Gift that became an obsession — Tillandsia Stricta

Someone gave me Tillandsia Stricta as a birthday gift and I barely knew what it was. Two years later it's my most treasured plant and I've spent more time researching it than I'd care to admit.

The key discovery was soaking in water for 20 to 30 minutes once or twice a week — once that clicked, the plant transformed. surprisingly tough once watering rhythm is established is what gets mentioned every time anyone visits. I keep it in grouped together in a bowl as a centrepiece which works perfectly. flowering triggered by lengthening days in spring or summer is when I understand why this plant has such devoted followers. scale insects or mealybug in the leaf bases is the one ongoing challenge but it's worth the effort.