Tillandsia cacticola Tillandsias are members of the Bromeliad Family and are often epiphytic, meaning that they don’t grow in soil or water and can most likely be seen growing on, yet not deriving their nutrients from, other plants. The Latin name of this Tillandsia species, cacticola, translates as “cactus dweller”, since Tillandsia cacticola are occasionally found growing on cacti in their native habitat in dry valleys of northern Peru. Extremely well-adapted to this arid environment, this endangered species derives all of the moisture and nutrients it needs to survive from occasional rain storms and humidity in the air. |