Tillandsia usneoides, a gothic and mysterious plant

Tillandsia usneoides has spread from Argentina to the southern United States. This epiphytic herbaceous member of the Bromeliaceae family grows on trees, electric wires and any other support it can find. With its ghostly appearance, it has inspired many nicknames (Spanish moss, air girl, old man's beard, angel hair...) and legends.

How to recognize Tillandsia usneoides?

Tillandsia usneoides needs neither soil nor roots to grow, like its cousin tillandsia streptocarpa. It grows from a slender stem to over 30 meters. Spanish moss develops a network of tangled lianas that form drooping garlands.

The vines are composed of leaves five centimetres long and two millimetres wide. Light green, they are covered with scales that give their evergreen foliage a silvery-gray color.

In summer, flowers bloom that are so small they're barely distinguishable. Yellow or pale green, they give off a subtle fragrance to attract pollinators.

Tillandsia usneoides fruits arecylindrical capsules with hairs one to two centimetres long. They are disseminated by the wind and give rise to new plants when they are able to set.

Spanish moss is non-toxic to animals and humans. Like tillandsia utriculata, it absorbs ambient humidity and improves air quality. Nor is it harmful to the species it shelters. Indoors, it is often grown in association with orchids.

In the southern United States, the long, enigmatic garlands of Tillandsia usneoides arouse curiosity. To unravel the mystery of this unusual plant, Americans invoke a number of legends. The beard of a bloodthirsty pirate trapped in a tree, the jet-black hair of a bride-to-be killed by the Cherokees or the sideburns of a soldier punished for forbidden love... Folklore abounds with sad and terrifying stories to explain the origin and appearance of Tillandsia usneoides.

Our maintenance 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.

Cutting

Cutting 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.

Prepare a pot lined with a mixture of potting soil, peat and pine bark. The pot does not need to be pierced. Place your cutting in the center.

Place your cutting in a heated room, in a bright spot away from direct sunlight. Spray regularly, as for a mature plant.

Diseases / Threats

Information

Family	Bromeliads - Bromeliaceae
Type	Daughter of the air - Tillandsia
Species	Spanish moss - Tillandsia usneoides
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Sun Half-shade
Categories	Interior Herbaceous Hanging plants
Tag	Beginner
Origins	North America Central America South America
Hardiness (USDA)	9a
Leaf color
Flower colors