Air Plants
Tillandsia is a genus of around 540 species in the Bromeliad family. Tillandsia are epiphytes, also called aerophytes or air plants meaning they normally grow without soil. They don't need soil because moisture and nutrients are gathered from the air and absorbed through structures on the leaves called trichomes. The roots are used as anchors only. Reproduction is by seeds or by offsets called "pups." A single plant could have up to a dozen pups. Although not normally cultivated for their flowers, some Tillandsia will bloom on a regular basis. In addition, it is quite common for some species to take on a different leaf color, usually changing from green to red, when about to flower. This is an indication that the plant is monocarpic, which means it flowers once before dying, but offsets around the flowering plant will continue to thrive. After blooming the offsets can be separated from...