Cultivation of Tillandsia kautskyi E. Pereira, an endangered Brazilian bromeliad: comments on foliar fertilization.
The effects of two nutrient sources (mineral and organic fertilizers) on the growth of Tillandsia kautskyi were observed. The
experiment was carried out from January 2003 through May 2004, in Jaboticabal, state of São Paulo, Brazil, in a greenhouse
with 70% shaded. Seedlings were planted in plastic pots, using 100% of coconut husk as the growing medium. The
following treatments of monthly foliar fertilization (except in winter) were compared: A1 = NPK 14-7-28 + Mg (0.5 g/L);
A2 = A1 + soluble humus (75 mg/L); A3 = soluble humus (75 mg/L); A4 = control without fertilizer application. The plants
with the A1 treatment presented greater shoot growth and a bigger root system than the non-fertilized plants.