Description
We set out to produce a whole batch of this hybrid six years ago, but most of the seeds simply didn’t take. That left us with only six plants total, which makes this one of the rarest crosses we carry.
About flabellata caput-medusae
This cross combines flabellata, a species we grow as a tank plant that holds water in its cup, with caput-medusae, the snaking, silver-leaved species known for tolerating high light and needing a well-drained bulb. Crossing a tank species with a non-tank species produces a non-tank plant, so this hybrid follows caput-medusae’s drainage-focused care rather than flabellata’s cup-watering routine.
With only six plants ever produced, availability here is about as limited as it gets. If you’re looking for something genuinely unusual to offer serious collectors, this is that plant. We haven’t seen this cross bloom yet either, so we’re not guessing at flower details here; we’ll update the listing honestly once we do. Even without bloom data, the vegetative cross already shows the snaking, silver leaf character that makes caput-medusae so recognizable, just with flabellata’s heavier build behind it.
Growing flabellata caput-medusae: Care Guide
Water this hybrid like caput-medusae: soak briefly, then invert and shake out the base thoroughly so no water sits trapped inside. Give it bright light, since caput-medusae tolerates more sun than most silver-leaved Tillandsias and this cross should too.
Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer. Mount it somewhere the base can drain completely after watering; see our Air Plant Displays for options. For general watering guidance, visit our Air Plant Care page. Learn more about the genus at Tillandsia on Wikipedia.
