Description
About Tillandsia cardenasii
Tillandsia cardenasii is endemic to Bolivia, and it is one of the fuzziest air plants we grow. Dense trichomes cover every leaf, so the plant looks silver-blue and feels like felt.
The rosette is upright, with narrow leaves that stand rather than arch. It has the posture of a small agave and the softness of a harrisii.
Mature plants bloom on a simple rose-purple spike with purple petals, and the colour sits well against the pale leaves.
We sell it in two grades: small pups at 4 to 5 inches and larges at 7 inches and above. Small pups may carry a little algae on the lower leaves, which is harmless.
Cardenasii is a species for the silver end of a display. Few air plants are this pale, and the upright habit gives it a presence that softer rosettes lack. At $15 it is a specialist plant priced for collectors.
Growing Tillandsia cardenasii: Care Guide
The thick trichome coat is a water store and a sunscreen, so cardenasii wants bright light, little water and fast drying. It comes from dry Bolivian valleys where rain is seasonal, and it suffers more from wet feet than from drought. Soak it briefly, invert it and let it dry in moving air, and keep it out of a humid, still greenhouse corner where the felt stays damp. The upright rosette does not trap much water, which helps. Full sun in cooler weather deepens the silver, while hot afternoon sun in summer can scorch the leaf tips.
- Light: Very bright light with direct morning sun.
- Water: Soak 15 minutes every 10 to 14 days.
- Drying: Invert and shake. Dry in moving air.
- Airflow: Strong airflow always.
- Temperature: 40°F to 95°F. Cool nights are fine.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength.
- Mounting: Wire the base to wood or stone. Keep the base dry.
- Pups: One to three pups after bloom.
Browse more Air Plants, or read our air plant care guide.
