Tags: Heirloom Open Pollinated

Growing Practices: No Pesticides No Herbicides No Fungicides No Synthetic Fertilizers

Latin Name: TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES

Days to Maturity: VARIED

Description:

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NOTE - THIS IS WILD GROWN, NOT HOT HOUSE GROWN MOSS. THE MOSS MAY STILL HAVE REMNANTS OF ITS SMALL FLOWERS. A LEAF OR SMALL STICK MAY SLIP THROUGH THE WASHING. THE MOSS WILL BE SHIPPED IN A DOUBLE ENVELOPE THE ORDER WILL HAVE VARIOUS SIZED PIECES OF MOSS. IT WILL NOT BE ONE CONTINUOUS PIECE.

LIVE AIR PLANT, SPANISH MOSS, EPIPHYTE (Tillandsia usneoides), GARDEN, CRAFTS

TILLANDSIA USNEOIDES IS NOT A MOSS NOR IS IT SPANISH. IT IS IN THE SAME FAMILY AS THE BROMELIADS. THE NAME SPANISH MOSS CAME FROM FOLKLORE.

THE PLANT PREFERS SHADY WARM AREAS. DIRECT SUN WILL DRY IT OUT. THE PLANT LIKES HUMIDITY. THE PLANT DOES NOT TAKE ANY NUTRIENTS AWAY FROM THE HOST TREE. THE ONLY DAMAGE IT CAN CAUSE IS IF THE COLONY GETS SO LARGE THAT IT EITHER BLOCKS THE SUN/AIR FROM THE LIMB, OR THE COLONY GETS SO HEAVY THE WEIGHT BREAKS THE LIMB, ESPECIALLY AFTER A HEAVY RAIN/WIND EVENT.

THE PLANT CAN BE GROWN INSIDE AND HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR WITH AIR PLANT ENTHUSIASTS. THE PLANT IS AN EPIPHYTE. THERE ARE SOME GREAT VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET SHOWING ARTFUL WAYS TO DISPLAY THE PLANT.

IT IS ALSO USED IN THE CRAFT AND FLORAL INDUSTRY.

THE PLANT IS A BEAUTIFUL SOFT GREY WHEN DRY. WHEN WET, THE PLANT TURNS A PRETTY GREEN COLOR.

SPANISH MOSS IS VERY EASY TO PROPAGATE. SIMPLY CUT OFF A PIECE OF THE MOSS ABOUT A FOOT OR MORE IN LENGTH AND HANG FROM A NATURAL SUPPORT.

WHAT A VASTLY MISUNDERSTOOD AND UNDERUTILIZED PLANT. I WROTE A RESEARCH PAPER ON THIS PLANT AND WAS SIMPLY AMAZED AT THE HISTORICAL AND PRESENT DAY USES.

THE PLANT HAS MANY MORE USES THAN AS A DRESSING AROUND A POTTED PLANT. THE PLANT CAN BE USED IN HANGING BASKETS, TO MAKE MOSS WALLS (GREAT PRIVACY SCREEN) AND HUNG FROM TREES JUST FOR THE AESTHETICS. IT LOOKS GREAT HANGING FROM BROMELIAD BASKETS. THERE IS A PHOTO ON LINE OF THE PLANT HANGING FROM BASKETS THAT HAD BEEN LIT WITH LED LIGHTS - GORGEOUS.

THE PLANT IS HOME FOR NUMEROUS CREATURES, THUS IT IS A GREAT BENEFIT IN A NATURAL OR WILDLIFE LANDSCAPE. THE PLANT PROVIDES SHELTER AND NESTING AREAS FOR BIRDS, REPTILES, ARACHNIDS AND CHIROPTERAS.

I WILL HARVEST THE TILLANDSIA WHEN I RECEIVE THE ORDER. THE MOSS WILL WASHED AND SUN DRIED. NO CHEMICALS WILL BE USED.

THE PLANT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TOUCH THE GROUND.

NOTE - ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AG DEPT., THIS PLANT, AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT LAY ON THE GROUND, DOES NOT HAVE THE REDBUG OR CHIGGER (TROMBICULIDAE) MITE. THAT MITE IS FOUND IN THE UNDERBRUSH. I USE THE PLANT A LOT AND HAVE NOT HAD REDBUGS SINCE I WAS A CHILD WHEN I USE TO ROLL AROUND IN THE WEEDS.

UTILITARIAN USES INCLUDE: CRAFT USES, AS A MULCH, USED FOR STUFFING (NOT THE TYPE AT THANKSGIVING), AS A FERTILIZER AND EVEN AS BLANKETS AND EMERGENCY CLOTHING - AND SO MUCH MORE.

SHOULD YOU ENJOY READING ABOUT MISUNDERSTOOD PLANTS, SPEND SOME TIME ON THIS ONE. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE.

SHIPS TO THE CONTIGUOUS USA ONLY, EXCLUDING CA/AZ PER THOSE STATES REGULATIONS.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS PLANT

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.

Story of this Seed:

SPANISH MOSS IS A SOUTHERN STAPLE. ITS BEAUTY HAS BEEN PRAISED FOR YEARS. THE NAME CAME FROM FOLKLORE. WHEN THE SPANISH FIRST CAME TO THE EAST COAST OF THE US, THEY ENCOUNTERED VARIOUS INDIAN TRIBES. ONE SPANISH CAPTAIN FELL IN LOVE WITH AN INDIAN MAIDEN. HER FATHER TOOK HER AWAY, FORBIDDING THE UNION. THE SPANISH CAPTAIN CLIMBED UP TO THE TOP OF AN OLD OAK TREE SO HE COULD WATCH HIS LOVE DEPART. HE WAS SO HEARTBROKEN HE SAT IN THE TREE AND DIED. THE SPIRIT OF THE OLD OAK FELT SO SORRY FOR THE CAPTAIN THAT THE TREE GAVE THE CAPTAIN SOME OF HIS SPIRIT. THE TREE WILLED THAT THE CAPTAIN'S BEARD WOULD TURN GRAY AND FOREVER GROW IN THE MEMORY OF HIS LOST LOVE.

Growing Tips:

UPON RECEIPT IF YOU PLAN TO USE IT AS A LIVE PLANT - IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THE MOSS, DIP IT IN ROOM TEMPERATURE WATER OR SPRAY WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE PLANT WILL TURN A PRETTY GREEN. LOOSELY DRAPE THE PLANT OVER SOME TYPE OF SUPPORT AND ALLOW IT TO DRY.

IF YOU PLAN ON USING THE PLANT INDOORS, IT WILL REQUIRE HUMIDITY AND WARMTH. MIST AS NEEDED. IF YOU PLAN ON USING IT OUTSIDE, TREAT IT LIKE MOST BROMELIADS, SHADE, HUMIDITY AND MOISTURE.