Yctan, I must agree with you on how could one cannot 'tahan' to get our hands on this white fluffy powder puff thing.
From what I've known, those 'hi-tech' white hairs are actually speciallized part of the epidermis cells called trichomes designed to capture dew droplets and also as a defending mechanism against harmful uv rays.
Actually this is a true desert plant which require only minimal care and watering to grow well. I think due to our constant attention and unpredictable monsoon raining seasons will spoil it's look (also disintegreted due to rot). I grow mine high up among tree top which get full day sun all day long. Unfortunately it still look pathetic as all the trichomes are 'glued' to the leaf blades looking like a 'lidi' plant!
From what I've read, this is a native desert plant in Peru at altitude from 980-2700m alt.
Well, I've attached a superb specimen insitu in its' type locality for all of us to drool over! (A pic from from The New Tillandsia Handbook by Hideo Shimizu & Hiroyuki Takizawa)
Sorry for the glare!
