Two ways to role with tillandsia

Who says plants have got to stay in the same place? If they don’t need soil, they’re ready to roll. Maybe tillandsia will become the chihuahua of the garden set, lightweight and happy wherever we go? Plop them on your purse and you’re off. Stick one in your hair. Guys like Chris Lutz from the Laguna Beach Garden club, grows a variety of tillandsia on his hat.

You can also put them where the sun don’t shine—like in the lobby of the Bardessono Hotel in Napa. The tillandsia sit on the end of small rods, like chopsticks stuck into the wall, and get misted once a week.

Tillandsia are epiphytes, absorbing the nutrients and moisture they need through their leaves. The roots anchor the plants. Tillandsia like cool nights, warm days, filtered light and grow easily in artificial light. For complete growing instructions check out Air Plant City.