Description
About Tillandsia espinosae
Tillandsia espinosae is a small, stiff grey Tillandsia from Ecuador and Peru. It was known for years as Vriesea espinosae, and it was only recently moved into Tillandsia.
The plant pups off running stolons, as the photos show. Each bloom cycle typically produces four pups, and they quickly form a beautiful symmetrical clump around the mother.
We grade it from 2-inch smalls to 6-inch extra-larges, measured tall or wide. Plants ship as fresh-cut pups with an upright shape; after a few months of growing they open out and become wider than tall.
The leaves are brittle, and some leaf damage in shipping is possible. Broken tips can be trimmed for a cleaner look, and they do not affect the plant.
The clump photos show what the plant becomes with time. For a shop, espinosae is a small, tough, sculptural species at $2.50, and a clump on a slab is a piece customers rarely see elsewhere. Our giant form is the same plant at display size.
Growing Tillandsia espinosae: Care Guide
Espinosae comes from dry forest with a long dry season, so it wants bright light, a soak every ten days or so and fast drying. The stiff leaves hold a little water at the base, so invert it and shake after each soak. It tolerates heat and direct sun better than a soft green species, and it forgives a missed watering. Because the leaves are brittle, handle it by the base rather than the leaf tips, and mount it once where it can stay; a plant on a broad slab sends its stolons across the surface and builds the clump without any help.
- Light: Bright light with direct sun for part of the day.
- Water: Soak 20 minutes every 10 days.
- Drying: Invert and shake. Leaf bases hold water.
- Airflow: Good airflow after each soak.
- Temperature: 40°F to 95°F. No frost.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with diluted TillyBoost Fertilizer at quarter strength.
- Mounting: Glue the base to a broad piece of cork or wood. Handle by the base.
- Pups: Four per bloom, on stolons. Leave them on for the clump.
Read our air plant care guide, or browse more Air Plants.
