he Tillandsia Magnusiana is a must-have air plant with soft fuzzy and silvery leaves that form a round shape around it. Learn everything about this plant here.
Have you ever heard of Air Plants? These magnificent creatures are quickly rising in popularity around the world as perfect little table pieces, and are a superb discovery for those of you that are interested in owning and caring for plants but are lacking the notorious green thumb needed to keep said plants alive. Those that haven’t quite fully grasped the ability to take care of plants can finally share their homes with these living works of art without worrying about them dying shortly after purchasing. Serial plant killers everywhere are celebrating.
Tillandsia Magnusiana is similar to cactus plants in the sense that they do not need much day-to-day maintenance and are easy and beautiful to keep around the house. A little about this unique air plant: they are native to regions in Central and South America, mainly El Salvador and Mexico, and are even found in some areas in the United States.
Flowers
These gorgeous air plants can bloom with a flower that ranges in color with a red spikey core that encompasses a deep violet to almost fully white flower. That range of color is specific to the Tillandsia Magnusiana species, but there are a plethora of stunning colors such as yellows, pinks, and blues that many other air plants have to offer as well.
Tillandsia Magnusiana Basic Care
Tillandsia Magnusiana is small and soft, about a handful in size and appear mostly green with fuzzy white-tipped arms sprouting out, occasionally showcasing a few tiny blooms – if you’re lucky! Taking care of an air plant is slightly different than caring for common plant species. Firstly, air plants do not require soil, a pot, or to be watered in the traditional sense. They lack true roots and thrive best just as you would assume: in the open air.
Air Circulation
Tillandsia Magnusiana especially needs good air circulation and cold temperatures, this is the best environment for them in your home.
Watering
There is a big misconception that these unique plants do not need any water, which is certainly not true, but most air plants do not require much water, especially the Tillandsia Magnusiana. How often you should water this air plant mainly depends on its location in your house, especially noting the light and temperature of where you plan on placing your air plant. If it is close to bright windows and other hot areas such as kitchens or near fireplaces, it will dry out quicker.
Mostly, you will want to water your air plant once a week by placing it in a container filled with water between 10 and 20 minutes. Some caretakers say you can soak the plants up to 2 hours, and there is a lot of differing information out there, so you may need to play with and adjust your method depending on the results you start seeing with your air plant.
Dry Out After Watering
After you remove it from the water, it will need to sufficiently dry out as to avoid rot, especially if you want to leave it in an enclosed space such as a glass fishbowl. Place it in front of bright space and make sure the plant is totally dry within 3 hours. Remember, the air is just as important as water when caring for your Tillandsia Magnusiana or any other air plant species – they need consistent fresh air-flow to flourish properly. Once your plants are adequately dry, you can place them in wall decor and around your house in cute, modern ways.
Simple right? A short water bath once a week, coupled with a light misting a few times a week, can make all the difference when caring for your new Tillandsia Magnusiana.
Location
This plant will grow best in a neutral location like hanging on the wall as an art piece or sitting on a table with indirect sunlight.
Tillandsia Magnusiana prefers soft morning light over the stronger afternoon light. Always keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid burning the leaves.
Bloom
As mentioned above, Tillandsia can bloom into stunning natural colors in a large variety. Succeeding in making your Tillandsia Magnusiana bloom, however, is another story. All tillandsias only bloom once in their entire lifetime. They usually die shortly after blooming depending on the species and can last When hoping to achieve the highly anticipated bloom, tending to ensure your air plant is adequately watered and dried will be a large determining factor.
Fertilizer
You will also want to fertilize your growing air plant while soaking it at a minimum of once a month and a maximum of twice a month. Fertilizers are known to burn plants and can do more harm than good if used too often. However your plants do need food, so it’s necessary for healthy growth.
To be on a safe side, you can mix a teaspoon of compost tea to one liter of water when soaking the plant to fertilize it.
Flower Care
Once the plant blooms, you should be careful not to soak the flower as it is delicate and does not dry as quickly as the rest of the plant. Light misting should be the preferred method once a bloom has ensued. Being that air plants bloom only once in their life cycle, it’s essential to be gentle with them during this time.
If you’ve never had an air plant, you may want to purchase one in bloom already so that you can truly enjoy the beauty it has to offer. Otherwise, by following the steps above and paying attention to your air plant, you should be able to cultivate beautiful blooms from your new plant addition.
Conclusion
Overall, Tillandsia Magnusiana is a great plant to add to any home. They do not require much work at all and can reward your home with gorgeous colorful blooms. By taking the time to learn your plants and their best environment, you can quickly increase how healthy your air plants appear and how quickly they bloom.
Don’t get disappointed with air plants if you don’t get it right the first time! Even though these plants are virtually easy to care for, every new venture has a learning process, so be open and embrace the journey. Give Tillandsia Magnusiana a try and watch the benefits begin!
