Attempt to use rain, pond, or filtered water if potential. Don’t use distilled water as a result of it’s devoid of vitamins. Municipal water can comprise chemical compounds and metals that aren’t good on your this species.
A reverse osmosis filter is finest, however it’s also possible to boil the water for a couple of minutes after which go away it out to chill for some time.
After watering, gently shake off the surplus water and set the T. xerographica the other way up on a towel or dangle it the other way up for 10 minutes or so.
This prevents water from changing into trapped within the bulbous base, which results in crown rot.
If you wish to be additional secure with a mounted specimen, you should utilize a fan on a low setting for about half an hour to dry it.
Fertilizing
As soon as a month, put some liquid fertilizer within the water. You should utilize any gentle, balanced fertilizer.
A product with an NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) ratio of 1-1-1 or 2-2-2 is ok. You should utilize a stronger fertilizer, however remember to dilute it in order that it’s proper round these numbers.
I want to make use of a fertilizer made particularly for air vegetation as a result of these merchandise are formulated to be mild and so they have the precise steadiness for his or her distinctive wants.
Air Plant Fertilizer
You will discover Air Plant Fertilizer in eight-ounce, 32-ounce, and gallon sizes from the TPS Nutrient Retailer through Amazon.
Don’t feed your T. xerographica in any respect in the course of the winter.
The place to Purchase
With the elevated capacity for growers to breed and export this species, it has change into way more widespread available on the market than it was once.
Many on-line retailers carry younger, small choices.
For instance, yow will discover three- to five-inch specimens obtainable from Amazon.
Tillandsia Xerographica
Or, when you’d like one thing a bit older and larger, seize six- to nine-inch vegetation, additionally obtainable through Amazon.
Mounted Xerographica Air Plant
In order for you a pre-mounted one on a wreath with moss, that’s obtainable from the Bubbleblooms retailer through Amazon.
By the way in which, when you see a specimen with a cool shade or colours, it’s dyed. That shade will fade or develop out because the air plant sheds its leaves.
Propagation
Propagating through offsets is, by far, the simplest solution to go about reproducing an air plant.
However generally, it pays off to take the highway much less traveled. If you wish to propagate from seed, it’s a superbly viable solution to breed new specimens, nevertheless it takes a very long time for T. xerographica to achieve its mature measurement.
I’d additionally advise in opposition to buying seeds on-line as they’re typically mislabeled.
It’s finest to reap your individual from present vegetation, however that is hit and miss, as it may possibly take many years on your T. xerographica to flower.
If you wish to encourage flowering, there are a few methods you should utilize. The primary is to double the quantity of fertilizer to the water if you soak the plant.
You may also enhance the daylight publicity only a bit. In case your T. xerographica isn’t already receiving 4 hours or so of direct mild, make it occur.
From Seed
As soon as your xerographica is flowering, let the blossoms fade and the seeds will develop.
The seeds themselves are small and slender, and are topped with a coma, which is a fluffy high that helps them fly on the breeze.
They appear lots like dandelion seeds, held in a cluster on the lengthy bracts.
When the seeds are dry and fluffy, gently take away them from the plant.
Study the seeds rigorously, and when you see a tiny little bit of inexperienced on the base of any, these are already germinating, so set them apart.
Any that don’t have inexperienced nubs needs to be soaked in water for twenty-four hours to encourage germination.