Is Your Spanish Moss Turning Brown? Here’s Why!
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Spanish Moss (Tillandsia Usneoides)
Why Is Your Spanish Moss, Turning Brown?
1. Experiencing Dehydration
Browning tips or dry patches: This is a clear sign that your Spanish Moss is experiencing dehydration. Either the air around your Tillandsia is too dry or watering is insufficient. Be sure to place your Spanish Moss in a humid area such as a bathroom or kitchen or Sprits regularly. Be sure to water your Spanish Moss regularly.
2. It’s Been Overwatered
Mushy brown foliage: This is a sign that your plant is being overwatered. Spanish Moss prefers drying out between each watering. Overwatering causes rot to set in.
3. Scorched By Sunlight
often suffers from sunburn when newly purchased, moved to a new place, or when the summer sun is too intense without proper shade. Slight sunburn is characterized by yellowing or withering of leaves; flaky brown or black spots may appear in severe cases. Move it to a shaded place or hang a shade net to shade 30%-50% of the light before summer comes. After it adapts to the new environment and sprouts new healthy leaves, sunburned or withered leaves should be removed.
4. Has Rot Disease
Soft rot is common in new plants that are not yet established, or old plants that have too many dead leaves in a high-humidity environment. Excessive watering or poor ventilation can lead to soft rot. The disease is characterized by brown-black plaque generated by a base infection. The infected tissue gradually turns black and decays.
5. Infected With Mealybugs
If there are white-pink, sticky substances on spanish moss, it may be infected with mealy bugs. They feed on plant sap in groups, causing plants to grow slowly and produce a woolly, sticky substance. Wash infected leaves or plants with water or wipe with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. In case of severe infection, use insecticide.
How To Prevent Your Spanish Moss From Turning Brown?
Check Growth Temperature
It prefers warm climates. The ideal growth temperature for it ranges from 12 – 30 ℃, and the optimum temperature is around 21 ℃. Some species can withstand temperatures as low as 0 ℃. Air plants in genus Tillandsia generally come from sunny and dry areas and require little water.
Make Sure It’s Well-Ventilated
and needs plenty of fresh air. Don’t use much moss in its cultivation, as it can suffocate. Place in a well-ventilated position, preferably where there is always a breeze, or where leaves can dry within 4-6 hours after misting or soaking. Also, protect the plant from hot air blowing on it.
Plant It Correctly
Spanish moss is usually placed in shells or on rocks, slate, driftwood, etc. You can use special adhesive sold by garden centers to stick it to an ideal site, or you can lay it directly on a special base. Do not cover the base of the plant with moss, or it will rot.
Take Seasonal Precautions
In areas with low sunlight, spanish moss can be placed outdoors in summer to receive more sunlight and humidity. When the temperature drops in fall or winter, take it back indoors.
What To Do If Your Spanish Moss Is Turning Brown?
Pruning
Before spanish moss dies, it produces small seedlings at its base. Prune the dead parts to allow the seedlings to continue growing. Timely pruning of dead leaves or infected parts not only ensures a good look but also prevents ants and other insects from nesting and gnawing the plant.
