Recently, exotic indoor plants have become very popular - they give the interior a touch of originality. However, many of them are quite capricious in leaving. Being in search of unpretentious exotic, it is recommended to pay attention to Anita tillandsia. Our article contains all the necessary information about this plant and its care.
Botanical description of the plant
Tillandsia Anita is a highly decorative hybrid of a herbaceous plant. Its homeland is the territory of Ecuador and Peru. This is a low plant with a large number of long narrow leaves that grow in the form of a dense rosette from the roots.
A distinctive feature of the species is the presence of a flat spike-shaped inflorescence, which is located on a low peduncle. The bud is formed by bright blue 3-petal flowers with bracts of a bright pink hue, which overlap each other.
Despite the fact that the flowers bloom in a fairly short time, the spike with bracts blooms for a long time. After flowering is complete, processes appear in the axils of the leaves, while the mother rosette dies.
| Root system | Surface |
| Stem | Missing |
| Leaf shape | Long and narrow |
| Leaf color | Dark green |
| Flower shape | Shamrock |
| Flower color | Blue with pink bract |
House growing conditions
For full development, the flower needs proper lighting, acceptable temperature and humidity.
Did you know? Tillandsia got its name thanks to the professor of the Swedish Medical Academy Elias Tillands. He was the first drafter of the plant identifier and the founder of the Botanical Garden in Finland.
Lighting
The light for tillandsia should not be very bright, it is especially important to protect the plant, it is direct rays of the sun, which can harm. The best option in the warm period is the north side.
In winter, natural light with such an arrangement is not enough - on this basis, if it is not possible to move the pot, you will need to additionally illuminate the flower.
Temperature
Tillandsia is a fairly thermophilic plant. In the summer season, the temperature should be in the range + 26 ... + 28 ° С. In summer, the pot can be taken outside, the main thing is to ensure that there are no drafts in this place. In winter, the temperature should not fall below + 18 ° C.
It is important not to forget that the plant negatively refers to sharp temperature drops - this should be taken into account in autumn and spring.
Air humidity
For full growth and maximum flowering, the plant needs a sufficiently high level of humidity, which should be in the range of 70–80%. If it is lower, it is recommended to raise it artificially, for example, regularly spray a flower or place an additional tray with water next to it.
In winter, it is important to keep the pot with the plant as far away as possible from the radiators.
Home Care
Flower care consists of moistening the soil, applying fertilizers and proper transplanting. Consider the features of these processes.
Watering
Moisturizing the soil is recommended to pay special attention. Water for irrigation should be used well-kept and soft, while it should be at room temperature. You can add a small amount of acetic acid to it (1 drop per 2 l).
The best irrigation regime is considered so that the soil does not completely dry out and is always in a slightly wet state. However, watering should not be plentiful, as this is also not suitable for a flower. Water is poured directly into the outlet: the only way it can be saturated with water.
After 20 minutes, excess moisture is removed. In the cool season, the amount of watering is reduced to 1 per week, and in winter - up to 2 times a month.
Top dressing
Tillandsia is recommended to be fertilized no more than 2 times a month. To do this, use liquid dressing for orchids, which can be found in a flower shop. It is important that the amount is 2 times less than indicated on the package.
If necessary, you can carry out additional dressing by spraying the leaves with a weak solution of this tool.
Pruning
Trimming of tillandsia is not carried out, since the plant itself gets rid of old leaves.
Transfer
For the growth of roots and flower, it is recommended to systematically transplant. The first is carried out immediately after purchase, but they do it if the flower is not in the process of flowering. To do this, take a slightly larger pot and transshipment without disturbing the earthen coma around the roots.
In the free space add new land. Watering is carried out only after a week, before that the leaves are only sprayed.
Important! For transplantation, it is recommended to take not deep but wide a pot, as the roots grow in width due to the formation of daughter sockets. In deep containers, the flower will begin to rot due to stagnation of moisture.
The next transplant is carried out after 3 years. This can only be done after flowering is complete. In this case, they use a universal substrate, which is designed for orchids, with the obligatory presence of peat and bark. In addition, every spring, the top layer of the substrate is replaced.
Breeding
Tillandsia is propagated in two ways: using lateral shoots and seeds. The first is much more popular, since with seeds you have to spend more time and effort. Let's consider each in more detail.
Kids
At the end of flowering, tillandsia forms a large number of daughter rosettes. Propagate the plant by separating and replanting in separate pots. Do this only with those children who have reached a sufficient size and have roots.
A special substrate is prepared for depositing, which consists of peat and sand in equal amounts. After separating the children, the sections are treated with wood ash. Pots are placed in a slightly shaded place where the temperature is in the range + 22 ... + 25 ° С.
On average, no more than 3 months are enough for complete rooting, after which a young plant is transplanted into a new pot with a substrate for orchids. Carry out similar manipulations in the spring and summer. Most often, these plants begin to bloom after 2 years.
Seeds
Seed material can be purchased or collected in person. For germination, a mixture of peat and sand is prepared, which is carefully watered before sowing. Seeds are laid out in a thin layer on the surface and are not covered with earth. It is important to moisten the mixture again.
Did you know? Tillandsia belongs to the large Bromeliad family, which includes more than 400 species of plants, and its outdated name is Ananawithabouthigh.
The container is covered with film or glass and placed in a bright place. The temperature should be within + 25 ° C. Sprouts germinate after about a month. Tillandsia flowering occurs after 5 years.
Possible growing difficulties
To enjoy the beauty of plants as long as possible, you need to know what problems are possible during its cultivation, avoiding them if possible:
- Rotting of the stem at the base. Reduce moisture and improve drainage.
- The death of the mother outlet. Give children time to grow stronger and plant them in new pots.
- Lack of child sockets. Spend additional fertilizing with fertilizers.
- The leaves became soft. It is recommended to increase the ambient temperature.
- Gray spots on the leaves (gray rot). Carry out the treatment with fungicides.
Pests most often do not disturb tillandsia, but from time to time it can be attacked by a mealybug, scale insect.
Important! During flowering, leaf hydration should be carried out very carefully so that water does not get on the flower.
Signs and superstitions
Tillandsia is a very valuable plant for followers of the Feng Shui teachings.
Specialists in this field are confident that the flower has the following positive qualities:
- beneficial effect on the material well-being of the house, concentrating monetary success;
- helps people who seek independence;
- helps to cope with financial difficulties.
Taking into account all the above recommendations, you can enjoy the beauty of Tillandsia. In addition, proper care may allow you to receive additional income from sales of young plants.
