The Tillandsia seleriana belongs to the bromeliad family and originally comes from South America, especially from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. In Germany, the grey Tillandsias are also known as air carnation or desert tillandsia.

Appearance

The Tillandsia seleriana has grey-green leaves with the typical fuzzy surface. When it blooms, the Tillandsia develops lilac-colored flowers. It can take several years for the Tillandsia to bloom.

Care

Tillandsia seleriana needs a bright, sunny location with high humidity and is not suitable for the garden. It’s best to submerge the Tillandsia in rainwater once a week; submerge the entire plant and then let it dry. Make sure that water never remains in the leaf rosette and add suitable fertilizer every other time in summer. Another way to water the Tillandsia is to mist it several times a week. If rainwater is not available, either let tap water sit in a bowl overnight or mix it with distilled water; this prevents calcification of the Tillandsia. You can tell if Tillandsias are thirsty by the fact that the leaves curl up when they become too dry.

Name: Tillandsia seleriana

Family: Bromeliaceae

Origin: The Tillandsia seleriana originally comes from South America, especially from Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

Appearance

Color: Gray-green leaves arranged in a rosette pattern.

Flowering: When flowering, the Tillandsia develops tubular, lilac-colored flowers that grow on a lanceolate inflorescence.

Size: 5-7cm; Height: 12-15cm

Care

Location: Tillandsia seleriana needs a bright, sunny location, but direct midday sun should be avoided, and it should have the highest possible humidity. It is not suitable for the garden.

Watering: The best way to water the Tillandsia is to submerge it in rainwater every two weeks and then let it dry again, or spray it with water several times a week. Make sure that water never collects in the leaves.

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

Propagation: Tillandsias can be propagated through pollination and seed formation. Since they are not self-pollinating, pollen from another plant of the same species must be transferred using a fine brush. The formation of pups is the second propagation method for Tillandsias. Tillandsias often form pups, i.e., new plants, on the stem of the mother plant; this is especially necessary because the mother plant dies after flowering.

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

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