Tillandsia usneoides, a gothic and mysterious plant
Tillandsia usneoides
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Bromeliaceae
- Genus
- Air plant Tillandsia
- Species
- Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides
Tillandsia usneoides has spread its reach from Argentina to the southern United States. This epiphytic herb of the Bromeliaceae family grows on trees, power lines, and any surface it can find. With its ghostly appearance, it has inspired numerous nicknames (Spanish moss, daughter of the air, old man's beard, angel's hair…) and just as many legends.
How can you recognize Tillandsia usneoides ?
Tillandsia usneoides needs neither soil nor roots to grow, just like its cousin tillandsia streptocarpa. It grows from a slender stem and can reach over 30 meters in length. Spanish moss develops a network of vines that intertwine to form hanging garlands.
The vines are composed of leaves that are five centimeters long and two millimeters wide. Light green in color, they are covered with scales that give its evergreen foliage a silvery-gray hue.
During the summer, flowers so small they are barely visible bloom. Yellow or pale green, they give off a subtle fragrance to attract pollinators.
The fruits of Tillandsia usneoides are cylindrical capsules with hairs one to two centimeters long. They are dispersed by the wind and give rise to new plants when they are able to take root.
Spanish moss is not toxic to animals or humans. Like tillandsia utriculata, it absorbs moisture from the air and improves air quality. It is also not harmful to the species that host it. Indoors, it is often grown alongside orchids.
In the southern United States, the long, enigmatic garlands of Tillandsia usneoides spark curiosity. To unravel the mystery of this unique plant, Americans draw on several legends. The beard of a bloodthirsty pirate trapped in a tree, the jet-black hair of a bride-to-be killed by the Cherokee, or the sideburns of a soldier punished for forbidden love… Folklore is rife with sad and terrifying stories meant to explain the origin and appearance of Tillandsia usneoides.
Our care tips
Spanish Moss is an epiphytic plant. It requires special watering and repotting techniques.
Watering
Your Tillandsia usneoides captures humidity in the ambient air. Mist its foliage with non-calcareous water (rainwater or mineral water) at the right temperature to provide it with the water, humidity and nutrients it needs.
Water should not stagnate in the plant. Water the plant upside down. Aim for the foliage and avoid the heart of the plant.
With this method, it can be difficult to regulate the water supply. The leaves give you a clue. When they curl up on themselves, it means the plant is thirsty. But if the blades at the base turn yellow or brown, it's a sign of excess water.
Repotting
Your Tillandsia usneoides has no roots. This epiphytic plant requires special repotting. Simply place it on its support: a piece of wood, a stone, a shell... Don't use glue or nails to fix it. It attaches itself naturally to the material.
Fertilization
Fertilizer is an essential source of nutrients for your Tillandsia usneoides. Top up spray water with orchid fertilizer.
Prune
After flowering, cut off the spent flowers. You can do this by hand, or use a clean, sharp tool such as a pair of scissors or pruning shears.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Remove a shoot. Use a clean, sharp knife if necessary.
Leave the young shoot to dry for 24 to 48 hours, until it has healed.
Leave the young shoot to dry for 24 to 48 hours, until it has healed.
Prepare a pot filled with a mixture of potting soil, peat moss, and pine bark. The pot does not need to have drainage holes. Place your cutting in the center.
Place your cutting in a heated room, in a bright spot, but out of direct sunlight. Mist it regularly, just as you would a mature plant.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Categories
- IndoorHerbaceousHanging plants
- Tag
- Beginner
- Origins
- North AmericaCentral AmericaSouth America
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 9a (-6.7°C ≤ T° < -3.9°C)
- Leaf colors
- Light greenSilver
- Flower colors
- YellowPale green
Discover plants from the same family
Pink quill
Tillandsia cyanea
Medusa's head
Tillandsia caput-medusae
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
