As Promised - More about the Tillandsia caput-medusae

By far, the air plant caput-medusae is the most popular species at the Tulsa Flea Market. Fascinating plant with its deep green, almost tubular shaped leaves that swirl and curl in all directions. It is aptly named for the Gorgon Medusa. You know- the greek lady with the snakes for hair?

caput-medusae bloom

Flowering: Is in the spring and summer.Emerging from the colorful bracts are long-tubular lavender flowers. These are good for attracting hummingbirds. The plant lives for several years after flowering and producing pups. If you leave the pups on the mother plant, it will form a cluster like in the picture above.

                                                                                                      
Habbitat: In the wild the caput-medusae likes shady and humid conditions.

Watering: Simple care must be taken when watering. Water should not be allowed to collect in the bulb area which will cause it to rot. Water this plant every 4-5 days, by soaking in a glass of water. Fish tank water, pond water, and of course rain water is the best to use. If using fish or pond water no fertilizer is ever needed. Try not to use tap water because of the chlorine . Bottled water is ok as long as it is not distilled. Most important to drain water from bulb area, then lay on  its side until dry. It needs to be dry in less than 4 hours.

Display: Bright light no sun. Hanging upside down is not only good for the plant but a great conversation piece!

Fertilize:  Tillandsias can survive without fertilizer, though a plant benefiting from a fertilizer regimen will grow, bloom, and produce offsets (pups) more vigorously.  A Bromeliad or Tillandsia fertilizer should be used 1-2 times per month at ¼ strength.

Medusa's hair of caput-medusae

Questions about this plant? Leave a comment or email me at: barb1839@ymail.com 

As promised the link to the site with  listed under the "Great Links" on your left.

Have a great day,
Barb

P.S. Follow me on this blog for all kinds of hodgepodge!

Setting up at the Tulsa Flea

Yesterday I set up a booth at the Tulsa Flea. Actually the proper name is the Tulsa Flea Market. Years ago my husband and I set up there every Saturday for about 2 years and always said we are "going to the Tulsa Flea".

The Tulsa Flea is an upscale flea market. Located in the largest (air conditioned) building on the Tulsa Fairgrounds, you will find lots of quality antiques, collectables and of course crafts. If you live in the Tulsa area, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Owned by the same family for the last 40 years. Open only on Saturdays. You will need to check the schedule,Tulsa Flea Market ,  since a few times a year the fair board rents out the building for other events.

Anyway, enough about that. This is my third time and it is fun to meet interesting people and make friends with those that come every week. I have several who have bought Tillandsias (air plants) and come to tell me how their air plants are doing. It is great when they call them my babies or my new pet.

It was a slow day, probably because it was a holiday weekend. I am excited about meeting a wedding planner that thinks the Tillandsias will be a great gift for the bride and groom to give to guests!

Well, I need to start inventorying and get a balance of plants after yesterday. It is fun ordering and getting in a new shipment of airplants. The anticipation of what is in that box is like opening presents!

After that, I will write the post I promised on the care and other tidbits of information on the Tillandsia caput-medusa.

Barb
Creation-in-Clay
Barb's Creations

P.S. Would love for you to be one of my followers and just as the name Artistic Hodge implies, no telling what you will find!

A Special Post to My Family and Yours

The fourth is about over. I am hearing the fireworks going off all over the city. It was a beautiful day, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 80's.

Then, the clouds rolled in and then rain came and stopped. Only to have large hail rain down for over 20 minutes. I could see it bouncing off of my car and hear it hitting the roof sounding like it was going to come right through the roof. My dogs were scared barking and pacing the room.

It stopped just as suddenly as it started. I went out and looked at my car. Should not have done that.  Yes, it is pretty bad, and the depression set in.

After crying in my soup (old expression) I thought about how it is just a car. It is not up side down or in a tree. My home is still whole with a roof.

