At least a few hours of bright, indirect sun each day are necessary for air plants to grow and be content.
The optimal placement is between one and three feet from an east or west-facing window, or around two feet from a source of artificial light. They can withstand longer, hotter, more direct sun exposure if you keep them well-hydrated. Avoid areas that are poorly lit.
Can air plants live in the absence of sunlight?
The fact that air plants require less upkeep than many other house plants is one of their best qualities. The three essential factors that might affect their health and lifespan are air, water, and light. This does not, however, imply that they require no maintenance. We’ve covered watering air plants rather extensively, so today we’ll focus more on light.
Tillandsias, often known as air plants, favor strong, filtered light that is indirect but not direct. Instead of east or west facing windows, we advise choosing windows that face south or north because they typically receive more indirect light.
Throughout our home, we’ve experimented with air plants, and the ones that appear to thrive the most are those that are close to our kitchen window, which is somewhat shaded by nearby trees so they receive a lot of natural, filtered light.
The amount of direct light that air plants can tolerate depends on the humidity of your surroundings. In general, your air plants will be able to tolerate a little bit more sunshine if they are living in a more humid environment because they won’t dry up as quickly. For instance, air plants that are grown outdoors in Florida’s humid climate frequently adapt well to additional sunlight. Most air plants struggle in full or direct sunlight.
Air plants make excellent office plants since they need indirect light; this light can come from windows or artificially from full spectrum fluorescent lights.
Of course, there are exceptions, as there always are in nature. Some of the air plants with silver leaves can tolerate more direct sunshine. One of the very few tillandsias that can tolerate full light is the enormous Xerographica air plant (read more about the Xerographica here).
To determine how your air plants will respond best, try situating them in various lighting conditions. Where did your air plants seem to thrive the most? What type of illumination has failed to grow your air plants?
comments
DO LED LIGHTS WORK WITH AIR PLANTS. I have one that is 2 feet away and under a 5W LED.
I have a bathroom with no windows at all. Can air plants live with only the overhead and the light from the makeup mirror?
Dear Amanda: The glue ought to come off without harming the plants. When gluing plants to objects, hot glue or super glue are truly safe to use. Hope this is useful!
I recently bought two globes with air plants. When I went home and saw that the plants were glued in, I was extremely unhappy! Can the glue be removed without harming the plants? I should definitely simply try returning them! Any suggestions? Thanks
How Much Light Does an Air Plant Need?
Air plants require strong, indirect light to grow. Good possibilities are rooms with windows that face the south or east because the sun will shine brightly in these areas for the majority of the day. As long as the plant is put close to the window and the window is not covered by trees or an adjacent apartment building, rooms with North-facing windows also perform effectively. Western light typically arrives later in the day and has a tendency to be quite warm and powerful. Take care not to burn your air plant!
The air plant will generally withstand more light as the humidity level in your area increases. This means that you should plan to spritz your air plant more frequently, such as twice a week or even every day, if you’re placing it where it will get a lot of light. An air plant will thrive in a bright bathroom or bustling kitchen since the humidity from your shower or boiling water will take care of the majority of plant misting for you.
Air Plants and Artificial Light
A lot of customers ask us if they can put their air plant in a basement or office where there won’t be any windows for natural light. The answer is yes, but there are a few particular guidelines to follow to guarantee the success of your plant.
Fluorescent light must be full-spectrum. These plants can’t photosynthesize in the kind of light that regular incandescent bulbs produce. Place your Tillandsia no more than three feet from the source of light. Additionally, if you plan to use fluorescent lighting, the plants will require at least 12 hours every day.
We advise purchasing a dedicated bulb for your plant (such as a Gro-Lux, Repta-Sun, or Vita-Lite) and setting it on a 12-hour timer if you live in a basement or wish to keep an air plant in your office to ensure that it receives the proper amount of light to survive.
Sand, rocks, and dried wood arranged in a shallow dish make a wonderful air plant display.
Do air plants require water and sunlight?
Like all plants, air plants require sunlight to survive. It does not follow that something cannot thrive without air, light, or water just because it is tolerant enough to live in a bowl or on a bookshelf without the advantage of soil. A few hours of direct, bright light every day are beneficial to air plants.
Where should my air plant be placed?
All air plants are native to tropical regions where freezing temperatures never occur. It’s crucial to keep them at a reasonable temperature without a sweater, right? typically from the 1960s or earlier. Keep them away from windows that are cold in the winter and air conditioner vents.
