Displaying tillandsias

[wuness]

Although I emphasize orchids in my midwestern greenhouse, I've got 8 different tillandsias that I would like to display. Are there any examples of creative tillandsia displays out there? I could just stick them in chicken wire or set them in small pots on a shelf, but I would prefer something more natural appearing. If it were relatively mobile, so much the better.

wuness

[nosillaroots]

Have you thought about attaching them to a branch or piece of driftwood (dunno how close you live to a decent body of water)? That's how we have it in our terrarium, I do not have a picture handy but can post one following. Attach them with a bit of hot glue. A piece with a bit of character- knots, nooks, twisted shape, etc., makes for a good display.
I'm also a sucker for glass containers... whether a bowl on a table or hanging lantern/vase. Any sort of found or thrifted/recycled piece definitely carries potential..

[lmartiny]

Ours are attached to wood as well. Or free hanging on a piece of wire.

[bumpman]

Here's one of my tillies mounted, next to an orchid along with Spanish moss (another kind of tillie). http://file.walagata.com/w/bumpman321/DSCF1196.JPG
Here's my palludarium with tillies mounted in branches (in drilled holes with drainage right through), http://file.walagata.com/w/bumpman321/DSCF1191.JPG
Just some ideas for you.

[JudyC]

Originally Posted by bumpman

Here's one of my tillies mounted, next to an orchid along with Spanish moss (another kind of tillie). http://file.walagata.com/w/bumpman321/DSCF1196.JPG
Here's my palludarium with tillies mounted in branches (in drilled holes with drainage right through), http://file.walagata.com/w/bumpman321/DSCF1191.JPG
Just some ideas for you.

Bumpman - you have an actual tree in your home or greenhouse? Wow I gotta' see more of this!!

[wuness]

bumpman: I love that second shot. That looks like it's conservatory-worthy. I'm afraid I don't have room for anything like that. Something to aspire to, for sure. Maybe in another life.

wuness

[1joyceh]

Here is a simple display wuness....just in an old fish tank....an old piece of cholla log...a grapevine wreath...some moss, shells...
Gumby and Gnomes are optional

[funktified]

Nice photo bumpman.

I've seen tillies displayed in many ways like letting them grow into a huge ball by letting it hang (ie. initially tied by a wire/rope) and it becomes a ball.

Another idea would be to get somebraches and glue them onto the branches and make them look like mini trees.

From what I have been told, as long as you can keep the moisture and light as required, you can shove/glue/hang tillies just about anywhere.

[Cristia]

i have tillies everywhere. If you have deep gravel in humidity trays they love to sit there, just not IN the water. Grapevine makes a super mount. I have some glued to a resin statue too. Anything you can spray or dunk will work!

[chidfix]

I just finished this little centerpiece/bloomstand. And all my Chids get a tillie tag-along

[Cristia]

OMG I love it!

[bumpman]

I was just visiting the National Conservatory in Washington DC yesterday and not only saw many superb orchid mounts but also many spectacular tillandsia specimens mounted throughout the jungle hall. To me, epiphytes just look so much nicer when they are grown naturalistically. I'm still kicking myself for not having a camera along so I could share what I saw. I'm inspired now to create an even larger indoor tree display.

[trev]

I love tillandsias too! Very low maintenance air plants. I have three right now, too bad I do not know what type I have. But so far they are thriving well, have made their pups while attached to a decorative garden accessory. One is right now on a rock attached to my grilled plant stand.

I remember it bloomed before, but I have not seen it do it again.

When we lived in Torrance, CA before, I loved visiting the Rainforest plant nursery there, lovely tillandsia and bromeliad displays they have there.

My tillandsia failure is with a tillandsia bulbosa. For some reason either I may have over watered or have let it too hot and dry. Fun to see it though during plant shows

These are my tillandsias:

[lmartiny]

Bulbosa was one of my favorites and the squirrels chewed it to bits. Then we had to move the rest off a tree as the dog made it a sport to jump up and grab them. (he can jump four feet or more; of of his nicknames is legs)

[trev]

Awww legs made a pinata of the tillandsia bulbosa

[ACK2]

Wuness I use different sized sea shells with sphagnum moss inside.

Love the visual of "Legs" jumping up and snatching a tillie - Imartiny

My cat Foo Man waits until I am working a long day and not only pulls tillies out of shells and trims them with his teeth. But one of my miniature Phals he bit the the bud off. Forget about ferns with the exception of a large staghorn hanging up - Yikes, bad kitty *$@#$%^%

[bumpman]

Here's my epiphyte 'paludarium' including tillies and chids.

[trev]

Wow! Epiphyte heaven

[ACK2]

Bumpman that is an amazing setup!!!!!