Air Plants/Tillisandias

[TomatoNut95]

Was just wondering if anyone else collected tillisandias.

Screenshot_20240720-161807~2.png

Several years ago I had several species of Tillisandia including Xerographica. But one by one they rotted, despite the care I thought was right for their requirements. After the last one died I didn't buy anymore until this year I got attached to some Ionanthas in Lowe's that were being sold in plastic bags, the poor plants. I obtained three but 2 rotted. I was trying to mist them as advised by other owners.
The final one I neglected and amazingly it's still as healthy looking as the first day I brought it home. I guess the secret to a happy air plant is: don't water it.

[TomatoNut95]

Screenshot_20240801-211447.png

Found this group on Amazon and, since reviews proved the plants arrived healthy, decided to risk getting them. There are 8 plants and it sounds like I won't know what I'll get; it'll be a random pick of species. I'm hoping hard for both a Caput-Medusae and a Juncea in the group because those are 2 of my favorite. Juncea looks like a handful of long, thin grass and the medusae is a species that likes it dry so could probably tolerate my neglect better.

[TomatoNut95]

20240812_152945~2.jpg

The air plants I ordered a couple of weeks ago finally arrived! Yay! But the box was slightly crushed, one plant was dying of rot (possibly a 2nd) and a Medusa had a broken leaflet.

Below is the Juncea. It's base looks awfully dark.

20240812_152954~2.jpg

This is the broken Medusa.

20240812_153015~2.jpg

And this is the one dying. I'm not sure which species it is. It has a lot of brown leaflets and it's squishy.

20240812_153045~2.jpg

[Whwoz]

Let the sender know if you can @TomatoNut95 . If nothing else they need to look at improving their packaging and that they need a quicker way of sending love plants through the mail. Two weeks is too long for most plants to survive.

[TomatoNut95]

Let the sender know if you can @TomatoNut95 . If nothing else they need to look at improving their packaging and that they need a quicker way of sending love plants through the mail. Two weeks is too long for most plants to survive.

They wouldn't improve their packaging in any way that would increase their shipping cost. They would just send replacement plants (their policy says no need to return dead or dying plants they just replace) and I don't want them doing so in this heat. 1 or 2 out of 8 isn't bad.

[TomatoNut95]

20240813_142817_HDR~2.jpg

20240813_142906~2.jpg

20240813_142929~2.jpg

Happy little air plants.

[TomatoNut95]

IMG_20240906_090550850 (1).jpg

IMG_20240906_090400413 (1).jpg

New addition to the family is rotting. Streptophylla came like this from an Etsy seller. Base is obviously brown and feels very squishy. Seller responded back with a lie saying that while growing the bases turn brown. Im no tillandsia expert and I may be dumb but I know a dying plant when I see one.