Bluish tangle(Tillandsia cyanea), also called blue tangle, is an exotic plant with narrow, grassy leaves and an unusual pink spike inflorescence, from which tiny blue flowers grow. The popular andeasy to grow tangledies after flowering, but leaves behind new, young plants. It can be grown as an epiphyte, but also in a pot. Here's all aboutcare and propagation of thein home cultivation.
Bluish tangle - Tillandsia cyanea
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Bluish tangle - description of appearance and properties
Bluish tangle, whose Latin name is Tillandsia cyanea (sometimes the name Wallisia Cyanea is also used), belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, sometimes also referred to as pineapple. It occurs in tropical regions of South America. In its natural habitat, this braid grows in the canopy of trees as an epiphytic species. The ability to grow in a pot makesthe bluish opaque is a particularly attractive speciesfor lovers of exotic houseplants.
Bluish tangle is an epiphytic plantthat naturally grows on supports - tree branches or rocks. It has small and poorly developed roots, as most of its nutrients come from the air. During flowering, it reaches 50 cm in height. Dark green, sometimes red-brown, narrow, slightly curved, leatherythe leaves of the tangle form a rosette An inflorescence shoot ending in a dense spike composed of pink bracts emerges from between the leaves. They are arranged in two rows and densely overlap. Between them appear in summer small purple flowers that last only a few days.We can admire the eye-catching inflorescence of the tanglefor up to 3 months. Tillandsia cyanea flowers in its third growing year and then dies.
A flower of encirclement bluish in a pot
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Is the bluish braid poisonous?
Bluish braid is not poisonousas long as we only grow it as an ornamental plant. However, it is better to place the entanglement in a place inaccessible to animals, because cats especially like to chew on it. Unfortunately, tangle is not on the list of plants that are poisonous and safe for dogs and cats (ASPCA) (Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List), so it is better to be careful and do not let pets come into contact with this plant.
Bluish tangle - care and cultivation
Bluish tangles require a bright positionbut with diffused light. Strong sun can burn the leaves of the tango. On the other hand, in the absence of an adequate amount of light, Tillandsia cyanea quickly loses its decorative effect, its inflorescences turn pale, and the plants grow poorly and bloom poorly. The best place for the entanglement will therefore be a location near a sunny window, preferably with an eastern or western exposure. However, we should avoid placing the braid on the windowsill on the south side. At the southern exposure, it is better to place the plant a bit further from the window so that the light that comes to it is filtered, e.g. through a curtain.
It is important to remember thatbluish braid does not tolerate draftsalso does not tolerate dry air very well. If there is not enough moisture,the leaves may have brown tipsIn case of such symptoms, it is worth placing a flat tray with water next to the plant.The evaporating water will slightly moisten the air. It is worth pouring a thin layer of expanded clay granules on the tray, which will soak up water and increase the evaporation surface. This will significantly improve the efficiency of such air humidification.
Bluish tangle during flowering
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In summer, the thermophilicbraid thrives best at a temperature of 20-25 ° C . In winter, we move it to a bright, cool room with a temperature around 15-16 ° C). We must ensure that the temperature in the weaver wintering room never drops below 13 ° C.
The soil for the entanglementshould be fertile, but with a very loose structure. A mixture of peat with moss and leaf soil works well. You can also use soil for orchids. Regardless of the substrate used, it should be permeable and well-drained.
Bluish tangled - planting
Tillandsia cyanea requires a very permeable substrate and does not tolerate water stagnation. Therefore,before planting the braidit is good to pour a thick layer of drainage, e.g. expanded clay, on the bottom of the pot. Of course, there must also be drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
The delicate, not too strongly developed root system of the weaver is vulnerable and easy to damage, so be careful when planting plants. The low root mass means thatdoes not require a large pot .
Bluish tangle in glass
Instead of being in a potbluish roundworm can be grown as an epiphyte in a glass vessel- we will supply it with foliar moisture and nourishment. Modern arrangements with a braid in the lead role are often mounted in glass containers: jars or spheres.Just put stones, moss and bark into a sufficiently large container, to which we attach the plant and we get an exotic miniature forest in the glass.Instead of stones and moss, we can sprinkle sand and shells. Against this background, the entanglement will resemble a jellyfish. For minimalists, glass, hanging balls are enough, in which we simply put a braid - a solo also looks beautiful.
Tangle in glass
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Bluish tangle - watering
Bluish tangle has high water requirements.Frequent but not too abundant watering of the weedis the key to success in the cultivation of this species. The spilled substrate may cause the root rot of the weed. Therefore, before re-watering, always allow the substrate to dry out. In the colder winter months, watering the tango should be less.
Bluish tangles are sensitive to chlorine, sois best to usefiltered tap water or stand-off water for at least one day. Tangles like soft water. If it is too hard, limescale forms on the underside of the leaves at the base.
Bluish - leaf sprinkling
Tangles require high air humidity , at least 60%. Plants should be sprayed with soft, warm water at least once a day in summer and spring, and several times a month in warm, sunny weather the rest of the year. It is best to follow the indications of the hygrometer (hygrometer), which will allow you to precisely adjust the sprinkling of plants. Specimens that will soon bloom or are just blooming should be sprayed very carefully so that the water does not come into contact with the inflorescences.
Blueish tangle - fertilization
Fertilization of plants is carried out every 2-3 weeks using foliar fertilizers.Tilldansja responds well to fertilizers intended for orchids . We dilute them with up to 1/4 of the recommended dose.
Bluish tangle - Tillandsia cyanea
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Why does bluish tangles lose their color
Bluish tangles create a dense, dark pink inflorescence lasting up to 3 months. As the inflorescence grows older, the bracts turn green, then brown, until they die completely. This is a completely natural phenomenon and we cannot prevent it. After flowering, the plant will die and all you can do is get new cuttings from it.
Bluish tangled after fading
After flowering, , when the inflorescence turns brown, , the plant dies. Then we remove the inflorescence shoot and for the next 2 months we regularly water the leaf rosette. During this time, it will produce new, young leaf rosettes that will be used to reproduce when the mother plant has completely died.
Bluish tangle - reproduction
Young plants growing at the base of the braid are cut off from the mother plant when they are at least 7 cm high.From the cut, we plant them in a pot. We provide them with proper watering, plenty of light and proper fertilization. They take root for a long time, from 3 to even 6 months.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
