yeswaitnosorry This might seem a silly question but what sort of information/suggestions are you looking for. I am still learning myself. Keith
It's a big ask. I think I should browse all the threads and then ask questions. I guess I am wondering are they best suited to life in a terrarium?
yeswaitnosorry, Terrascape in miniature 45lt http://glassboxgardeners.com/members-journals/297-terrascape-in-miniature.html That is an easy answer these are all "Tillandsia" air plants Keith
What i know of tillandsia's is there are 2 forms. The desert and the jungle. The desert form don't realy like to long to much moist, if i'm correct those are the tillandsia's which look kinda powdered. The jungle form with smooth leaves rather needs moist air and more like for terrarium. They also flower more easily like a bromelia.. The ones you find in the garden shop are most commonly the desert forms standing on the counter in a jar full with tillandsia's like candies to pick. and are often used to put on a piece of wood and hang at the window and survive dry periods with ease.
yeswaitnosorry I have only bought from Bunnings once and that was enough other than the quality they are over priced. http://www.cradlenursery.com.au/Tillandsia.html This is where I buy all of mine now better quality and cost plus excellent service. Keith
yeswaitnosorry I looked at a few Tills the other day and every one should be in the rubbish bin either dried out or not that far from it. Keith
Shipping costs are such a darn shame.. we have a few very good providers as every country has it's fanatics i just can't order from.. All because the shipping is to darn expensive or difficult.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Tillandsia+netherlands&hl=en&sourceid=gd&rlz=1Q1GGLD_enAU499AU499&gws_rd=cr,ssl&ei=E6XVVYzzCKLxmAXLnajIDA Marcel Do a bit of Goggling for info on them in the Netherlands as see what you can find. That is how I found my supplier 3-4hrs by plane away. Keith
The first hit on your search is a good supplier i also ordered from, also very nice orchids and indeed tillandsias. http://www.orchideeen-shop.nl/eng-resultaat.php?merkid=60&merknaam=Tillandsia and Bromelia Also have a look at http://www.araflora.nl/ they have a huge collection of rare tropical plants. They are somewhat slow replying sometimes but provide very nice and healthy specimens. Lately i ordered and recieved a few Drosera's Pygmeas (I believe australia native) they where the only providers having several spieces. Also provided me with an Utricularia Calycifida Gran Sabana, very nice one.. And if you are in to carnivors https://www.wistuba.com/ is one of the best in western europe.. Very nice collection he's German. But i guess the nephentes is closer for you with Borneo next door. But he olso has others..
Yes they are very easy fortunately, i've seen very beautiful terrariums filled with flowering Tillandsia's and Bromelia's. Unfortunately the bromelia's only flower once in their life time. I'm not sure but it think this also goes for the tillandsia. so if you want to keep enyoing their flowers you need to keep swapping plants. I had a few in the past, but in the shops near me i only could get my hands on desert forms. And in a way that spoiled the fun for me looking at my little jungle style setup with a desert plant in it. It just didn't fit for me. It would fit better in a dry setup accompanied with cactusses or agaves. And that's not my thing. Although it can be beautiful as wel.
By easy to keep I mean every has to be right for them, light, correct watering also, using the correct fertilizer. Many wait until they are dry and then soak them, I prefer to mist twice a week and during the hot summers a light mist every morning like as in nature. I fertilize weekly alternating two fertilizers. During the summer months I keep the substrate damp to help in creating the humidity. I can assure you all this did not happen over night. Keith
Where i bought them they also sell little spray bottles with special Tillandsia ferts. If i remember correctly it's PK only about the same as special fert for Orchids. It contains non or just very little N. I guess that's indeed an issue, that many don't give them the propper care and interpret easy a little to easy and think it's self-evident it means less care. Altho they can take a beating to keep 'm beautifull for a long time needs care, effort and knowing what they need. Like the terrarium you made Keith. packet with differnt kinds, taking care of a setop like that indeed doesn't come over night. Most people kill'm over time with (hard) tap water. What ferts do you give them? Home made?
Marcel This is what I am using weekly its for Flowers & Blooms N 16.6 P 7 K 17.8 It also has trace Elements. Fortnightly Organic seaweed solution (Powder) Contains nutrients including 16% Potassium. We have a very soft water soap lathers very easily. Keith
We too we can consider ourselfs likey with that. If i read what GH and KH parameters go round in the UK or USA with loads of chlorine as well. They are realy up to other challanges than i am with keeping the water parameters in check with RO installations and dechlorinators. Im realy blessed with a perfect and very good constant soft water quality from the tap with no unhealty additives.
