Tillandsia

Tillandsia, or air plants, are a favorite for people looking for low-maintenance plants. They don’t even need soil. You can place them around your house where they get indirect light (even from fluorescent bulbs) and simply spritz them with water each week.

What’s most important to air plant health? Air. Once the plants are spritzed each week, make sure they have a chance to dry, particularly at the base of the plant. Glass terrariums with air plants are pretty, but the plants will need air circulation to remain healthy. If you see that your terrarium plant is looking tired, pull it out of the glass globe for a few days for it to breathe.

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Most Popular Types

Ionantha from Guatemala, Honduras, or Mexican are most common. Our favorite is the xerographica, a large wide-leafed ball of curiosity.

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Light

The natural habitat of tillandsias is the humid rainforests of Central and South America. As epiphytes, they hang from tree branches, taking nutrients from decaying materials, but they don’t harm the host tree. To mimic this habitat, you can hang them in your shady trees outside until temps drop to about 50 degrees. Then bring them in to take a spot on your windowsill or table.

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Temperatures

Air plants do well inside the house or hanging in trees outside. Once temps drop to 50 degrees, be sure to bring them in and place on a sunny windowsill.

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Watering

Spritz once a week, but take care to let the plant dry before placing it in a container.

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Toxicity

Non-toxic to animals or humans.

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Growth

Air plants are monocarpic, meaning they bloom only once. Typically, their blooms are stunning, lasting more than a month. The mother plant will then grow offsets, or pups. Once the pups can take care of themselves, the mother plant will slowly die off.

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Origin

The natural habitat of tillandsias is the humid rainforests of Central and South America.

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Propagation

Watch for pups growing on the side of the main air plant. When they get to at least 1/4 the size of the main plant, you can pop them off.

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Dormancy

Air plants are winter dormant.

tillandsia mix

Growing Hobby keeps a wide variety of air plants, or Tillandsia.

tillandsia ionantha guatemala

This Tillandsia ionantha is from Guatemala

Tillandsia xerographica

Tillandsia xerographica is a large scale air plant, reaching 15 inches in length when wet.

tillandsia bulbosa belize

This variety from Belize is the largest bulbosa variety of Tillandsia we’ve found.

tillandsia streptophylla

The Tillandsia streptophylla curls itself into an egg shape when it’s in low humidity.

tillandsia ionantha scaposa

The Tillandsia ionantha scaposa is a small compact air plant

tillandsia harrissii

This Tillandsia harrissii is a great filler for arrangements.

tillandsia funkiana

Tillandsia funkiana – We just love the name of this one!

tillandsia bulbosa guatemala

This bulbosa variety of air plant is native to Guatemala

tillandsia xerographica

Tillandsia xerographica is always a show-stopper. It looks great hanging from twine.

tillandsia baileyi

The baileyi variety of Tillandsia has a remarkable striped pattern.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

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Sedum

Jelly beans, donkey tail, burro tail, burrito… SUPER donkey tail – who thinks up these names? Sedum is one of my favorite types of succulents. Always ready to drop leaves with the gentlest of touch, these plants are quick to propagate when leaves hit the soil.

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Most Popular Types

Sedum adolphii – star-shaped with chunky leaves, sprawls, turns bright colors in direct sun

Tails – chunky little oval leaves connected to trailing branches

Stonecrop – groundcover that winters well

Landscaping perrenial – bushy with bright orbs of flowers

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Light

These succulents prefers at least 3-4 hours of direct sun each day

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Temperatures

Sedum stonecrop (or groundcover) are frost tolerant to -20 degrees F, and the tails prefer a low of 50 degrees F.

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Watering

Surprisingly, all sedum need very infrequent watering. We water when the leaves aren’t plump, typically once a month if indoors.

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Toxicity

Sedum is non-toxic to pets and people.

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Growth

Sedum adolphi works well in dish gardens as a filler. Tails look great spilling from the pot. For the thriller to finish off the arrangement, try autumn joy, a flowering large-leafed perennial sedum. Stonecrop and landscaping types do well in rock gardens. Tails also look great in hanging baskets.

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Origin

There are more than 450 species of sedum, originating from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Mexico.

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Propagation

Propagate by cuttings or leaves.

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Dormancy

This succulent is winter dormant.

