Description
About Tillandsia baileyi
Tillandsia baileyi is a bulbous species from southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. It is one of the few Tillandsias native to the United States, and it is tough.
The base is a slim bulb, and the leaves are long, twisting and grey-green. Singles run from 4-inch smalls to 10-inch larges.
Its habit is what sells it. Baileyi pups generously, and over time a clump becomes a ball of plants pointing in every direction. Our large clumps on wire are 7 to 9 inches across and already ball-shaped.
The bloom is a pink spike with violet flowers. A ball in bloom carries several spikes at once.
At 75 cents a single, baileyi is one of the cheapest ways to build hanging displays. Buy singles to grow on, or buy the wired clumps and hang them straight from the box.
Growing Tillandsia baileyi: Care Guide
Baileyi grows in hot, dry Texas scrub, and it tolerates heat, drought and neglect. The bulb traps water, so drying matters. Hang clumps so air can move through the ball after every soak. Singles bought cheaply and hung together on one wire will knit into a single ball within two or three years, which is the most economical way to make display pieces.
- Light: Bright light with direct sun.
- Water: Soak 20 minutes every 10 to 14 days.
- Drying: Invert and shake hard. Clumps need shaking from several angles.
- Airflow: Strong airflow, especially for balls.
- Temperature: 35°F to 100°F. It handles both heat and brief light frost.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength.
- Mounting: Wire the bulb and hang it. Balls grow best suspended.
- Pups: Generous, from the base. Never divide a forming ball.
Read our air plant care guide, or browse more Air Plants.
