Description
About stricta Rio Negro
Rio Negro is a named form of Tillandsia stricta, one of the most widely grown and easiest Tillandsia species in the trade. We can’t trace a documented origin story for the “Rio Negro” name itself, so we’re describing the plant we actually grow rather than a pedigree we can’t confirm.
What sets this form apart visually is its foliage: fine, narrow, pointed leaves arranged into an unusually symmetrical rosette, tidier than a typical stricta clump.
Our stock ships at 6-7 inches wide and 4-5 inches tall, matching the plant shown in our own photos, so buyers can expect a consistent, mature-looking specimen rather than a young single.
At bloom, a tall pink flowering stem rises well above the foliage, opening small purple flowers in sequence rather than all at once, which stretches the display window.
Because stricta tolerates a wide range of light and humidity, Rio Negro suits both an outdoor retail bench and an indoor terrarium setup equally well. That flexibility, combined with its mature ship size, makes it an easy plant to merchandise the day it arrives, without waiting for it to grow into the look shown in photos.
Growing stricta Rio Negro: Care Guide
Run it mesic, standard for the species. Soak 5-10 days, then invert and shake dry.
- Water: Soak 5-10 days, then invert and shake dry.
- Light: Bright indirect light; tolerant of varied conditions.
- Feeding: Diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer monthly.
- Form: Fine, narrow leaves in a notably symmetrical rosette.
- Bloom: Tall pink stem, purple flowers opening in sequence over an extended window.
Feed it TillyBoost Fertilizer on a regular cycle, browse more stricta forms in our Air Plants – Tillandsias category, or check the air plant care guide for the basics.
