Tillandsia Spotlight: Funckiana Air Plant
The T. funckiana is a caulescent air plant species meaning that its leaves grow upwards along its stem instead of branching out. These Tillandsia are found in the wild dwelling on cliffs in the Andes and Venezuela. The funckiana resembles a pine branch, with soft pine needle like leaves. You may see some that grow straight, while others grow in a twisting and turning fashion.
In the wild, like many other tillandsia, the T. funckiana is pollinated by hummingbirds. When in bud, the leaves towards the tip will blush red and a vibrant tubular red flower will emerge with bright yellow stamens. This is one bloom that you don’t want to miss!
The cool thing about the T. funckiana is that they produce many pups along the stem and clump easily. These are beautiful displayed in a hanging cluster that shows off their vibrant blooms.
To care for the T. funckiana make sure that it receives ample sunlight and water once a week. Fertilization with help to promote blooming and pup formation. Soon, you may have a beautiful clump of funckiana plants to hang!
Just received my free Funckiana plant. this is not a tiny clump. Thank you very much. I have several of these, inside and outside. They really like fertilizer. I have yet to kill one, meaning variable watering hasn’t rotted them or dried them up. I continue to get blooms but not during nov / dec. They are starting up again in January. Haven’t seen any hummingbirds on them but will watch as they are now here in South Florida. I pulled apart a clump about a year or more ago to get extra clumps. It worked just fine. The only hard part about this plant is its name.
My functional just bloomed and I am enjoying the beautiful bloom this produces cant wait to see this pup I just started with airplants about 3 months now ant. This is the second one in bloom. I noticed my xerographica starting to bloom it spike is barely peeking through the leaves since this is my third plant to bloom I must be doing something right I just love my airplants so glad I found your website it is very informative and I’m gonna sign up for the air plant of the month cant wait to get signed up. Great website. Thank you very much.
I just received T. funckiana and am looking forward to growth, bloom, and pups.
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