Description
About the Tonna cepa shell
Tonna cepa is a tun shell, one of the Tonna family of large, thin, rounded sea snails. Ours are 3 inches and up, and they are sold singly at $1.25.
What makes this shell useful is the opening. It is larger than most shells of the same size. So it takes most small and medium Tillandsias without forcing, where a whorled shell only takes a mini.
The surface is smooth and lightly banded in cream and tan, and the shell is light in the hand. It is a natural product, so size and marking vary.
We like to drill a hole in the top and hang the shell with fishing line. It can also sit directly on a table, or have a magnet glued to the back.
For a shop it is the shell that fits the plants you already stock. A 3-inch tun with a medium ionantha in it is a finished hanging piece for well under $3 in parts.
Using the Tonna cepa shell with air plants
Set the plant in the mouth of the shell so its base rests inside and its leaves spill out. A small plant can be fixed with a dab of E-6000 Tillandsia Glue on the inside wall. A medium plant usually sits in place on its own. To hang it, drill a small hole through the top whorl and thread fishing line. The shell then hangs with the mouth facing forward or slightly up. Lift the plant out to soak, or hang the whole shell upside down after misting so no water pools inside. The rounded shell holds water at the bottom if left upright wet. That is the one way to lose a plant in it.
- Fits: Small and medium plants: ionantha, bulbosa, small caput-medusae, scaposa, butzii.
- Mounting: Set in the mouth; glue small plants to the inside wall.
- Watering: Remove to soak, or mist and hang mouth-down to drain.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer during the soak.
- Placement: Hang on fishing line in bright indirect light.
- Hanging: Drill the top whorl; the shell is thin, so drill slowly.
Browse more shells in our Air Plant Displays, pick plants from our Air Plants, or read the air plant care guide.
