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Species library › Tillandsia › Tillandsia sceptriformis
Other Little published: much of this is inferred from related species

Tillandsia sceptriformis

An Ecuadorian endemic Tillandsia named by Mez and Sodiro for its sceptre-like flower spike, listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN because of habitat loss. Most specimens come from about 2,000–2,800 m in the western and inter-Andean montane forests of Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Bolívar, Chimborazo and Azuay. Grow it cool, bright and airy, with a clear night drop.

At home, aim for
Day Cool-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

Wikipedia gives subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. Specimens come from forest remnants and roadsides in the Andes, including Maquipucuna–Yunguilla, Zumbahua–La Maná, Chillanes, Alausí, Girón and Molleturo. Typical of large Andean tillandsias, it probably grows epiphytically on trees and shrubs in fairly bright sites.

Most labelled elevations are 2,000–2,800 m (Alausí 2,660–2,670 m, Girón 2,507 m, Chillanes 2,450 m, Yunguilla 2,690 m). Two specimens from the Jipijapa–Portoviejo road at 150 m are a lowland outlier.

Ecuador

🔒 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.