Blue-flowered torch Tillandsia lindenii

Water

The Blue Flowered Torch, more commonly known as the Air Plant, thrives when watered by misting two to three times a week. In drier conditions, soak the plant in a bowl of water for about an hour every two weeks. After soaking, turn the plant upside down to let excess water run off to prevent rot. During winter, reduce watering to once a week and ensure the water is at room temperature. Always use approximately 4 ounces of water for misting or enough to fully submerge the plant during soaking.

Light

Blue Flowered Torch plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight. Indoors, place the plant near a south, east or west facing window where it receives bright light without being in the direct sun. If the light is too intense, diffused light with a sheer curtain is ideal to prevent leaf burn.

Temperature

The Blue Flowered Torch can tolerate a temperature range from 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but it thrives in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid exposing the plant to temperatures below 50 degrees for prolonged periods, as this can cause damage to the plant.

Pruning

Pruning the Blue Flowered Torch is only necessary to remove dead or damaged leaves to maintain plant health and appearance. This can be done as needed, any time of the year, using clean, sharp scissors. Pruning also refreshes the plant and helps to promote new growth, but typically no heavy or regular pruning is required.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Blue-flowered Tillandsia thrives without soil; instead, use bark pieces or a non-soil epiphytic mix; ideal pH is not applicable as they do not require soil.

Repotting

Blue-flowered Tillandsia does not need repotting as it is an epiphyte and grows without soil, typically mounted on a surface.

Humidity & Misting

Blue-flowered Tillandsia prefers high humidity levels, around 60-70%, to thrive well indoors or outdoors.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  For Blue-flowered Tillandsia, mount on wood, mist regularly, and provide bright, indirect light.

• Outdoor

  Mount Blue-flowered Tillandsia on trees or wood; ensure protection from intense sun.

• Hardiness zone

  Blue-flowered Tillandsia is suitable for 10-11 USDA hardiness zones.

Life cycle

Tillandsia lindenii, commonly known as Linden's airplant, begins its life cycle when seeds, facilitated by a silky fluff called pappus, are dispersed by wind and land on a suitable substrate, typically another plant or a rocky surface. The seeds germinate, developing into small seedlings that anchor onto the substrate using root-like holdfasts, which serve primarily for attachment rather than nutrient absorption. Through the process of photosynthesis and nutrient uptake through their specialized leaves, the seedlings grow and mature into adult plants, forming dense rosettes of silver-green, scaly leaves. Linden's airplant absorbs water and nutrients from the air via tiny scales called trichomes. After reaching maturity, the plant produces a striking inflorescence ranging from deep blue to violet, typically signaling that the plant is in its blooming phase, which also marks the beginning of its reproductive stage. Following pollination, which can be performed by hummingbirds or other pollinators, the plant sets seed, completes its life cycle, and eventually dies, often after producing offsets, or "pups" that develop at the base of the plant, giving rise to the next generation.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Early Summer

• The most popular method to propagate Tillandsia lindenii, commonly known as Blue-flowered Torch, is through the division of offsets, also called "pups." These pups usually form around the base of the mother plant after it has flowered. Once they're about one-third the size of the parent plant or have several roots, they can be gently twisted or cut off using a sterilized blade. The best time to propagate is during the growing season, which is spring or early summer. After separation, allow the pups to dry for a day, and then they can be mounted on a suitable substrate or placed in a lightly packed, fast-draining growing medium. They should be kept in bright, indirect light and watered regularly but allowed to dry out between waterings.