Sedum adolphi closeup

Closeup of Sedum adolphi

Sedum pachyphyllum

Sedum pachyphyllum is also known as the jelly bean plant.

Sedum adolphi

Sedum adolphi turns to bright colors in the sun.

sedum

Donkey Tail Sedum – Sedum morganianum

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Juniper – Bonsai

Juniper

The Shimpaku juniper, its relative the Sargent juniper, and the Nana variety of dwarf juniper are standard choices for bonsai training.

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Most Popular Types

Shimpaku, Sargent, and Nana Juniper

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Light

Juniper can take full sun.

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Temperatures

Juniper is winter hardy and can be left outdoors throughout the year. It does not do well indoors for prolonged periods of time. Cover the tree if temps dip below 15°F.

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Watering

Keep juniper bonsai consistently moist.

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Toxicity

Juniper berries are poisonous, some more than others. Just because birds can eat them, doesn’t mean we or our pets should.

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Growth

Choosing a dwarf variety of juniper makes bonsai training much easier. While the largest juniper measures over 100 ft tall, the varieties we recommend stay in the 2 ft range.

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Origin

North America, Europe, northern Asia and Japan

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Propagation

Juniper is most easily propagated by cuttings. Once the limb is cut, remove a bit of the stem bark and plant in standard potting soil. Keep in a sunny location at approximatey 70°F with high humidity and moist soil.

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Dormancy

Juniper slows in growth during the winter.

juniper bonsai windswept

Windswept juniper

juniper bonsai aged

Aged look on bonsai trees can be done by stripping bark on the stem (shari).

juniper bonsai

This juniper bonsai has exposed roots, adding to the aged appearance.

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop

Sansevieria Snake Plants

Sansevieria | Snake Plants

Whether you call it a snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue, or simply the best air purifier ever, Sansevieria is one of the most popular succulents around. It can live in bright sun or in a room with limited lighting. It works well as an air purifier in bedrooms since it “breathes” at night when the hot sun can’t seep into its pores.

Note: Recent genetic testing has revealed a strong connection with Dracaena, so you may find it listed as Dracaena Trifasciata.

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Most Popular Types

Sansevieria are great for collecting. Each type has distinctive leaf markings and growth pattern. Don’t miss the ones shaped like starfish or cyclinders.

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Light

Sansevieria grow well in office settings, even with flourecent lighting. If you plan to put your snake plant in direct sunlight, move it to the new spot slowly so that the leaves don’t burn.

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Temperatures

Snake plants do well on porches with indirect or partial sun. Once temps drop to 50 degrees, be sure to bring Sansevieria in.

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Watering

These plants don’t like frequent watering. Outside in the summer, they can be watered once a week. Inside, every three weeks.

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Toxicity

Sansevieria are not to be eaten by pets, however the sap is sometimes used as remedy for human earaches.

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Growth

Height of sansevieria ranges from 10’ tall slender leaves of the stuckyi to cute little hanhii birds nest types. Not all sansevieria have spear-shaped leaves. You’ll find starfish-shaped (boncel), cylindrical (mikado), and francesii that resembles a Christmas tree when young. Snake plants seldom flower. When they do bloom, typically when rootbound, they have a tall inflorescence with small white flowers.

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Origin

There are more than 70 species of sansevieria, originating from West Africa.

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Propagation

To propagate, cut offsets from the main root, making sure the new plant has roots. Let the roots callous for 3-4 days before planting the offset. Water after two weeks. Snake plants can also be propagated by cutting a leaf and placing it in water until it roots. If done this way, It’s likely that new growth will not carry the same variegated pattern, though.

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Dormancy

Sansevieria is winter dormant.

Sansevieria trifasciata moonshine

This Sansevieria variety is called Moonshine or silver snake plant.

Sansevieria laurentii

Sansevieria laurentii typically grows to 30 inches when potted.

Sansevieria golden flame

Sansevieria golden flame snake plant

Sansevieria francisii

Sansevieria francisii develops longer leaves at the top while the bottom remains compact.

Sansevieria dwarf – birds nest

Some Sansevieria are dwarf varieties, called birds nest snake plants.

Sansevieria cylindrica starfish

Sansevieria birds nest II

Sansevieria birds nest

Workshops at Growing Hobby

Workshop schedule set for after work hours and on Sunday afternoons. We now have central heating and air to make you more comfortable while you shop and attend workshops.

Book A Workshop