Have you just discovered the wonderful world of air plants for yourself? You really want to give one of these special plants a home but don't know which species would be suitable for you? Then you are exactly right here! Here we present what we think are the best tillandsias for beginners.
Tillandsia ionantha
Probably "the classic" among the air plants.
"ionánthus" means "violet-flowered" which also indicates the violet color of the flower. This Tillandsia comes in countless variants from green to yellowish to red and has a fairly large distribution area from Mexico to Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador and Nicaragua. It also happens that in nature it crosses (hybridizes) with other tillandsia species. During flowering or when exposed to strong sunlight, the inner rosette leaves turn bright red.
Depending on the cultivar and variety, which can have very fine leaf tips, it can be a little prone to brown dry tips. But this is really only limited to the hair-fine tips. You can trim them well as described in our blog article .
Generally it is very popular because it shows an attractive appearance whether in flower or not. Bright, indirect sunlight and moderate watering ensure that it forms roots very quickly and can grow into a voluminous clump through the formation of children. In addition, it is cheap to buy. Just try it! We offer them as baby plants, in small and large sizes.
Here is the link to the plant in our shop.
Tillandsia caput medusae
The "Medusa Head" looks simply incomparable and extraordinary with its green tentacles. They spring from a pseudo onion, i.e. the thickened base that is reminiscent of an onion. It is a widespread species in Mexico and Central America and lives epiphytically on trees.
It is a very robust plant that can also cope with very little water. But then it remains quite small. Under optimal conditions, i.e. a bright location, regular watering and occasional fertilization with our care spray, it can grow to an impressive size and multiply in large numbers. You can get them in our shop in normal and a particularly large XL version. A really great and easy to care for air plant for beginners.
Tillandsia capitata "Peach"
In our opinion, one of the most drought-tolerant air plants and therefore perfect for beginners. The leaves are arranged in a rosette and are grey-green in colour. In its homeland, almost the entire Central American and Caribbean region, it grows in trees but also on bare rocky slopes. We offer them in the attractive "Peach" variety, in which the leaf rosette turns light and peach-colored under optimal conditions with sufficient light. A beautiful plant in an appealing size here in the shop :
Tillandsia butzii
One or the other connoisseur may be surprised that this plant is listed here. Purely on paper, one thinks that it has more difficult requirements according to its area of origin, the mountain forests of Mexico to Panama. Of course, higher humidity and a slightly shady place is not a mistake. In our experience, however, this is very variable and it has proven to be extremely robust. However, it is preferable to spray them instead of dipping them. The risk of water collecting in the bulbous leaves and not being able to dry properly is too great and the plant will begin to rot. In any case, you will be rewarded with an extraordinary look and a distinctive tabby pattern on the leaves. Here is the product page .
Tillandsia xerographica
Also called "The Queen" of air plants.
Tillandsia xerographica is native to Mexico, Salvador and Guatemala. It occurs there in areas with a desert-like climate. So dry hot days and cool nights with dew formation. When it comes to care, this means that it is very frugal and requires little water, which means that it should not be given in direct sunlight. In addition, it is also less suitable for the immersion method , since water tends to remain in the leaf axils, which then leads to rot. Apart from that, she can grow to an imposing size and is a real feast for the eyes. Depending on the amount of water, the leaves curl differently
This species is highly endangered in the wild. With us you only get plants from sustainable cultivation.
You can find our guide to the perfect care of your plants here .
Our tillandsia care spray with valuable nutrients and minerals here .
