TILLANDSIA PLANTS ITALY /STUDY VISIT

Tillandsia Airplants

Tillandsia plants  can  grow and prosper without soil. They belong to Bromelia Family and  grow on trees ,rocks,walls or where they can grap hold. Their roots  serve  only to give the plants  a firm anchor to whatever they are growing on .They  are provided with a particular mechanism for deriving the moisture and nutrients they need to survive.  Tillandsia  leaves have specially developed cells called trichomes that allow water and nutrients to be taken in from rain, the air, and dust.

The trichomes work like trap doors; as the plant dries out, the trichomes open to absorb more moisture and nutrients. Once sufficient hydration is achieved, the trichomes close to retain the moisture. The dense concentration of trichomes on the leaf's surface allows the plant to absorb more moisture and to reflect the harsh effects of the sun. These trichomes are what give many of the air plants their characteristic gray color. They are native to the warmer climates of the   Americas and leave and grow in sunny areas,

Tillandsia plants are ornamental plants especially suitable to adorn gardens and for landscape arrangements