Pink Quill, botanical name Wallisia Cyanea (formerly placed in Tillandsia genius as Tillandsia Cyanea), is a beautiful and rare perennial that originates from the rainforests of Ecuador. It has delicate dark pink or purple flowers that bloom in spring and autumn, making it a popular addition to any garden. In addition, this plant has a distinct, quill-like appearance that appears unique and mesmerizing, making it an attractive addition to any home or office.
Pink Quills are epiphytes meaning they do not need any soil and will attach themselves to the bark of trees using their roots. These plants are quite popular as houseplants due to their easy care and beautiful appearance. While they can survive in outdoor gardens, this plant is primarily kept indoors.
Pink Quill Main Characteristics
| Common Name | Pink Quill |
| Botanical Name | Wallisia Cyanea |
| Synonyms | Phytarrhiza lindenii, Tillandsia cyanea, Tillandsia lindenii, Tillandsia morreniana, Wallisia lindenii |
| Family | Bromeliaceae |
| Genus | Wallisia |
| Type | Epiphyte |
| Native Range | Ecuador |
| Mature Size | Height: 10-20 inch, Spread: 10-20 inch |
| Bloom Time | Spring, Autumn |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Propagation methods | by seed, by offsets |
| Sun | Partial or dappled shade |
| Soil | Orchid or Bark Mix |
| Toxicity | Non-Toxic |
Pink Quill Care
Pink quill is a relatively easy plant to grow in the home provided it has exactly what it needs for successful growth. This guide will teach you how to care for your pink quill, including information on lighting, watering, and feeding, as well as tips on propagating.
Light and Location
Pink Quill thrives best in bright, indirect light. If you can’t provide a sunny location for your plant, a lightly shaded area is suitable as long as the plant receives at least several hours of sunlight daily. Avoid placing pink quill houseplant in locations near drafty windows or doors or anywhere else where air circulation is poor. In any case, avoid direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Watering
Most Wallisia cyanea plants are rather drought tolerant, making them an excellent houseplant for the novice or experienced growers alike. As a general rule, you should avoid overwatering your pink quill plant.
Pink quill houseplant benefits from infrequent watering in the summer months, when it’s actively growing. You can water pink quill once or twice per month during these warmer months. Allow the soil to dry out completely (no puddles) before adding water again. In the winter, cut back on watering even further and add only enough water for the plant to remain hydrated.
Misting the plant weekly with a spray bottle is usually sufficient for watering. Use distilled or rainwater if possible to prevent the unwanted build-up of minerals.
Leaf drop, wilting or color change are all signs of over-watering. In these cases, it’s best to stop watering until the plant has dried out fully. Drooping leaves may have been stressed from too much water and additional humidity will only make the condition worse.
Temperature
Pink quill is a tropical plant and thrives best in average home temperatures between 70°F and 80°F. Avoid exposing your plant to extreme heat or cold, including drafts from fireplaces, air conditioning or heating vents.
Humidity
Humidity requirements for pink quill houseplant are relatively low as long as you provide a light misting of water once a week. However, during the winter months when heating systems are running, it’s a good idea to increase ambient air moisture.
Keeping the air humid around your Wallisia cyanea will help the plant to send out new leaves with ease. A room humidifier can be helpful in this regard, as well as setting the pot on a tray of pebbles filled with water and keeping it away from direct heat.
Fertilizer
Pink quill houseplants should be fertilized sparingly during the summer months when it’s actively growing. Any balanced, water-soluble fertilizer that is diluted to half-strength can be used every few weeks while the plant is in active growth. In winter, reduce feeding to once a month or even less.
Propagating Pink Quill
Propagating pink quill is easy–simply detach a healthy offshoot (at least 3 inches in length) and replant iTo propagate pink quill houseplant, simply cut or pinch off several pink quill offsets as long as they reached one-third of the mother plant in length. Keep the soil lightly moist until your pink quill plant is established. It can take 6-12 months to grow pink quill houseplant from offsets.
You can also choose to plant seeds into moist soil and allow them to germinate at around 20°C. But this process isn’t considered as optimal as the previous one and is generally not practiced by many gardeners as it takes many years for the plant to mature.
Potting and Repotting
Owing to its epiphytic nature, the Wallisia Cyanea does not require soil to grow; it can absorb nutrients from the air if attached to a support. All the water gets taken up by the leaves via misting. But it is one of the few in the Wallisia genus that can, in fact, be planted in soil. Just be sure to use either a bromeliad or an orchid mix. Keep the soil porous and airy, don’t let it settle.
When repotting, choose a pot one size larger and fill it up with the appropriate compost. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, forgo pots entirely and glue them up to a support (bark or tree branches work best). But if you prefer the comfort of a good, old-fashioned pot, make sure it’s porous and has drainage holes.
Common Pests
The most common pests of bromeliads are mealybugs and aphids. These pests can cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop off, which can eventually lead to the death of the plant. The mealybugs are tiny, white insects, whereas aphids vary in color. They are easily controlled by dabbing them with cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Common Problems
Brown tips on leaves?
Low humidity can result in brown tips on the leaves. Use a humidifier in the same room or a tray of wet pebbles. Misting the leaves weekly should also be a part of your routine.
Dead Flowers?
These plants require pruning once the blooms have died. The flowers don’t naturally fall off and appear wilted. Simply take a sharp shear and cut off the flowers from the stem to make way for new growth.
The Best Way To Grow A Healthy Pink Quill (Wallisia Cyanea) Plant (Video)
FAQ
When to cut pup from Tillandsia cyanea?
Cut the pup off from the plant. But only when it has reached at least a third of the parent’s height. To be safer, you can wait for it to grow half as large, but that’s not generally needed. Any smaller and the propagation will most likely fail.
Why Tillandsia cyanea turn brown?
Dry air is the primary cause for the leaves to be turning brown. Increase the humidity around the plant. Use a humidifier, and mist the leaves regularly, and the leaves should go back to normal.
How much should I water a pink quill bromeliad?
There are two schools of thought. Some people think you can take care of all of this plant’s watering needs by misting the leaves. As it is an epiphyte, it can take up water by the leaves. And if you’re not using a soil medium, that’s the only route you can go. But if you’ve planted it in soil, water it very sparingly. Don’t let the soil get soggy. Root rot will be a death sentence.
Attribution
“Tillandsia cyanea” by gergelyhideg is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Tillandsia pretiosa = cyanea var. elatior” by In Memoriam: Ecuador Megadiverso is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
“Tillandsia cyanea ‘Pink Quill'” by beautifulcataya is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0