At first glance, we suspect that their bizarre growth requires demanding care. Find out here whether the exotic Tillandsia cyanea is actually out of the ordinary when it comes to watering, fertilizing and cutting.
How do you properly care for a Tillandsia Cyanea?
Tillandsia Cyanea care includes slightly moist substrate, frequent spraying with soft water, fertilizing via the spray water and occasional cutting of faded parts. Daughter plants emerge after flowering and can be potted separately.
How to water a Tillandsia cyanea?
The small roots play a minor role in the care of a Tillandsia cyanea. Therefore, water is supplied to this epiphytic tillandsia species in two ways. How to do it right:
- Spray Tillandsia cyanea one to three times per week
- Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist
- Use only soft, room temperature water
The lower the humidity at the location, the more frequently a Tillandsia is sprayed. Please only water the substrate when it has dried.
Spray tied tillandsias more often
Creative hobby gardeners like to cultivate a Tillandsia cyanea on supports such as branches, stones or cork boards. Under the influence of dry indoor air, the water requirement increases because the roots are not in the substrate. Therefore, during warm summer periods, spray the roots and leaves with lime-free water every 1 to 2 days.
Does Tillandsia require fertilizer?
Botanists discovered that tillandsias absorb vital nutrients primarily through their leaves. Therefore, please add a liquid fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon) in half the concentration to the spray water every week in summer. In winter, extend the time interval to 4 to 6 weeks. The use of a special fertilizer for bromeliads is not mandatory. Commercially available liquid fertilizer for houseplants covers the nutrient requirements at a cheaper and just as effective rate.
When and how should a Tillandsia cyanea be cut?
Scissors are rarely used on a Tillandsia cyanea. You can only cut off the withered flower stalk if it affects the well-groomed appearance. If one of the long, narrow leaves dies, ideally you should wait until the plant releases it on its own. Pluck out a yellowed leaf to avoid a cut. Alternatively, cut it off with a sharp, disinfected knife.
Tip
The Tillandsia cyanea blooms once in its life and then dies. Of course, this is no reason to throw away the mother plant prematurely. At the end of the flowering period, daughter plants form at the base of the plant. When a child has reached half the height of its mother plant, cut it off and pot it up so that it can continue to bloom.
