambient humidity and light levels, watering should be done twice a week in the summer and once a week in the winter. Watering in the morning is more preferable to watering at night. Instead of doing so during the day, air plants take in carbon dioxide at night. It goes without saying that rain counts as watering if you cultivate your plants outside.

Fertilizer

 It's not necessary to fertilize. Fertilizer added to water on occasion will hasten growth, increase pup reproduction, and provide a more colorful bloom. Moderate quantities of fertilizer can be applied to this air plant. In the summer, once to twice per month, and once per month in the winter.