My Grandson, Lt. Tyler Oliphant and many others are off risking their lives in a Afghanistan  Tyler got married one year ago. His wife is also serving and is in the Army stationed at Fort Campbell. As a married couple, they have had about a month living together. Oh, It is also his birthday.

And, I was crying over a few dents in a car!!!!

Happy Birthday Tyler. Happy Anniversary Tyler and Cathy. And Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary to all the many that are in far away lands and not celebrating with family.

And a very Happy Fourth of July to all. May we all remember to celebrate our independence each and every day.
Barb

Grogon Medusa has New Hair - Tillandsia caput-medusae

Once Upon a Very Long Time Ago - The Gorgon Medusa was a monstrous, yet mortal creature that had the power to turn anyone who looked at her into stone.

Medusa and two sisters of hers, Stheno and Evryale, were Gorgons, with frightful eyes, brass hands and living snakes on their head instead of hair. Medusa was the only Gorgon who was mortal, however she was more powerful than her sisters.

caput-medusae

caput-medusae in bloom

A very popular Tillandsia is the caput-medusae. Its leaves curl in all directions and look like snakes swirling about in the air. It is an unusual and very unique. Given good light and water it will bloom and the leaves get a reddest blush when blooming. After the bloom comes its pups! And then there were two!
Of couse, after reading about the Gorgon Medusae, the ideas for clay containers just started crowding my brain! And here is the final results. You can find them onCreation-in-Clay.

Gorgon Medusa with caput-medusae

Just for Fun - shown in negative

 

 

 

The Tulsa Flea........Market

Welcome to all of you that I met and talked to yesterday at the Tulsa Flea market. Doing the flea market again after about 10 years was exciting and lots of fun. Having to do it alone, took a lot of thought and worry. But it worked out just fine. The two gentleman that were on either side of me were fun to talk to and watched my booth the two times I had to step away. (you can guess why!)

And of course I was thrilled at the response to the Tillandsias (airplants). Wish there had been a little more interest in my clay works, but oh well, maybe next time.

This week will be busy with adding more airplants and more clay containers.

 Please visit my booth Saturday June 22 in booth 87. For those of you that were there last Sat. that is the same spot. Look for the purple table coverings.

More in a day or two.

Have a Great Sunday,
Barb
http:creation-in-clay.artfire.com
barb1839@ymail.com

My New Venture - Tillandsias commonly called AirPlants

  I have been so busy this past month, planning, buying, and working on my new venture.

 Do you like Tillandsias, commonly called AirPlants?  When ever  I could find them I would always buy a couple. These little plants are irresistible! They are easy to care. You can kill them, but it is hard.

They are a perfect match for clay things. Here are a few pictures of some. I am in the process of putting them on my Artfire studio and will be putting interesting tidbits on this blog.

This last one is the icing on the cake!! Called xerographica, it is very large and very different from most other Tillandsia, in its size and shape of leaves.

Polymer Clay Teapot with Squiggles and Dots

Around Christmas time, my daughter-in-law brought me a plain white teapot and said: "Do something with it." It sat around until last month, when I decided to use lots of color and with clay ropes. 

I had been looking for a table vice to use on my dining room table which doubles as my work bench. I needed one that would clamp to the edge. Thinking that there surely was such a thing, I looked and could not find. My son and family gave me one for Christmas. Just exactly what I needed.

What was it for you ask? I had bought a very good extruder, but even it was hard to hold with the left hand while I turned the crank with my right. Clay is not easy to press through a tiny hole!

Ok, I will get to the point! This teapot is entirely made with ropes made with the extruder. Even the round dots. to make them, I laid a clay rope straight and cut in equal portions. Then I made even size balls and pushed them onto the teapot.

No place on the pot is the same as the opposite spot, as you can see.

(I wish I could figure out how to move the pictures in the order I want. I am use to being able to move pictures anywhere on the page, but with blogger I have not figured it out!!)

The reason the handle, spout and cap are left without any clay, is because I wanted this teapot to be used for tea! 

This is what I call "Clay being useful". 

Have a great day!

Barb