Description
About Tillandsia straminea thick leaf tall form
Tillandsia straminea is one of the more strongly scented species in the Tillandsia genus, and the thick leaf tall form is the selection worth carrying. It grows upright on a lengthening stem rather than staying flat.
Leaves are noticeably stouter than the ordinary type, which makes the plant sturdier in transit and slower to dry out. Trichome cover is heavy and chalky, giving a consistent pale silver.
The flower is the draw. Straminea produces a branched spike carrying lavender and white flowers, and the fragrance is strong enough to carry across a room.
It comes from the Peruvian coastal desert, growing on rock and sand in some of the driest terrain on earth. We offer four sizes, from 5 inches to 12 inches and up.
Growing Tillandsia straminea thick leaf tall form: Care Guide
Desert origins and heavy scaling point the same direction. Therefore keep this one bright, airy and dry.
- Light: Very high light. Strong light keeps the form upright and drives the flowering you want for the scent.
- Water: Soak 20 minutes every 12 to 14 days. Thick leaves plus dense scales make it very drought hardy.
- Drying: Invert and shake. Water gathers where the leaf bases wrap the stem.
- Airflow: Strong airflow, matching the windy coastal habitat it comes from.
- Temperature: Comfortable from 45°F to 95°F. Cool nights are fine.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength. Consistent feeding means more flowers and more scent.
- Mounting: No soil. Mount upright on wood so the stem can extend as it grows.
- Pups: Offsets follow bloom and form along the stem. Separate at one third size, or let it build a colony.
Our Air Plant Care page covers the basics, and more Peruvian species sit in our Rare Air Plants.
