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R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E
February 2021 7
Air Plants – A Much Needed Trend! It is no secret that plants, much like clothing, go through trends. Plants that are popular during one decade may not even be available during the decades to follow. Air Plants, botanically known as Tillandsia, were a mere curiosity 10 years ago and now are a “houseplant” of great demand. Its interest lies in the ability to seemingly live on air without any soil or obvious root system. Of course, it does not live on air, so what is the mysterious story behind this plant? Tillandsia is a member of the Bromeliad family or Bromeliaceae. It includes around 650 species native to mountains and deserts, extending from Argentina north through Mexico into southeastern North America and the Caribbean. The genus was named in 1753 by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) after the Finnish physician and This Lifelong Learning column is dedicated to amplifying innovations in teaching and learning - spotlighting educational and professional development courses and webinars available at Rutgers throughout the year. Please visit the website at the bottom to obtain the full list of classes available. We R Here When You Need Us. February Trivia Question: Which tree works the hardest in preparation for Valentine’s Day? Spotlight Program: CORE Training Program for the NJ Pesticide Applicators License. About The NJDEP Pesticide License: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Pesticide Control Program (PCP) regulations contain information on the training requirements for new (never licensed) commercial applicators and/or operators, as well as the requirements for currently licensed persons and those who have not maintained their license. Under these regulations, a new commercial applicator or operator must attend a PCP-approved basic pesticide training course (such as Core, which is described below) and complete 40 hours of on-the-job training in the functions and operations associated with the category of license the individual is seeking to obtain. Recertification of a currently licensed New Jersey commercial
botanist Dr. Elias Tillandz (16401693). Tillandz would provide treatments for his patients based upon his knowledge of plants. Although quite variable, most species yield small rosettes of foliage, measuring only a few inches in diameter. They are also epiphytic, using a host plant or cliff for support, whereby the roots serve as a mechanism of attachment, not for gathering nutrients or water. The first Bromeliads are thought to have developed around 100 to 80 million years ago (MYA) on nutrient-poor soils in what is now Southern Venezuela and Guyana. Oddly, by 20 MYA, there still existed only a few species. The impetus for speciation was the rise of the Andes mountain range and the creation of new environments ripe for the “birth” of the genus Tillandsia around 15 MYA. The challenge for these nonterrestrial dwellers revolved around how to absorb water and nutrients. The answer was in the development of specialized structures called trichomes on the leaves.
Gardeners usually associate trichomes with pubescent leaves, like that of Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) whose function is to prevent desiccation from winds. For the Bromeliad family, the function is to absorb nutrients and water. The silvery coating of the trichomes also reflects sunlight, cooling the leaf. Air Plants also have beautiful flowers! The flower is three-petaled and typically a very colorful red, yellow or bright cyan blue. Flowers can appear on very simple stems that produce flowers within a few weeks or on well-branched inflorescences that take upwards of several months to develop flowers. The individual flowers usually last five to seven days. After flowering, the plant produces one to several small plants or pups at the base as the mother plant slowly withers and dies. When the pups are roughly one-third the size of the mother plant, they can be pulled apart into separate plants or left to form an attractive cluster. For watering, I pass them
under a spigot of tepid water for a few seconds twice a week to thoroughly soak the leaves. The plant can also be submerged in water for up to 15-20 minutes once a week. It’s best to water in the morning and make sure the excess water is drained from the foliage to prevent decay. Provide filtered bright light and most will benefit from a room humidifier during the winter. They will also benefit from a diluted (25 percent) application of orchid fertilizer once a month from April through September and being placed outdoors during the summer months to enjoy the increased humidity. Tillandsia capitata “Peach” is a wonderful selection with a very soft pink blush to the foliage and will ultimately grow to four inches across. If you are looking for a much larger form, consider Tillandsia xerographica that can grow upwards of three feet in diameter and is best grown in bright light or morning sun. The various specimens of Tillandsia offer unusual houseplants for both the novice
Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education By Kenneth M. Karamichael Continuing Education Professional
Lifelong Learning
pesticide applicator/operator is maintained by completing recertification courses in both Core (eight units) and the category being recertified for (16 units) within a fiveyear period. About the Core Training Program: The Rutgers/NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education’s (OCPE) Core Training Program is a basic pesticide training course for those interested in becoming a licensed New Jersey pest control operator and/or applicator. Topics covered during this half-day (four hour) course include: federal pesticide laws, the New Jersey Pesticide Control Act, IPM, pesticide hazards and how to minimize them, proper handling, storage and disposal of pesticides, and application equipment and use. We offer sessions throughout the year in English and Spanish. Upcoming English Instruction course start dates are: January 8, February 12, March 19, April 9, and
May 14, 2021. Each online course consists of pre-recorded video lectures that will take approximately four hours to watch. You can view these lectures at your own pace anytime during the period the course is open (approximately one full week). All class assignments must be completed by 2 p.m. EST on the final course day. Completing this course satisfies New Jersey’s requirement of attending a basic pesticide training course for new applicant. Instructor: George C. Hamilton, Ph.D., is an extension specialist in pest management at Rutgers University. For over 30 years, Dr. Hamilton has dedicated his career to public outreach and education. His extensive knowledge in entomology - along with his innate ability to communicate effectively with any group/audience – has made him one of the most favored instructors at OCPE. Our next Spanish Speaking (online) course - Entrenamiento
CORE lnicial Para Aplicadores de Pesticidas NJ - is available on February 11, 2021 (8:30 – 12:00 p.m). Detalles del Curso (Course Details): lmpartido en espanol, este curso CORE en lfnea se enfoca en lo esencial de las regulaciones, seguridad y uso de pesticidas. Ha sido disenado para satisfacer el requisite del NJDEP de asistir a un curso basico de capacitacion en pesticidas como el primer paso para obtener una NUEVA licencia de pesticida. Esta clase esta aprobada para creditos de recertificacion. Conozca a su (Meet the) Instructor: Pedro Perdomo: Con 30 anos de experiencia trabajando con pesticidas tanto en el gobierno como en la industria publica, Pedro Perdomo comparte sus conocimientos e ideas ensenando para la Universidad de Rutgers. For the developing list of CORE Training course dates, please
and expert gardener alike. I personally like to place Air Plants into the canopy of other houseplants, such as Jade Plants, Aloe, or larger Bromeliads, where I feel they look most at home. They may not live on air, but they do impart a curiosity that draws people to plants – a much needed trend that I hope continues for decades to come.
Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Rutgers State Program Leader for Home and Public Horticulture, a part time lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, regularly participates in the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education Program, and Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at crawford@njaes. rutgers.edu. visit: http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/ brochures/intros/coretraining.html To learn more about the extended resources available at the Pest Management Office of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, visit: https:// pestmanagement.rutgers.edu/ Trivia Answer: The cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) is most critical in the production of holiday sweets. The name is derived from the Greek for “food of the gods” from θεός (theos), meaning “god” and βρῶμα (broma), meaning “food.” In 2018, world production of cocoa beans was 5.3 million tons. Now, that’s a lot of love! Visit CPE.RUTGERS.EDU to learn more about the hundreds of programs available at OCPE, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station all year long. Learning Never Ends for the New Jersey Gardener!
Editor’s Note: Kenneth M. Karamichael, Ed.M., is an internationally recognized continuing education professional with Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education within Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Ken can be reached at kenneth@ rutgers.edu.