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Blushing Bride (Tillandsia ionantha)

Tillandsia ionantha is an evergreen perennial herb that is mainly epiphytic but can also grow on rock in its natural environment; it is usually stemless or short-stemmed and can form clumps through offsets.

LightTillandsia ionantha prefers bright indirect light and is suited to partial shade; outdoors in summer it can be placed in a shaded tree or shelter environment.
WaterFrom spring through autumn it can be thoroughly soaked with rainwater, with watering increased in hot, dry conditions; after watering, drain it thoroughly, let it dry, and remove excess water trapped between the leaves.
HumidityTillandsia ionantha needs good airflow.
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Overview

Tillandsia ionantha is an evergreen perennial herb that is mainly epiphytic but can also grow on rock in its natural environment; it is usually stemless or short-stemmed and can form clumps through offsets.

Origin and habitat

It is native to Mexico and Central America, but sources differ on the extent of its range, variously extending it to Costa Rica or Nicaragua. In nature it grows as an epiphyte or on rock without depending on soil, and a source reports its distribution extending to elevated sites.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature height, giving a range of about 6–8 cm, while the few sources for mature spread report about 10–50 cm. The numerous narrow, pointed triangular leaves are densely covered with silvery gray to silvery white scales, and the upper or outer leaves can turn bright red to pink around flowering. The flowers are sessile or borne on a very short inflorescence and are typically purple to blue-purple, contrasting with red bracts or reddened upper leaves; sources differ in their descriptions of the number of flowers per inflorescence. The plant has silvery, dense trichomes, and its fruit is reported to be a capsule, with another description reporting a cylindrical form.

Light

Tillandsia ionantha prefers bright indirect light and is suited to partial shade; outdoors in summer it can be placed in a shaded tree or shelter environment.

Watering

From spring through autumn it can be thoroughly soaked with rainwater, with watering increased in hot, dry conditions; after watering, drain it thoroughly, let it dry, and remove excess water trapped between the leaves. The general method is to soak, then let dry.

Humidity and airflow

Tillandsia ionantha needs good airflow.

Growing medium and mounting

It does not require potting soil and can be attached to wood, ceramic, glass, or another support, with tying or adhesive described as attachment methods. It is suited to being mounted.

Feeding

During the growing season, diluted liquid fertilizer is generally reported to be suitable.

Propagation

It can be propagated from seed or by separating offsets after they have grown sufficiently relative to the parent plant.

Common problems

Pest problems are generally limited, though aphids and mealybugs can occur, while disease problems are generally uncommon. After watering, excess water between the leaves should be removed and the plant allowed to dry, while the growing environment should maintain good ventilation. It is reported to suit a sheltered position; greenhouse cultivation should have good ventilation, and in summer the plant can be moved outdoors to receive rainwater, light, and humidity.

Identification

Tillandsia ionantha is a small, clumping air plant with narrow leaves densely covered in silvery gray scales; near flowering, the upper leaves become conspicuously red and blue-purple to purple flowers emerge, while the roots primarily serve for attachment.

Photos

Tillandsia ionantha
📷 Daderot · Public domain · source
Tillandsia ionantha
📷 M.NABIL · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Sources