Tillandsia Aeranthos Medium

Native distribution and habitat: Tillandsia Aeranthos is found from Uruguay, to Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil (Santa Catarina, The municipalities of Laguna (P. Dusen) and Sombrio. The States of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. ) where it grows as an epiphyte on trees often bordering rivers and also found growing in saxicolous colonies on rock near sea level to 200 m.

Growth habit: It is a small branching, caulescent plant about 22 cm high that produces few roots but forms a colony that hold the plant has to the support. While the plant grows a little like T. Begreri, it is more compact and is slower in
forming colonies. Acaulescent where the plant has a compact rosette.

Foliage: Broad but quickly tapering leaves. These channeled leaves are quite stiff and grayish green in colour about 3 inches long often with a slight purple tint.

Flowers: T. Aeranthos flowers as the season warms in spring. The 3-5 inch inflorescence extends above the leaves on a compact scape which has purple rose floral bracts and about 5-20 small blue violet flowers. The flowers are keeled.

Pups: While somewhat similar to T. bergeri the plant usually produces less pups.

Cultivation: Tillandsia aeranthos is a relatively easy plant to grow and a good beginners plant however, make sure it has good air circulation and can dry quickly. Do not expose wet leaves to hot sun as this can burn off the trichome cells. The plant cross pollinates easily with T. bergeri.

Fertilization: A mist every week during the growing season will help the plant.

Size: 5 inch approx