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Species library › Tillandsia › Tillandsia malzinei
Other Partly documented

Tillandsia malzinei

A soft-leaved, green, Vriesea-like Tillandsia endemic to Mexico. It was first described as Vriesea malzinei in 1874 and is still often sold under that name. It grows as an epiphyte in humid lowland forest along the Gulf slope, mostly below 300 m. Treat it as a shade-tolerant, moisture-loving 'mesic' tillandsia rather than a grey air plant.

At home, aim for
Day Warm-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
No rest periodGrows on trees (epiphyte)

Where it grows wild

Specimen labels place it in humid lowland forest, often near water: riverbanks (Río Solosúchil, Río Cóndor), lagoon margins, streams and pools. Most records come from the Uxpanapa–Tuxtepec–Chimalapas lowlands of Veracruz and Oaxaca. It grows epiphytically on trees, where the air stays humid.

GBIF specimens run from about 50 m to 1060 m, with a median of about 150 m. It is mainly a plant of the lowlands and lower foothills.

Mexico: VeracruzMexico: OaxacaMexico: ChiapasMexico: Tabasco

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.