Easy Tips for Caring
for Air Plants
Air plants, also known as Tillandsia, are Epiphytes. Part of their appeal is that Air Plants do
not require soil or a pot. These easy to
grow plants can add an interesting touch to a wall, table or modern arrangement. Air plants are becoming increasingly popular
due to their small size and amazing versatility.
Here are a few tips to keep Tillandsia in tip-top shape:
Light
Air plants should be kept where they will receive bright,
indirect sunlight. Periods of direct sunlight are fine, but more than a few
hours of hot sun will deplete the plants of their moisture
Water
While air plants don't grow in soil, they definitely NEED to
be watered. The plants can survive for
long periods of drought but will not thrive (and will eventually die) if water
is too scarce.
HOW DO I WATER THE PLANTS?
As a main method of watering, we recommend giving them a
thorough rinsing under running water or letting them soak in a bath of water
for 20-30 minutes. After their shower or
bath, gently shake the plants to remove any excess water from the base and the
leaves, and set out to dry in an area with enough air circulation to dry them
out in about 4 hours. If your plants need an in-between watering, misting them
with a spray bottle is a great method. A
plant in bloom should be rinsed rather than submerged in water, and take care
not to rinse the delicate flowers.
HOW OFTEN DO I WATER THE PLANTS?
Your plants should be watered once per week, and 2-3 times
is recommended for optimal care. You'll
begin to notice that after watering, your plant's leaves will feel stiffer and
full of water. Air Plants will be softer
and lighter in color when they're in need of water. Wrinkled or rolled leaves can be a sign of
dehydration.
Temperature
Air plants will do best in generally warm conditions (a good
range is 50-90 degrees).
Grooming
It is normal for some of the lower leaves of your Air plants
to dry out as the plant grows or acclimates to a new environment. Those leaves can be gently pulled right off
of the plant. If the leaf tips have
dried out, you can snip the dried tip off (try trimming at an angle to leave a
natural-looking pointy tip). The same
can be done for the plant's roots. Don't worry about harming your plants during
grooming, they will regrow.
