Thank you so much for your input Gonzer, I really, truly appreciate it. I took the plunge and removed the dead leaves, and there were 4 layers, would be 5 but I couldn't do it, so left that layer there.

I've been growing orchids for over 12 years, have wanted to grow tillandsia for a while now but never knew where to start. Plus living in NJ doesn't help for I never came across tillandsia for sale anywhere that I can see in person. This was only my second purchase and I think I'm completely addicted to this new hobby:)

I adore orchids and tillandsias, or probably plants in general:) to see them not doing or looking well really bother me. I hope to learn more and more from everyone here.

Thanks again Gonzer, I feel much better now.

Bcbk

I think that info about xerographica not needing much water is a bit false. Surely the plant is big and has a cup to collect water, so it can survive longer periods without watering. But it also grows pretty fast when it gets enough water. I water my own plant as frequently as other tillandsias.

Raxidor, good to know about your method of watering xerographica. Perhaps you are growing them outside year round? I'm still learning on how to grow these plants, I have about 30 now. They are separated in 2 groups, the xeric gets water once a week, except for xerographica, every 2 or 3 weeks, and mesic gets it twice a week. They are currently indoor, get air circulation by a small fan. They will summer outside for about 5 months or so before I move them inside again. I guess when they are outside, each group can get a bit more water unless it gets really humid? That's the plan for now anyway, sounds good? Thanks for sharing.

bcbk

I live in Czech Republic, zone 6. Part of my plants is whole year inside, part on balcony from may till october. When they are inside over winter, I noticed T. brachycaulos and T. oaxacana start rolling their leaves after 4-5 days, so I mist all my plants every 4 days and use fan to get them dry. Summer is hot and dry here, so I usually mist my plants daily. I think very important thing one should care about is the plant shape. Plants with bulb or tight rosette have difficulties to evaporate water that gets inside, so they should be grown horizontally or a bit upside down, so you never overwater them. T. xerographica has a cup and when temperature is high enough, it can hold water inside for few days without any harm. I usually let few drops of water there when it's over 28 Celsius.

I am in zone 6 as well, so we practically share mostly the same weather pattern? Except I think summer in NJ can be pretty humid and of course very hot at times. I didn't know that brachycaulos can roll their leaves when it lacks water? That is cool, if you like that sort of thing:). I never heard of oaxacana, just looked it up and I really like it. It will have to go on my wish list for now because I just ordered a dozen more plants this afternoon. I'm trying very hard to curb my addiction, today... lol

It's so interesting that you can leave some water in the plant's cup for a few days. Coming from growing orchids, that's a definite no, no so I have to remember that and don't run outside to tip the plants over after the rain. The good habit I have from growing orchids to apply to tillandsia is they both like to dry out fairly quickly, for that reason, I mounted most of my orchids. And now I do the same for the tillandsia.

Raxidor, I'm glad you gave me the warning about watering. This morning I saw the leaves on both xerographica and harrisii all curled up a lot more than yesterday. Thank goodness Gonzer already told me to water xerographica when it first arrived. I don't see how it's possible for me to wait a month to water xerographica, unless it is grown in a greenhouse. Since we still have the heat on, the air must be too dry for them.

It's certainly good to be careful, but inside homes tillandsias really need at least one proper watering per week. Now when spring is starting and we get some sun, I water my plants once per 2-3 days. They are in full growth and many will bloom soon.

BCBK said: "I don't see how it's possible for me to wait a month to water xerographica," It is tempting to water all plants a lot, like a newbie aquarium keeper overfeeding fish. I have a lot of plants now, having started collecting several years ago. They are inside about 5-6, months, outside 5-6 months (depends on how long summer lasts here in Albuquerque where it is generally dry, warm to hot, and high altitude--I'm at about 4,800 feet, zone 7). I have a mix of plants, and nowadays I spritz everything about daily, and dip or soak maybe every ten days (Spanish moss more frequently). Several plants have are in the process of blooming, so I guess they are mostly happy. I'll likely water more as the weather warms up.

I have 2 Xeros, one which looks like yours but it I have it either sitting on a Mexican-style black vase or hanging via some smart wire. That plant looks roundish and its leaves are rather loose (i.e., not tight, thus I think it's getting enough water). My other Xero I have mounted on a nice piece wood I got at a pet store (for aquariums, so plain dark wood). I've wired it to the wood and while the plant looks artistic I don't think it is interested in sinking roots into the wood. Oh, well. However, the center of the plant has been growing outward and upward so it is no longer ball shaped. It looks like eventually (years?) a flower stalk may emerge. Other than that, it looks fine.

Currently these 2 and some other bigger Tillies are hanging in my north-facing porch, and they come in at night since it's still rather cold here (as low as 40F in coming days, with highs in the 60sF through next week) (we've been getting up to hear 80F, which is unusual for this time of year). When it looks like nights won't fall below 50F, I'll put out a lot more plants. The rest (smaller ones) will stay inside under grow lights, though maybe I'll put some in baskets and let them enjoy some sun now and then :) Your humidity can be a good thing for the plants as many of them grow in humid situations in nature. We get humidity here only when it is actually raining, which is welcome but rare.

Please keep us posted on how your plants are doing and what you are discovering!

Debby, lol... what I meant is with my growing condition, xero would not survive waiting for a month to be fed:) the room they are in is very sunny, with very large door and windows and has both morning and afternoon sun. The orchids and everyone else thrive in that condition but Tillys just got moved a bit away from direct sunlight.

It sounds like we have similar arrangement for the plants too. I'm planning to bring them outside with the rest of the plants mid to late May. You're right, the humidity in the summer is really great for the plants. By late September they all look so healthy and beautiful, they look like they just come out of the professional growers greenhouses:) We also get a lot of windy and rainy days too, that's why I mounted the tillys so they won't get blown away. I use cork bark, driftwood and mopani, that's probably the same piece of wood you got at the pet store. I don't have the plants long enough to know if they grow roots, but will keep you posted.

The way you described your 2d xerographica, it does sound like it could be spiking soon. I notice those characteristics on all spiking xeros pics I see online. How exciting!

Raxidor, with my growing condition I will need to drench them once a week too, and quick watering or mist mid week. When they are outside then I will monitor them and readjust.

Happy growing everyone!

Hi. Xerographicas are grown dependent on preferrence. Some, like me, prefer it fresh so I tend to dip it daily and shake off (I live in Manila and it gets pretty hot) and they do great.

However, Tillandsias curl when dehydrated as a means of conservation of moisture. So some like that curled look so they slightly stree it.

But yours is beyond stressed. Dump it in water for an hour then shake off and let dry.

Hi Jayvee,

I took your advice and soaked it for an hour and it looks so good now! Thank you so much for your input. Even though I'm still at the beginning stage of learning to care for these plants, I was a bit concerned yesterday when I saw the condition of xero and harrisii, they looked kind of "unnatural" to me:)

I do like the curly look on xero, but not that tightly curled. Thanks again Jayvee, that was great advice.