快猫短视频

I know how green leaves photosynthesise, and The Last Word has explained how red leaves photosynthesise. I have an air plant that appear yellow-brown, dry and, to all appearances, dead. How do these photosynthesise? I don鈥檛 water it, but it is alive because every so often a new leaf shoot appears.

鈥� There are hundreds of species in the genus Tillandsia. I have a few, but unlike that of your correspondent, my plants are mainly green or grey. From the description, I believe that the yellow-brown and dry parts of the plant are in fact dead, and the plant is photosynthesising using the light that percolates through to its deeper and still-living green parts.

鈥淭he yellow-brown and dry parts of the leaves on the plant are dead, with only deeper green parts alive鈥�

I also suspect that the specimen is a maltreated Tillandsia that lingers on in spite of its situation, and is dying faster than it is growing. There is plenty of advice on the internet about looking after Tillandsias, which is very easy, but requires a little consideration.

These plants need plenty of diffuse light and, if they are not exposed to the rain, they need a regular light spray of water that does not contain the wrong kinds of salt (no artificially softened water, for example).

If your correspondent has a garden with a healthy tree or bushes growing in it, then there is no better place for most Tillandsias. Putting it deep in the shade of the branches will demonstrate what a healthy Tillandsia looks like. Obviously in regions with heavy frosts and cold winters, great care must be taken to ensure that the Tillandsia can survive outdoors.

Jon Richfield, Somerset West, South Africa