Tillandsia xerographica

The Tillandsia xerographica belongs to the bromeliad family, is native to South America, and is very robust. The Tillandsia xerographica is subject to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species because it is no longer common in the wild. It is also known as the Queen of Tillandsias.

Appearance

The Tillandsia xerographica consists of silver-green leaves, some of which shimmer slightly pink, and has a large red-green flower during the flowering period, but it can take several years for it to begin to bloom.

Care

The Tillandsia xerographica requires a sunny, bright location with high humidity and is not suitable for the garden. It is best to submerge the Tillandsia in rainwater once a week or every two weeks, placing the entire plant in the water and then allowing it to dry again. Make sure that no water ever remains in the leaf rosette and add suitable fertilizer every second time in summer. Another way to water the Tillandsia is to spray it with water several times a week. If no rainwater is available, either let tap water stand in a bowl overnight or mix it with distilled water, which counteracts calcification of the Tillandsia. You can tell whether Tillandsias are thirsty by the fact that their leaves curl up when they get too dry.

Name: Tillandsia xerographica or also known as Tillandsia kruseana and Tillandsia tomasellii.

Family: Bromeliaceae

Origin: The Tillandsia xerographica originally comes from South America, especially in the dry forests of Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala, where it thrives.

Appearance

Color: Silver-green leaves with a slight pink shimmer.

Flower: A large red-green flower emerges from the center.

Size: Small – Ø 12-15cm; Height: 8-10cm, Medium – Ø 15-20cm; Height: 10-12cm, Large – Ø 20-25cm; Height: 10-12cm

Care

Location: The Tillandsia xerographica requires a sunny location with high humidity. It is not suitable for the garden. Watering: It is best to submerge the Tillandsia in rainwater every two weeks and then let it dry again, or spray it with water several times a week. Make sure that no water ever remains in the leaves.

Substrate: Tillandsias should not be placed in moist soil; mineral substrate, sand, or no substrate at all are more suitable.

Propagation: Tillandsias can be propagated by pollination and seed formation, as they are not self-fertilizing, the pollen from another plant of the same species must be transferred with a fine brush. Pup formation is the second propagation method for Tillandsias. Tillandsias often form pups, or new plants, on the stem of the mother plant, which is mainly necessary because the mother plant dies after flowering.

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Note: All our Tillandsias come from greenhouse cultivation and not from wild stocks!

Note: Sizes and shapes may vary for plants, where each plant is unique. This applies especially in winter or when availability is low. The coloring also varies depending on the season.