Plant Care Tillandsia Usneoides

Tillandsia Usneoides

5.0 out of 5 (5 experiences)

Tillandsia Usneoides has a Survivor plant personality Survivor
Tillandsia Usneoides has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate

Also known as

Spanish Moss, Spanish Moss, Old Man's Beard and Air Plant

Taxonomy

Tillandsia usneoides
Tillandsia
Bromeliaceae
Poales

How to care for Tillandsia Usneoides

💦 Water

How often to water your Tillandsia Usneoides

Water needs for Tillandsia Usneoides
0.5 cups
every 12

Tillandsia Usneoides needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Tillandsia Usneoides

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Spanish Moss in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Tillandsia Usneoides: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Tillandsia Usneoides love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Tillandsia Usneoides does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Tillandsia Usneoides in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Tillandsia Usneoides

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Tillandsia Usneoides: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Tillandsia Usneoides after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #SpanishMoss
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Tillandsia Usneoides is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Spanish Moss →

Benefits of Growing Spanish Moss →

Common Spanish Moss Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Spanish Moss →

Outdoor Care Guide for Spanish Moss →


💦 Water Needs

Tillandsia Usneoides thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Spanish Moss Water Frequency →

Spanish Moss Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Tillandsia Usneoides requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Spanish Moss Light Requirements →

Spanish Moss Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Tillandsia Usneoides is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Spanish Moss Edible? →

Spanish Moss Toxicity to Cats →

Spanish Moss Toxicity to Dogs →

Spanish Moss Toxicity to Humans →


💨 Humidity

Tillandsia Usneoides prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Spanish Moss Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Tillandsia Usneoides is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Spanish Moss →

Best Pots for Spanish Moss →

When and How to Successfully Repot Spanish Moss →

What Are Healthy Spanish Moss Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Tillandsia Usneoides grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Spanish Moss →


❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Tillandsia Usneoides to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.


🌎 Native Region

Tillandsia Usneoides is native to the Americas.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Tillandsia Usneoides is a naturally climbing plant and can be trained to climb indoors if you provide a moss pole or trellis. The newest growth will emerge from the end of the stems.

Spanish Moss Lifecycle →

Spanish Moss Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Spanish Moss →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

Tillandsia Usneoides can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Spanish Moss →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Tillandsia Usneoides, since they are very sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Tillandsia Usneoides

Tillandsia Usneoides

Tillandsia Usneoides


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 12 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Tillandsia Usneoides has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 5
Tillandsia Usneoides has a Easy to propagate plant personality Easy to propagate 1
@Jennmeyer avatar
@@Jennmeyer
leaf-1 1 Plants
xp 26 XP
globe Fredericksburg, VA
12/30/2021

Air plant. Slow grower. No pests

Survivor Survivor
@Itsjessiehaaay avatar
@@Itsjessiehaaay
leaf-1 6 Plants
xp 1,049 XP
globe Reno, NV
05/19/2021

It’s a type of air plant so it is super easy to keep and hard to kill

Survivor Survivor
@aurica avatar
@@aurica
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 376 XP
globe Oakland, CA
05/13/2021

Spanish moss is a nifty, low-maintenance creature. They don’t seem to like hanging on certain types of metal (perhaps zinc, but I’m not sure). 10/10 best moss!

Survivor Survivor

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