Español  English  

Consulta Plantas

Gardening and plant care since 2001

Find plants

Care of the plant Tillandsia usneoides or Spanish moss.

Care of the indoor plant Tillandsia usneoides or Spanish moss

The genus Tillandsia, family Bromeliaceae, comprises 600 species of epiphytic plants native to the American continent. Some species are: Tillandsia usneoides, Tillandsia cyanea, Tillandsia aeranthos, Tillandsia australis, Tillandsia imperialis, Tillandsia fasciculata, Tillandsia dyeriana, Tillandsia geminiflora.

Common names: Spanish moss, Long-moss, Vegetable Horsehair, False Horsehair, Dole's Beard, Florida Moss, Vegetable hair, Air Plant, Old man's beard, Black-moss, Airplant, Long Hair, French Wig, Spanish Beard, Pele's hair. This species is native to southern United States of America.

They are curious epiphytic plants that grow hanging on trees without damaging them; they reach 6 meters (19.68 feet) in length. They have fine stems covered with small, scaly, silver-gray leaves. The flowers are green and very small. They bloom in summer but do not usually do so if grown indoors.

Spanish moss is used as a houseplant but without a pot; tie it with stainless wire to a piece of cork or tree bark and hang near a window. It can also accompany bromeliads and epiphytic orchids or grow between the branches of a tree.

Tillandsia usneoides prefers a light exposure without direct or semi-shaded sun. In humid climates it can grow in full sun. It does not resist temperatures below 13 ºC (55.4 ºF).

Florida Moss is an epiphytic plant that takes nutrients from the air or the tree on which it grows without harming you.

To water these plants they are immersed in lime-free water for 5 minutes with their base every 2 days in summer and every 15 days in winter. Spanish Beard should be sprayed almost daily with lime-free water.

Spanish moss does not need pruning or fertilizers.

Tillandsia usneoides is resistant to the usual pests and diseases. Sometimes it can be used by some birds as elements of nest construction.

Long-moss is easily propagated by taking a piece of the plant and tying it to a bark or cork.

Images of the indoor plant Tillandsia usneoides or Spanish moss

Tillandsia usneoides
Tillandsia usneoides
Tillandsia usneoides