I’ve added a number of fall plant shows and sales. Sandra Jones of Broward Orchid Supply suggested a number of these shows. Seems like in the next 3 months, there is a sale every weekend. I take advantage of these shows to get valuable knowledge from growers.

Racinaea dyeriana is an air plant which produces a stunning flower spike, which has tiny white flowers towards the base of the inflorescence. All but one of the flowers were finished blooming when I took this picture.

Botanists have re-classified this epiphyte and other Tillandsias into very closely related genus, Racinaea. Tillandsia and Racinaea are in the bromeliad family, and a subfamily Tillandsiodaea.

It likes a sunny, wet and well aired environment. If there is too much direct sunlight, the leaves will burn. I have mine hanging from a post, in a wire basket in a location where it can get sun all around, for most of the day. It is an air plant, so water should never accumulate at the base.

The advice from growers is to keep the plant hydrated by regular misting. I am trying to devise a way to do this automatically. The intake of water is through the fine root hairs growing out of the top of the leaves (trichomes) and not the roots at the bottom. The other advice from growers is to fertilize regularly – perhaps I should. It generates offshoots, which can be separated to produce more plants.

While the white flowers finish blooming in a couple of weeks, the inflorescence can last well over a month. Perhaps with a bit better care, I could have multiple inflorescence.

Happy Gardening,

Dave