Tillandsia flabellata

[Than]

Does anyone have this little fella? I am wondering if it can survive the winter outdoors here in coastal Athens.. last year she was inside.

[Silas_Sancona]

2 hours ago, ego said:

Does anyone have this little fella? I am wondering if it can survive the winter outdoors here in coastal Athens.. last year she was inside.

This is a good reference to start from.. Specific species isn't listed, but you can look it up, in conjunction w/ any of the listed sps that might occur where it grows on iNaturalist.

https://www.fcbs.org/articles/cold_sensitivity_of_bromeliads.htm



Keep in mind that -generally speaking-  with Tillies,  Greener leaves = less adapted to heat / dry air ( Outdoors.  May influence cold tolerance as well )

Grey / Silvery / " fuzzy " leaves?? = lots of Trichomes ..which can = better tolerance of heat / dry air / periods ( ..and possibly cold ..though again, that might vary depending on origin )




A quick look on iNat might hint that T. flabellata  may be more cold sensitive, based upon where it has been observed in Mexico, and them' naked, green leaves.

[Than]

8 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

This is a good reference to start from.. Specific species isn't listed, but you can look it up, in conjunction w/ any of the listed sps that might occur where it grows on iNaturalist.

https://www.fcbs.org/articles/cold_sensitivity_of_bromeliads.htm



Keep in mind that -generally speaking-  with Tillies,  Greener leaves = less adapted to heat / dry air ( Outdoors.  May influence cold tolerance as well )

Grey / Silvery / " fuzzy " leaves?? = lots of Trichomes ..which can = better tolerance of heat / dry air / periods ( ..and possibly cold ..though again, that might vary depending on origin )




A quick look on iNat might hint that T. flabellata  may be more cold sensitive, based upon where it has been observed in Mexico, and them' naked, green leaves.

Terrific source I wasn't aware of! thanks again 

[Silas_Sancona]

8 hours ago, ego said:

Terrific source I wasn't aware of! thanks again 

It's been a good -general- resource for deciding which Tillandsia ..and other Bromeliads... to choose from / research.  That said, the person who put it together lives in FL. so conditions they might see will be different -in some respect- compared to what i might experience / someone in central CA. might see.

Here, while there are plenty of sps which possess more than enough cold hardiness, the list of  Tillandsia species one could grow outdoors, fully exposed,  is quite a bit shorter ..based upon a the experiences of a few folks who have tried different species here,  due to the extreme heat / dry air.  

That said, have lots of trees to provide all day filtered shade / help keep humidity levels below higher, ...maybe a patch of lawn you'd keep watered,  pref. w/ some tree canopy cover above,  and face a direction that lessens the impact of any hot dry winds, and someone here might be able to grow a few of the other " tougher " species w/ a better chance of success.

If your climate is similar to say S. Cal,  and you have plenty of tree / taller shrub canopy around to provide filtered shade / wind protection, you should be able to grow several species..  Maybe not flabellata  ..outdoors all year anyway,   but, lots of really interesting species to choose from. 




Of the really tender sps, Tillandsia dyeriana  ** has been moved to the Genus Racinaea, ** is my personal, all time favorite.. Looks more like a Heliconia when flowering, than a Bromeliad. VERY cold tender, and can't dry out ..or stay too wet.  Had a specimen for a couple years in FL until a cold morning, on top of staying too wet took it out. Not easy to find.

Critically endangered in habitat ..though i'm fairly certain 98% of cultivated plants are from cloned / micro propagated material.


 

[Than]

58 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Critically endangered in habitat ..though i'm fairly certain 98% of cultivated plants are from cloned / micro propagated material.

When a plant is CR I think 98% is still too low tbh; the remaining 2% is enough to wipe out the remaining wild population. Stunning species though!! 

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, ego said:

When a plant is CR I think 98% is still too low tbh; the remaining 2% is enough to wipe out the remaining wild population. Stunning species though!! 

Yep, completely agree.. %' age of correctly sourced plants, vs any collected may be 100% ( ..100% of sourced material of that sp  which is propagated from cultivated sources ) but, unfortunately,  it is hard to be 100% sure that is the case sometimes ..though being more certain the plants offered aren't from wild collected sources is getting better.

Here at least -as far as some Cacti / Succulent type stuff is concerned-, there are rescue groups who go to soon-to-be-developed sites out in the desert and dig as many plants as possible, rare stuff esp. Some of those rescued plants go to the botanical gardens, others are offered for sale / adoption at sales events. That said, rescued plants offered by such organizations have specific rules that have to be followed ..to a t.. Get caught transporting a 10ft tall, bare root Saguaro, that isn't properly tagged / has the correct paperwork,  and you can end up jailed ...and/ or eating from a trash can for a few decades. 

Regardless, that is why it is important to find out / do some deeply under the radar detective work -if need be- when a super rare plant suddenly becomes widely available, esp. large sized specimens ..that just don't seem to fit how long it normally would take to grow something of that size / to that size in cultivation, vs any " instant ",  bigger specimens some moron collected out in habitat, and then posts for sale.

See this with some Cacti and Agave offered on sites like E-bay / etc., ....which is why i'll usually start from seed / small sized plants. Plenty of time to watch them mature.  Need for instant gratification?,  not me.  Could care less who sees my plants and makes extremely unintelligent remarks about their " small " size. 

