Description
About Tillandsia ‘Ty’
Tillandsia Ty crosses ehlersiana with the Belize form of bulbosa, which means both parents contribute a swollen hollow base. The hybrid is bulbous through and through.
Ehlersiana brings the chalky silver coat and a fat, rounded bulb. Bulbosa Belize brings size and the long snaking leaves that twist away from the base rather than arching stiffly.
The result reads as a silver bulb with dark twisting arms. It has more movement than a pure ehlersiana and more substance than a pure bulbosa, which is a good combination on a shelf.
Three grades run from 4 inches to 8 inches and up. At $8 this is one of the better value sculptural plants in the catalog.
Growing Tillandsia ‘Ty’: Care Guide
Two hollow-based parents means one rule dominates. Therefore how you mount it matters as much as how you water it.
- Light: Bright light. Bulbosa parentage means it burns more easily than a pure silver species, so avoid harsh afternoon sun.
- Water: Soak 20 minutes every 7 to 10 days, sitting between the two parents’ needs.
- Drying: The critical rule. The hollow base fills during a soak, so invert and shake firmly every time.
- Airflow: Strong airflow. Dry within four hours.
- Temperature: Comfortable from 60°F to 95°F. No frost.
- Feeding: Feed monthly in spring and summer with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength.
- Mounting: No soil. Wire it at an angle so the bulb drains freely.
- Pups: Offsets form around the bulb after bloom. Separate at one third the mother’s size.
Our Air Plant Care page has the fundamentals, and more bulbous crosses sit in our Rare Air Plants.
