I’m wondering if you’ve seen any GREAT Vertical Garden Living Walls Lately?
Today I stumbled upon a very unique way to display Tillandsias (a.k.a. – Air Plants)…
It was a steel wall with circular cut outs that serve to functionally hold individual plants – Stunning and Modern!
Since Tillandsias are epiphytes, which means that they grow in the trunks of trees or rocks, not in the soil like most plants, they don’t need their roots anchored in soil. And because their roots serve primarily to anchor the plant, this steel cut out wall would seem to make a perfect home and display. Take a look:
The Entrance to this Apartment Building is Flanked with Several Species of Tillandsias.
As you can see in the photo above, it’s a wet day today. It’s been raining pretty heavily over the last couple of weeks, and Mother Nature is giving these guys a good old fashioned soaking. However, Tillandsias living in an environment like this one, where rainfall typically stops for 6 months, will require supplemental irrigation.
These are the Smaller Tillandsias in the Wall Composition.
I would guess that this vertical garden wall is hand watered by hose several times a week in summer and warmer months. At other times, it’s likely watered as needed, depending upon the season and weather. A good soaking with the hose to get the leaves thoroughly wet, doesn’t require much water and can be done quickly.
MORE Small Species Tillandsias!
Without a doubt Tillandsias are easy to care for! But they ARE living plants and do require proper care and placement. In this particular micro environment, the wall faces east, offering a cooler exposure – which is important for these guys. Also, summers in San Francisco can be cool (think fog), so these Air Plants are well situated.
You can see just from the photos of the wall that there are several different species of Air Plants, running from tiny to much larger. A few species are also in flower. One thing most of these guys have in common, though, is their color. “Overall” they are pretty much a light green.
Though none were used in this living wall, there are also grey varieties of Tillandsias and these tend to be more drought tolerant. This makes sense because Air Plants hail from a wide range of climates – from the jungle to the rain forest to the arid desert. They also possess elevation diversity, with species growing from sea level to high mountainous areas.
So Cute!
There are hundreds of different species of Tillandsias – from miniatures to those growing several feet, offering a wide range of flowers, shapes and colors.
Because they don’t need soil, you can dangle and perch them almost anywhere in your home. Mount them to shells, rocks, slate, or driftwood to display in your favorite nook. Or try your hand at creating hanging gardens to suspend in mid-air. source: Flora Grubb
If you are looking to do a creative vertical garden wall with Tillandsias, you can learn more HERE.
For the ABC’s of Tillandsias and amazing design ideas and plans, have a look at: Air Plants, by Zenaida Sengo
To BUY Tillandsias:
** If in the S.F Bay Area, I recommend Cactus Jungle in Berkeley, and Flora Grubb in San Francisco.
** Online, here’s a varied selection on Amazon!
Happy Gardening!
It’s FREE and FUN and GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH!!!
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