At least a few hours of bright, indirect sun each day are necessary for air plants to thrive. The optimal placement is between one and three feet from an east or west-facing window, or around two feet from a source of artificial light. They can be exposed to hotter, more direct sun for longer periods of time if you maintain them well-hydrated. Avoid areas that are poorly lit.
Do my air plants need to be misted?
The final technique in our series on watering air plants is misting, which you can employ in between regular soaking or immersing. Read more in our earlier blog posts to learn more about the dunk method and soaking.
If you notice that your plant’s leaves are starting to seem a bit dry or if you live in a dry region with low air humidity, misting is an excellent approach to give it a little additional hydration. Misting is probably not enough water for your plant to grow, therefore you shouldn’t utilize this method as its only supply of water.
The T. tectorum, which has a lot of trichomes, is an exception to this rule and prefers misting to soaking or submerging. In a temperate area, you might only need to mist once a month with one of these guys, or once a week in a hotter environment.
In contrast to other plants with bigger leaves, plants with wispy leaves such the T. ionantha, T. andreana, or T. fuchsii v gracilis may require misting more regularly in addition to weekly watering.
- It’s easy to spritz plants; just use a spray bottle or hose attachment set to the “mist” setting. Make sure the entire plant gets soaked before misting. As previously mentioned, if this is their sole source of water, this is not the greatest approach for watering. If you mist your plants, remember to additionally soak or dip them once a week at the very least.
A useful generalization to remember is that a healthy air plant will have leaves that are wide open, whereas a dehydrated air plant would have leaves that curl inward. Bring on the mist if you see that your plant is starting to appear a touch dry between your regular waterings!
Is the light reaching my air plant enough?
- How is an air plant maintained? For survival, air plants require water, light, and air. The type of environment you are housing your air plants in and the kind of tillandsia you have will both affect how you should take care of them. As a general rule, mesic (greener leafed type) plants prefer higher moisture and lower indirect light levels, whereas xeric (silver leafed) plants prefer drier circumstances and more sunlight. On our air plant care page, you can read more about how to take care of them.
- Where are the origins of air plants? The majority of air plants are indigenous to Mexico, South America, and Central America’s tropical climates. In Florida and other Southern U.S. states, some plants can even be found growing wild.
- How is an air plant watered? Dunking, soaking, and sprinkling are a few various ways to water your plants. Our post, Tips for Watering Your Air Plants, has further information on how to water air plants.
- Do air plants require sunlight? Absolutely, yes! Additionally, air plants are able to endure artificial lighting. Visit this article to learn more about the amount of light that plants require. You can always swap plants every few days if you have a place that doesn’t get enough light so you can still appreciate their beauty and the plant can keep growing!
- Trichomes: What Are They? The amount of trichomes an air plant variety has can greatly influence how they should be cared for. Trichomes are what give some air plants their silvery or grey fuzzy appearance. Trichomes may resemble microscopic hairs, but they are actually tiny water-absorbing cups. Trichomes are composed of numerous tiny cells, some of which are alive and some of which are dead. A trichome’s dead cells inflate like a sponge when water contacts them, and the living cells then utilise the water by absorbing it into themselves. In our articles All About Trichomes and Trichomes in Depth, you may read more about trichomes.
- Why keep dying my air plants? Even though they are generally simple to care for, air plants can present some challenges. Your air plants may be dying as a result of inadequate or excessive watering, rot, fertilizer burn, or excessive or insufficient light. In our post “What’s Wrong With My Air Plant”, we go into further detail regarding typical air plant issues. Overwatering of air plants is the most frequent problem individuals encounter!
- After blossoming, do air plants perish? Yes, the majority of air plants do die after flowering, although they typically give birth to pups or offsets before they go extinct. However, the mother plant might live for a while and produce several offspring throughout time. To find out more about flowering, what happens after the bloom, and air plant propagation in general, see our blog posts.
- How long do the blossoms on air plants last? The majority of air plant blooms endure a few days to a week, while larger blooms known as “inflorescences” on some plants can last for months. The xerographica, harrisii, and fasciculata tropiflora are some of these plants. For more information, see our article about what occurs following the bloom.
- Do my air plants need to be fertilized? Nope! Although fertilizer is not necessary, it can speed up bloom time and increase offset and pup production. To help your air plants thrive, read our blog to learn how to properly fertilize them and buy a bottle of our specially made air plant fertilizer.
