Description
About Tillandsia juncea
Tillandsia juncea is the grass-like air plant. It has straight, fine, upright leaves that rise from a narrow base, and it looks more like a rush than a bromeliad.
It is widespread, from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America to South America, and it grows on trees and rocks in a range of climates. The leaves are green with a light silver coat.
The bloom is a slender spike with red bracts and violet flowers, held above the leaves.
We grade it from 6-inch smalls and 8-to-9-inch mediums to larges of 10 to 12 inches and extra-larges of 14 inches and more. Colombian larges and extra-larges are a separate grade, currently with thin bases, and we also sell clumps of four to seven or more pups.
Juncea is the plant for height. It is cheap at $1, it ships in bundles, and a row of them gives a display the vertical line that rosettes cannot. Our juncifolia is the lime-green, smooth-tipped relative.
Growing Tillandsia juncea: Care Guide
Juncea likes good airflow and hates standing water. The narrow base is the weak point: if the plant sits in water too long it rots from the bottom, so every soak must end with the plant upside down and shaken until the base is dry. Given that, it is easy. Weekly soaks, bright light with some sun and a breeze keep it green and upright. Colombian plants with thin bases need a little extra care in drying. A clump on wire dries best hanging in moving air. Feed it monthly through the growing season and the pups come quickly.
- Light: Bright light with direct sun for part of the day.
- Water: Soak 20 minutes every 7 days.
- Drying: Invert and shake until the base is dry. Never leave the base wet.
- Airflow: Good airflow always.
- Temperature: 45°F to 95°F. No frost.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength.
- Mounting: Wire the base upright to wood. Clumps hang well on wire from our Air Plant Accessories.
- Pups: Several from the base after bloom.
Browse more Air Plants, or read our air plant care guide.
