I need help finding out what is this plant!!! :)

[kittunia]

I have purchased this plant in Italy and I was told as much as I could understand Italian that it grows on rocks and it receives nutrients from the water sprinckled over it. Also there were some newspapers articles about this plant hanging in the store reffering to this plant as an "anti-smog" plant (??). The person that sold it said also that the plants was from Argentina. I tried using google to find out about it, so far only scarse results; I think this plant may belong to Lithophytes- still Im not sure and would like to know more. Thanx for helping!

[fred]

hi kittunia
Welcome to the forum
I can not help you with your questions here as I grow orchids
I am sure one of our other fine members will be able to help you out asap.

happy chatting

[brookn]

It looks like a tilandsia (sp?) or commonly referred to as an air plant. Could be wrong but it sure looks like it to me. It also looks like it is about to bloom, could be wrong on that also, I do not know a lot about them.

[electric.chowder]

Can't say for sure, but I'm going to agree with brookn, if it is, they usually like to be dunked in water every day or so, and to be soaked for about an hour once or twice a week. After the bloom dies off, the mother plant should make babies on it's sides. There was a thread about these types of plants in the other plants forum:

airplants-added bonus

good luck!

[elenmirie]

I used to have some of these and knew them as bromeliads. Apparently the genus is tillandsia for the bromeliadae that grow in air... pineapples are another type of bromeliads!

I put "bromeliad" in Google and got some useful stuff ... they won't let me put the links here 'cuz I'm new, sorry.

I hope this helps!

[Tobi]

I'm pretty sure it is a Bromiliad, probably a Tillandsia based on the flat fan type flower coming up. These are closely related to the Pineapple family.

[arleneg]

I concur with the other posters.

Try a Google search using the following keywords...

Tillandsia and Bromeliad

Let us know if you find the name of the plant.

[PhalPal]

I think it is a Bromiliad also. I have some mounted on small logs and planted in moss on the side of a basket. They seem very adaptable and easy to grow. Keep it misted if you are keeping it on your rock and soak the entire rock and plant in water at least once a week. Post a pic when it blooms.

BTW - very cool glued to that rock!!

[jerrymeola]

It is a Tilandsia bromilead. It should be misted and not soaked. They can rot easily as well as die from drying out. Misting 2-3 times a week is usually sufficient.

The plant is in flower spike. It is the type often called Medusa after the mythical women with snakes for hair.

The plant was divided when it went into bud for sale, so it may not survive. I want to assure you it is not because anything you do. All bromileads live only one flowering season and new bulbs then grow to flower again.

The new growth may have been separated from your plant.
It may also start new growth. Nothing you do will be right or wrong on whether there is new growth. It is dependant on whether there is a growing eye left.

[PhalPal]

I soak mine with a hose at least twice a week during summer with great success. I guess it depends if you live in a humid climate versus dry.

[pikevi]

It is Tillandsia sp.

I have a few of them and two are in bloom.

I have not heard about its air purifying property but it is possible it has it if it was told to you in Italy. I think Italians are serious about controlling air pollutants in the cities by natural and artificial means.

[PhalPal]

'Air purifying' Brom.is new to me also. In theory ALL plants are air purifying so it must be true?