Medusa Head Air Plant

Otherwise caring for medusa s head isn t complicated.

Medusa head air plant.

For this purpose put the tillandsia with an overripe apple into a transparent plastic bag and close it tightly. Watch for mealybugs and spider mites. However it has adapted to dryer regions of the united states and grows quite well in southern california. Don t forget to mist it with a water bottle periodically until roots form.

It is also known as octopus plant and medusa s head. If despite all efforts the head of medusa keeps the flowers hidden there is a simple trick to bring the tropical plant into flower. The growth starts as a swelling at the end of an arm and rapidly grows its own caudex and arms. The medusa plant is a cactus or succulent that is more commonly known by the name medusa head euphorbia flanaganii.

A member of the euphorbiaceae family the medusa head is a native plant of south africa. Medusa head plant can be propagated from cuttings so this could be a great time to take a cutting you ll want to make sure and use a sterile knife or sharp scissors and select a healthy looking stem to cut. The seed heads are similar in appearance to foxtail barley hordeum jubatum and bottlebrush squirreltail elymus elymoides but. It does not like dry artificial heat so if you bump up your heating during the winter remember to provide your plant with enough air and water spray.

Allow the end to callous over for a day or two before planting in well draining soil. While misting the medusa s head plant you can add a weak diluted fertilizer from spring summer twice a month. Quick clip to show you how to propagate medusa s head. Each stem produces a single short 15 50mm long bristly spike type seed head.

Once it reaches a certain size a mother plant will produce pups on the ends of older arms. Tillandsia medusae are easily cared for in just about any environment. On brighter subjects medusa s head makes an exceptional container plant and it can also be put into gardens so long as it is protected from freezes. Fertilize the plant monthly during spring and summer using a water soluble fertilizer mixed to half strength.

It is sometimes commonly referred to as just medusa s head or octopus plant. The air plant resembles the twisting and chaotic shape of that hair and is an appropriate name. They have fine but strong hair like roots that grow for the purpose of anchoring the plant to it s mount not for transmission of. It thrives in forest and clif side areas with plenty of light heat and humidity.

Because the caput is an air plant it likes quite humid conditions.