Tillandsia ionantha

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:08 am

Even though it seems like it is still the dead of winter here in New hampshire (see this post), it is very tropical in my mini orchid terrarium. This air plant ,Tillandsia ionantha, does not care if there is 16" of snow on the ground, it is just blooming away like it is in the tropics. This is a very common air plant and this species is the one you see glued to shells and wood at a lot of stores and tourist traps around the world. Each single plant is around 9cm long (3.5") x 5cm wide (2"). Inset is a picture of the whole group of plants. After flowering, they go back to being green in color.

Carl_Constantine · Post by **Carl_Constantine** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:38 am

beautiful color on this flower. Quite unique. Glad you could preserve some spring in all that Snow :-)

jaharris1001 · Post by **jaharris1001** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:18 am

beautifull colors Doug !! Looks very tropical

Roy Patience · Post by **Roy Patience** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:29 pm

Doug,

What striking colors! The water droplets add so much appeal too.

These are among my favorite plants. As long as a plant is strange I try to grow it. Mine flower once in a great while, but I don't have any good photos.

Roy

JoanYoung · Post by **JoanYoung** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:13 am

It is lovely to see a spot of colour in the middle of the winter Doug. What would we do without our terrariums?? A gorgeous shot.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:35 am

Doug wrote:

This is a very common air plant and this species is the one you see glued to shells and wood at a lot of stores and tourist traps around the world.

Well I see that you got loose there Doug

Quite unique, I have heard of air ferns but never one of these. Reminds me of an over grown moss species, very beautiful.

RobertoM · Post by **RobertoM** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:43 am

Beautiful colors!

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:19 am

wow great colour Doug!