Then you wait 6 or 8 years for it to mature. Tillandsias are the SLOWEST bromeliads to grow from seeds, which is why I resist the temptation!

Germination is the easy part. My experience is that the hard part comes when the seedlings start to grow their first true leaves, rather than the seed leaves shown in the image. Once it has a rosette of true leaves, you are 90% along the way to success - but as Lisa pointed out, it can take over 5 years to get an adult plant.

My experience is that the hard part comes when the seedlings start to grow their first true leaves..."

I thought germination was too easy! So what is the difficulty? That they dry out too much *and* rot too easily at the same time? I figure I'll just keep them with the orchid mounts and if they grow, they'll grow. I am wondering, though, if at some point they might fall off the stick (they are currently just stuck by the fluff, as nature intended). Also wondering if they need particular fertilization....?

More rotting than drying out, usually, but you're right, it could be either one, depending on your growing conditions.

The point where I've always had problems is in trying to remove them from whatever they're growing on and attach them to something else. They don't seem to want to do that until the plant is mature. If you can leave them where they are, I think you'll have better luck, as long as they don't get too crowded.

I doubt they'll fall off. That fluff has a kind of adhesive quality to it, it stays put on a rough surface and will hold the seedling pretty efficiently until it is big enough to make roots, unless you bump it or something.

I'd put some kind of very dilute fertilizer solution in your dipping water, but it's still gonna be slow!

Thanks for the tips. My growing area is on the dry side which is why caput-medusae does better for me than many of the other tillies.

When I looked for seed sowing instructions, I did make note of the comment about sowing them so they won't need to be disturbed for about 3 years. I think I'm okay - the tree fern mount is very airy so I can cut it apart if need be.

Hi,
Im also growing tillies from seeds - i put them on natural cork and I placed the cok into water so its wet all the time - but now, ater a week when my seeds look like that picture above, there seem to be mildew on those "soft hair" of seeds - what sould I do? sould I let them run dry and only dew them several times a day? pls help

Where is Gonzer, doesn't he raise some from seed?

I allow my seeds to periodically dry out, as this mimics their conditions in nature. Your mildew problem stems from too much water. A spritz of water every other day will do ya just fine.