- How should air plants be cared for throughout the winter? The key to keeping your air plants healthy and alive is to be aware of seasonal variations. Make sure that none of your air plants are left outside if you live in a region of the country where the temperature often falls below 50 degrees. Make sure your plants receive enough water at least once every week. If you use the heater more regularly, you might need to water your plants more because this will dry them out. Your plants may be shocked and even killed if they are too close to a cold window. Find out more here about caring for winter air plants. Even while most plants can withstand temperatures as low as the low 40s, sensitive plants like funckiana and magnuisiana can still suffer damage from low temperatures.
- How should air plants be cared for in the summer? Due to heat, greater sun, more humidity, or drier areas in the summer, you may need to modify your watering schedule, how much light your plants are receiving, and where you have your plants displayed. Visit our post on summer air plant care for more details on how to take care of your air plants this season.
- Air purification using air plants? There have been studies showing a very modest level of air purification by houseplants. To understand more, read our article on the advantages of bringing air plants into your house.
- Can air plants be overwatered? You can overwater your air plants, that much is true. In most conditions, the majority of air plant species only require water twice a week, although some with lots of trichomes can go even longer. Rot can result from overwatering air plants. It’s equally important to have good air flow so that the plants can dry up entirely in a short period of time. Plants that remain moist or wet over extended periods of time are more likely to develop rot and fungus.
- Can air plants be kept outdoors? In most regions, air plants can flourish outside. Our plants thrive in Florida’s high humidity since we reside there. If you choose to display your air plants outside, we advise keeping an eye on their habitat throughout the day to make sure they aren’t receiving too much sunlight and water. If your plants are kept outside, you might need to water them more frequently if you reside in a dry area. Additionally, if the temperature falls below 50 degrees, you should move your plants inside.
- Can air plants be glued? Your air plant can be glued to a mount, seashell, or other surface. E6000 adhesive or a tiny dab of hot glue are both suggested. Glue should only be applied to the plant’s bottom leaves when adhering.
- How can I water mounted or attached air plants? Carefully hold the air plant under a little stream of water while ensuring that the driftwood doesn’t get wet in order to water plants that are mounted or fastened to a piece of driftwood or a wreath. This will enable the plant to be watered while decreasing the likelihood that the plant will rot from damp wood against the base. If your air plant appears dry in between waterings, you can mist it very lightly.
- Can air plants grow under low light or artificial light? The answer is yes, air plants can thrive with enough artificial light. A minimum of 4-6 hours of light should be provided to your plants each day. Low light is not very favorable for air plants. We advise shifting your plants to higher light places on occasion if you do decide to leave them in lower light areas so they receive enough light. You’ll notice that air plants in low light conditions lose their color and develop a dreary appearance more quickly than those in good indirect light.
- Can you grow air plants upside down? Absolutely! Because they are epipythes, air plants can grow either upside-down, right-side-up, or sideways by using their roots as an anchor. Some plants, like the caput medusae, pseudobaileyi, bulbosa, and butzii, thrive when mounted upside down.
- How are air plants pruned? Learn how to keep your plants healthy and looking their best by reading our article on pruning air plants.
- Are animals hazardous to air plants? Dogs and cats are not poisoned by tillandsia, sometimes known as air plants. So don’t worry if your cat likes to nibble on the leaves of your air plants a little too much. In our article “Air Plants + Pets: Are Air Plants Toxic?” you may learn more about air plants and pets.
- Can you save a dried-out or ill air plant? You can try giving your plant a good, long bath to try to resuscitate it, depending on how far gone it is. It might not survive if it is too soft or dried out, but it’s worth a shot! To begin, give the plant a good soak for 4-6 hours and observe the improvement. You can let it totally dry out before trying soaking it again the following day to see if there has been any further improvement.
- How quickly do air plants expand? While most air plants develop quite slowly, some do so more quickly than others. Some plants, including the capitata, harissi, and xerographica, grow slowly yet can reach significant sizes. Ionantha plants, for example, produce offsets more fast than xerographica plants while maintaining a relatively small size.
- What types of air plants thrive in dry environments? Largely trichomed plants are well in drier, less humid settings. These drought-tolerant plants are discussed in our post titled “Drought Tolerant Tillandsia: “The Best Air Plants for Drier Climates,” and you can purchase them on our website dedicated to drought-tolerant air plants.