A Tilly is a Tillandsia, and a Tillandsia is an AIR PLANT. They are enormously popular and very fun to play with!
Tillandsias are a dynamic, versatile plant for your home, office, or to give as a gift. They will green up every living space without that pesky soil to be bothered with – just clean lines with a starburst of soft color that enhances anything it is attached to.
Wire them onto a bare tree branch, cluster them in a shadow box, attach them to a wreath, hang them suspended in mid air by fishing line, nestle them in a glass globe or under a cloche- you are only limited by your imagination!
Tillies need a couple of things from you in order to thrive in your home (house temps are ideal) Strong, filtered light, and either spritzing with a spray bottle, or dunking them in water for a couple of minutes (or less).
Spray them thoroughly twice a week, or dunk them in tepid water, and then drain them upside down for a few minutes so water does not pool in the center of the rosette.
Water soluble Orchid Fertilizer is recommended every month or two, half strength, administered by your spray bottle or in your dunking bucket. So easy and so rewarding!
We have an amazing book all about these little gems, called AIR PLANTS: The curious world of Tillandsias, by Zenaida Sengo. I highly recommend this book for growing instructions, but also for the visuals & design possibilities it presents – check it out!
