Tillandsia Concolor is often praised for its vibrant ruby-red flowers and stunning green and cherry-red floral bracts. It’s no wonder this air plant is so popular, it’s truly magnificent when blooming.
Quick Guide
How to Care for Tillandsia Concolor
Tillandsia Concolor is easy to grow and demands minimal care, which makes it an appealing addition to any collection. It thrives under bright light and can cope with dry conditions.
With its ability to adapt to various lighting environments, from bright light to partial shade, it’s a suitable choice for various indoor settings.
This species is particularly hardy, enduring where other houseplants might struggle, which speaks to its resilience and low-maintenance nature.
This medium-sized air plant is native to Mexico and El Salvador and prefers hot and dry climates. Therefore, watering once a week or even every 8-10 days should be sufficient. This species doesn’t appreciate excess humidity so good air circulation is required.
Direct sunlight can harm the leaves, while low light may impede their growth and bloom production so choose a suitable location near a brightly lit window.
This versatile air plant can be displayed in numerous creative ways. I like to mount this species on driftwood or a small table stand made of wood and wire, making it a charming and easy-going addition to any room.
If you hang this plant be careful not to damage the leaves as they’re quite fragile. Also, be careful not to break Concolor’s stiff leaves when simply handling this air plant.
How to Water Tillandsia Concolor
I recommend soaking Concolor once a week for about 20-30 minutes in rainwater if possible. If resorting to tap water, let it stand overnight to dechlorinate, ideally for 24 hours. Between soakings, misting can provide moisture, but it should not replace the recommended soaking routine.
This species is prone to rot as water tends to accumulate at the heart of the plant. Therefore, after soaking turn the plant upside down and gently shake off any excess water to prevent rotting.
It’s crucial to let the plant dry completely after soaking. Position the plant upside down to aid this process and ensure no water sits in the crevices.
It is important to adjust these guidelines slightly if your environment’s temperature and humidity levels significantly deviate from average indoor conditions.
Always ensure that Tillandsia Concolor is not left in standing water, and its leaves can dry between waterings, to help prevent rot and sustain healthy growth.
How to Propagate Tillandsia Concolor
After blooming, Concolor produces several tiny growths at the base, known as pups/offsets. The pups can be easily propagated by removing them from the mother plant.
As the leaves of Tillandsia Concolor are quite rigid, I like to soak the plant in water for about 1-2 hours before removing the pups. This helps to avoid damaging the leaves and makes it easier to remove the pups as the mother plant is more flexible.
I recommend waiting for the pups to reach at least one-third the size of the parent plant for the best chance of survival once removed.
Gently remove the pups by twisting them from the mother plant’s base. Use a sterile knife if necessary, ensuring not to damage either plant.
Patience is key, it can take several years for the pups to grow into mature air plants and eventually bloom. Regular care and observation will ensure the successful propagation of your Tillandsia Concolor. It’s a wonderful species and well worth the effort.
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Flowers and Expert Tips
Tillandsia Concolor typically blooms once it reaches maturity. When in bloom, this species displays a shiny red to yellow-green inflorescence that can grow as long as 10-12 inches tall. This spectacular air plant has an impressive and long-lasting inflorescence with slightly inflated floral bracts.
The multiple red and green floral bracts can last for several months. The bracts and leaves turn red, and the 5 cm long, tubular ruby-red or magenta flowers emerge from each segment of the bracts, enhancing the beauty of this plant, and adding a vivid splash of color to any space.
This plant shows impressive and remarkable colors with a subtle pink-to-red blush when grown in adequate sunlight. One of the best air plants in my book for sure.
Provide plenty of bright, indirect light to ensure your Concolor reaches its full blooming potential. Direct morning sun can be beneficial and lead to a more vibrant display.
In addition to adequate light, the best way to encourage blooming is to provide a warm environment and increase feedings from once a month to once every fortnight.
Tillandsia Concolor Hybrids
Tillandsia Concolor is native to the semi-arid regions of Mexico and El Salvador. Its natural habitat includes growing on cacti and acacia in these dry environments, notably in areas like Cuicatlan in Oaxaca.
Concolor is known for its many hybrids, many of which are naturally occurring.
I have listed some popular hybrids below:
- Tillandsia ‘Redy’
- Tillandsia ‘Sparkler’
- Tillandsia ‘Jackie Loinaz’
- Tillandsia ‘Bird Rock Magic’
- Tillandsia ‘Awesome Amber’
- Tillandsia Concolor x Paucifolia
- Tillandsia Concolor x Flabellate (by John Arden)
- Tillandsia Concolor x Fasciculata
- Tillandsia Ionantha x Concolor
- Tillandsia Concolor ‘Cuicatlan’ (Giant form).
My favorite hybrids are Tillandsia Concolor x Paucifolia – A natural hybrid that is slightly bulbous with an open rosette and a rose-pink-colored stalk, and Tillandsia Concolor x Flabellate, with its dark green leaves and dark red, heavily branched inflorescence, it looks extraordinary.
Tillandsia Concolor ‘Cuicatlan’ is a giant form that can reach more than 12″ across. It retains characteristics similar to the typical Concolor, with stiff yellowish-green foliage that turns reddish given sufficient light.
