Tillandsia circinata (Air Plant)

Tillandsia circinata is a distinctive air plant with a bulbous, pseudo-bulb-like base and narrow, cylindrical leaves that radiate outward and downward in an irregular, open pattern. The leaves are covered in dense, white trichomes that give the entire plant a bright silvery-white appearance, one of the most striking in the genus. Native to Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America, it grows in full sun on trees and cacti in dry, exposed conditions, making it one of the most drought-tolerant Tillandsias you can grow.

Because of its dry-climate origins, circinata can tolerate more drying out between waterings than many species. Soak weekly in room-temperature water for 20 to 30 minutes, shake off excess moisture, and allow it to dry thoroughly. It handles lower humidity and higher light levels than most Tillandsias and can tolerate some direct morning sun indoors.

Avoid saturating the base and then trapping water inside it, as the enclosed structure can rot if it stays wet.