A perfect hybrid. Halfway between both parents (brachycaulos x concolor), this fine hybrid has the shape of a concolor with fairly stiff leaves, but a glabrous sheen like brachycaulos. At anthesis it blushes red with a short scape with long, stiff bracts and short red branches bearing deep violet flowers. Highly recommended.

A Mexican plant with very stiff leaves in an open rosette of 6 to 8 inches. The leaves are yellowish, blushing reddish in strong light or full sun and it produces a shiny red to yellow-green, branched inflorescence with pink flowers. Easy to grow, preferring conditions on the bright and dry side. Can be suspended from a string or mounted on wood, cork, stone or other substrate. Suitable for dry terrarium use.

Tillandsia caputmedusae. A name that means ‘head of Medusa’. It has silvery twisty leaves and a bulbous base. The inflorescence is red and may be simple or branched. Weird, but easy to grow.

The inflorescence is an extended scape with pink bracts and deep inky-blue flowers. Forms large clusters of plants that will bloom simultaneously in its season.

One of the faster growers. Will in time form clumps of dozens of plants if conditions are right. From Argentina, it is cold hardy and tolerant of sun or shade. Delicate blue & white flowers have gently twisted petals.

This cute little caulescent plant is a cross of (tectorum x paleacea) reaching about 6 to 8 inches long, with 2 inch fuzzy silver leaves. Not as fuzzy as the tectorum parent, but still very fuzzy. A very prolific, fast-grower, producing many offsets and forming clumps fairly quickly. The scape is about 6 inches long with purple flowers. Grow it hanging from a string or mount it. A very easy ‘confidence builder’ for beginners, but a nice plant for any collection. 

A cultivar of (capitata ‘Peach’ x concolor). A handsome, medium sized plant with an open rosette shape of fairly stiff, recurving, channeled, gray leaves. The inflorescence is about 12 inches tall, with long bracts and a clustered head of short, shiny, reddish branches and beautiful blue flowers. The upper part of the plant blushes peach color at anthesis.

A medium sized species from Bolivia and Argentina, with very stiff silvery leaves in a spreading rosette. A tall, nodding scape with brownish bracts bears butter yellow flowers. Forms large clusters of plants in habitat and does very well mounted. Easy to grow and fairly cold hardy.

This is the same plant in every way as the regular form of the species, except much, much larger. Reaching up to 12 inches in diameter, with stolons of 6 to 8 inches, it is an impressive plant. The many leaves are silvery, with an 8 inch bright red spike with blue flowers. This rare form is restricted to the north central Pacific coast of Ecuador. Grow mounted, bright as with most Tillandsias.  Please note that this species was described as and was considered a Vriesea until the recent DNA studies prompted a realignment to the genus Tillandsia.

A cultivar of Paterson’s cross of (tenuifolia x recurvifolia). A small plant to about 4 inches tall and wide with stiff, gray-green leaves in a loose rosette. The plant much more closely resembles the tenuifolia parent in shape but is more silvery. The inflorescence is a short scape with deep pink bracts and white flowers, close to the recurvifolia parent. Easily forms clusters of plants and is a fast, easy grower. 

A Brazilian native with wide, thick, leathery leaves in a 15 inch, recurving rosette. An unusual gray-blue color, speckled with tiny red dots and bearing an interesting, branched, yellow inflorescence produced in winter make this an attractive species. In spite of the gray, thick leaves, it is a shade grower in nature, living on granite rock cliff faces inside the mountainous Tijuca forest of Rio de Janeiro. A slow grower, excellent for terrariums when small.

This is a commercial mix that we at Tropiflora have custom made 50 yards at a time. We use this formula because #1 it works for us and #2 it is economical.

Anyone can mix their own potting media and we encourage you to do so in order to best suit your needs. However, if you wish to use our proven mix, we are more than happy to oblige!

Here is the formulation:

• 30% Canadian Peat
• 30% Green Bark
• 30% Hardwood Chips
• 10% Perlite (though this can vary with availability of materials).

It also includes 3 pounds of minor elements per yard and has a pH level of 6.0 to 6.5.  This mix allows good air access to the root zone, good moisture retention without getting soggy, long pot life, and good substance for holding plants upright.

Note: A one quarter cubic foot bag of soil should fill about half a dozen 6 inch Azalea Pots.