Description
About the small abalone shell
The small abalone shell is a young abalone shell about 3.25 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. The outside is rough and dull, but the inside is the iridescent nacre that abalone is famous for, and it flashes green, blue and pink as the light moves.
There is a small natural pocket at the narrow end of the shell, and it is the right size to glue a small plant into. That pocket is what makes this shell a holder rather than just an ornament.
We sell it singly, by the dozen, and in bulk lots of 100 pieces. At 25 cents a shell, it is the least expensive display we offer.
Shells ship with your plants. A bulk lot of 100 is still light, so it rarely adds to the shipping cost.
For a shop, the abalone is the impulse piece by the register. Glue a small ionantha into the pocket, and the flash of nacre does the selling. A dozen of them on a tray costs three dollars in shells.
Using the small abalone shell with air plants
Set the base of a small plant into the pocket at the narrow end, and then fix it with a dab of E-6000 Tillandsia Glue. Let the glue cure for a day before you water. The shell lies flat on a table, with the nacre facing up and the plant at one end. Alternatively, drill through one of the natural holes along the edge and hang it with fishing line. Mist the plant in place, because the shallow shell dries in minutes. A glued plant cannot soak, so mist it more often and let it dry fully each time.
- Fits: One small plant, for example small ionantha, mini brachycaulos, mini velutina or a small bulbosa.
- Mounting: Glue into the pocket.
- Watering: Mist in place two or three times a week. Dry fully between.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer in the mist.
- Placement: Table or hanging in bright indirect light.
- Care of the shell: Rinse if dusty. Nacre does not fade.
Browse more Air Plant Displays, pick plants from our Air Plants, or read the air plant care guide.
