Charlie

Tillandsia sp. ‘Charlie’

Pink quill

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• Charlie likes...

  • 

    Light watering

    Charlie absorbs water through her leaves and doesn’t have many roots. She’s happiest in high humidity so mist her often or pop her in the bathroom which acts like a steam room, mimicking jungle life.

  • 

    Light shade

    A spot with plenty of light that’s not too harsh or direct would be perfect for Charlie. Alternatively a mix of sun and shade throughout the day.

  • 

    Ventilation

    The clue’s in her common name, air plant. Tillandsia like Charlie need good airflow to stay healthy and happy.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Tillandsia sp. ‘Charlie’

  Nickname

  Pink quill 

  Plant type

  Indoor

  Plant height (including pot)

  30-40cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Toxic if ingested

  Nursery pot size

  12cm

• About Pink quill

  A delicate and pretty air plant, the Pink quill or Tillandsia doesn’t really need soil to grow because in the wild it grows as an epiphyte in the tops of taller trees. It absorbs moisture from the humid jungly air through its leaves and aerial roots. Yours will be growing in soil in a pot but you don’t need to water it in the same way as other plants. Just make sure it’s in a bright room with plenty of humidity – like your kitchen or bathroom – and that when you do water it, you use rain or filtered water and pour a little of this into the rosette created by its leaves. This will naturally drain away. Otherwise, place a misting bottle next to your plant and give it a little spritz every time you walk past – fun!

  Tillandsia flowers are so brightly coloured because they’re designed to attract pollinators. When they’re in flower, their foliage often changes colour too, doubling the message that they’re available. Yours won’t flower continually so when Charlie’s pink flower spike goes brown and dies back, cut it off at the base of the stem. It’s likely that your Tillandsia will need to grow a whole new plant from the base of its leaves before it has the energy to grow another flower spike, so please be patient with her. It’s worth the wait. 

  Did you know?

  The most common pollinators of air plants are moths, hummingbirds and bats. Once pollinated, their seeds look similar to a dandelion and are transported by wind.