Tillandsias Balbisiana

This plant ranges from Florida, the West Indies and Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela. It grows at elevations from sea level to 1,500 meters and is usually found on forest tree branches.

It is stemless with remarkably long, channeled leaf blades that often recurve, twist, and hang far below the base of the plant itself. The spreading upper blades are often about 40 cm apart. An average plant is 35-70 cm high, depending on the length of the decurved blades. The leaves are normally lettuce green. It produces a tall floral cluster that is blood to cardinal red. The flower makes a striking contrast to the comparatively pale colour of the leaves. The brightly coloured, glabrous floral bracts are overlapping and the flowers are deep royal purple. Because of its coriaceous texture, tillandsia balbisiana is a species that always appears somewhat desiccated - even when watered frequently. The plant prefers bright light, high humidity, and frequent watering when the weather is hot and/or dry. Thrives with about the same care as Caput-Medusae.

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