“Look at this!” I told my niece. N took one look at my Tillandsia Cyanea and laughed.
“You stuck the purple flowers there, right? I’ve seen them before in the garden.” She probably thought I was trying to pull a fast one; a lame April Fool trick.
“No, I didn’t. Look again.” N’s eyes widened. “You mean they are real? Wow!”
The T. Cyanea’s inflorescence is really quite amazing. I too was captivated by its impressive pink bract and vivid violet flowers when I first saw it. I still am.
Recently, I found out that the T. Cyanea is also called Pink Quill. How apt.
My first T. Cyanea was stuck onto a piece of driftwood and had looked more like a sculpted art piece. It was a thing of beauty, that unfortunately did not last forever.
It died prematurely due to a fatal combination of moi’s ignorance and over-enthusiasm. I had overwatered it. That dealt a painful blow – both to my wallet and my ego.
And so there was a long hiatus between my first T Cyanea and my second … and third. And these plants came to be only because a friend gave them to me; a double portion of blessings.
His T. Cyanea had grown into a huge clump of some thirty over plants. And when they all bloomed in sync, the pot of Cyanea looked like a big exotic bouquet. The clump had grown too big and had to be divided.
I wasn’t about to blow my second chance with the Cyanea. This time, I did my research and used media and pots that ensured better air-circulation. Thankfully, the plants grew and are thriving.
Like other tillandias and bromeliads, the Cyanea can only bloom once, after which it produces pups and fades away. Fortunately, each Cyanea inflorescence lasts more than four months.
The quill which first made an appearance before December 2012 is still pink and purple flowers are still taking turns to emerge from between the bracts.
It’s been making a huge impression on the family with its exotic beauty and long lasting blooms.
The T. Cyanea may be years from forming the huge clump my friend once had, but they will get there; one pup at a time.
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Care and propagation: Dappled light, pine bark, wood chips or charcoal bits; water moderately and ensure good air circulation. Propagation is by division or by using seeds.
Spectacular! Your photos are gorgeous; and your article is beautifully written. Thank you for sending a big light into my day!
So beautiful ,great photos I have one growing on driftwood ,but not flowered yet.
thank you so much, Publius and gwen. it really is a great plant to grow.
Hello
May I add a link to my weblog at http://www.puterim.com for your website? It is for Singaporeans who want to live in Johor.
I only grow veg and fruit by choice, but your flowers are very tempting.
thank you
Denyse x
sure you can, Denyse.
wow.. that’s amazing.. purple on side of big pink is such a good combination
I hope I can grow it one
i hope so too, qyut. 🙂
Gorgeous! I finally figured out how to properly care for my tillandsia so I hope I can get some more blooms. I have mine in orchid bark and I hope the fertilizer will get the pups to bloom.
that’s fantastic, LA Lady! hope i get to see a photo of your tillandsias one day.
It’s just a little one but it’s been a lot happier since I started fertilizing. I’ve been itching to get another one that’s already in bloom (now that I know how to take care of them).
looks like my images didn’t show up… let’s try this:
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Such a lovely post. Thank you for sharing. I have included it in my MUST READ list. Please check it out http://littlegirlstory.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/littlegirlstory-must-read-post-final-list-2013/