Furthest from the grossly misguided " Impatient plant geek " mindset  anyone would meet..

 

[Than]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Yep, completely agree.. %' age of correctly sourced plants, vs any collected may be 100% ( ..100% of sourced material of that sp  which is propagated from cultivated sources ) but, unfortunately,  it is hard to be 100% sure that is the case sometimes ..though being more certain the plants offered aren't from wild collected sources is getting better.

Here at least -as far as some Cacti / Succulent type stuff is concerned-, there are rescue groups who go to soon-to-be-developed sites out in the desert and dig as many plants as possible, rare stuff esp. Some of those rescued plants go to the botanical gardens, others are offered for sale / adoption at sales events. That said, rescued plants offered by such organizations have specific rules that have to be followed ..to a t.. Get caught transporting a 10ft tall, bare root Saguaro, that isn't properly tagged / has the correct paperwork,  and you can end up jailed ...and/ or eating from a trash can for a few decades. 

Regardless, that is why it is important to find out / do some deeply under the radar detective work -if need be- when a super rare plant suddenly becomes widely available, esp. large sized specimens ..that just don't seem to fit how long it normally would take to grow something of that size / to that size in cultivation, vs any " instant ",  bigger specimens some moron collected out in habitat, and then posts for sale.

See this with some Cacti and Agave offered on sites like E-bay / etc., ....which is why i'll usually start from seed / small sized plants. Plenty of time to watch them mature.  Need for instant gratification?,  not me.  Could care less who sees my plants and makes extremely unintelligent remarks about their " small " size. 

Furthest from the grossly misguided " Impatient plant geek " mindset  anyone would meet..

 

True, very true. 

Talking about seeds, my colvillea seeds sprouted within 4 days!

[Tom in Tucson]

On 12/17/2023 at 9:47 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

It's been a good -general- resource for deciding which Tillandsia ..and other Bromeliads... to choose from / research.  That said, the person who put it together lives in FL. so conditions they might see will be different -in some respect- compared to what i might experience / someone in central CA. might see.

Here, while there are plenty of sps which possess more than enough cold hardiness, the list of  Tillandsia species one could grow outdoors, fully exposed,  is quite a bit shorter ..based upon a the experiences of a few folks who have tried different species here,  due to the extreme heat / dry air.  

That said, have lots of trees to provide all day filtered shade / help keep humidity levels below higher, ...maybe a patch of lawn you'd keep watered,  pref. w/ some tree canopy cover above,  and face a direction that lessens the impact of any hot dry winds, and someone here might be able to grow a few of the other " tougher " species w/ a better chance of success.

If your climate is similar to say S. Cal,  and you have plenty of tree / taller shrub canopy around to provide filtered shade / wind protection, you should be able to grow several species..  Maybe not flabellata  ..outdoors all year anyway,   but, lots of really interesting species to choose from. 




Of the really tender sps, Tillandsia dyeriana  ** has been moved to the Genus Racinaea, ** is my personal, all time favorite.. Looks more like a Heliconia when flowering, than a Bromeliad. VERY cold tender, and can't dry out ..or stay too wet.  Had a specimen for a couple years in FL until a cold morning, on top of staying too wet took it out. Not easy to find.

Critically endangered in habitat ..though i'm fairly certain 98% of cultivated plants are from cloned / micro propagated material.


 

If I was going to try growing any members of this genus here in our desert, I would start with this one. It grows at the same elevation as my house (~ 750m):

https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/individual/index.php?occid=6074170&clid=0

Hi 55°, Lo 46° Dec 23 .05"

[Silas_Sancona]

4 hours ago, Tom in Tucson said:

If I was going to try growing any members of this genus here in our desert, I would start with this one. It grows at the same elevation as my house (~ 750m):

https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/individual/index.php?occid=6074170&clid=0

Hi 55°, Lo 46° Dec 23 .05"

Don't have to go all the way out to the Kofas to find some, if there is any there, any more ..Growing practically in your backyard / Down the street from me, haha.

[Tom in Tucson]

32 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Don't have to go all the way out to the Kofas to find some, if there is any there, any more ..Growing practically in your backyard / Down the street from me, haha.

Yes, I was aware of the fact that I wouldn't need to invest in a "king's ransom" in gas to find 1. My reason for posting this local, was to inform the readers to the fact that they are a true Sonoran desert survivor. I wasn't aware that they could survive in such a dry area. If I had known that it grew there when I went there in Oct., I would have looked closer at the oaks found there. They no doubt are nearly an annual in those parts.

Hi 59°, Lo 41°

[Silas_Sancona]

2 minutes ago, Tom in Tucson said:

Yes, I was aware of the fact that I wouldn't need to invest in a "king's ransom" in gas to find 1. My reason for posting this local, was to inform the readers to the fact that they are a true Sonoran desert survivor. I wasn't aware that they could survive in such a dry area. If I had known that it grew there when I went there in Oct., I would have looked closer at the oaks found there. They no doubt are nearly an annual in those parts.

Hi 59°, Lo 41°

As a formally active PT Bromeliad Guru would likely say, no " annual / near- annual " Tillandsia.  

Unless conditions are ideal, any seedlings would be toast well  before reaching the size of what was collected.  Several that had germinated on my bigger Bursera specimens while in FL, were gone well before the end of the first summer here. 

Regardless, it would be interesting to see any, more recent iNat observations from that area,  if still present out there.