Description
About Tillandsia streptophylla
Tillandsia streptophylla is the curly one. Soft, velvety leaves spiral outward from a bulbous base, and the drier the plant, the tighter the curls. Growers call it Shirley Temple.
It comes from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, where it grows on trees in seasonally dry forest. The bulb is hollow, and in the wild ants live in it.
The bloom is a branched pink spike with purple flowers, and the whole plant flushes pink as it forms. It is one of the showiest blooms in the genus.
We grade streptophylla from 1.5-inch minis to extra-large plants and specimens over 9 inches. Some basal leaves on larger grades may show minor marks, which do not affect the plant.
Streptophylla is a top seller because it looks unlike anything else. It gives a display movement, and it is the plant customers pick up first.
Growing Tillandsia streptophylla: Care Guide
The curl is a moisture gauge. Keep it dry and bright and the leaves coil hard; water it heavily and they relax and straighten. Either way, the bulb must drain after every soak, because water trapped inside will rot it. Plants that arrive with relaxed leaves after a wet transit will tighten again within a couple of weeks of dry, bright conditions.
- Light: Bright light with some direct sun.
- Water: Soak 20 minutes every 10 to 14 days. Mist in between for softer leaves.
- Drying: Invert and shake hard. Keep it upside down until the bulb is empty.
- Airflow: Good airflow after each soak.
- Temperature: 45°F to 95°F. No frost.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength.
- Mounting: Wire the bulb to wood, or set it in a holder. Never bury the base.
- Pups: One to three pups from the base after bloom.
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