You’ve had your air plant for a few months, but despite your tender care and attention, it seems to be doing nothing. What is happening? How quickly do air plants actually grow? Don’t give up just yet; air plants called tillandsias actually grow quite slowly. They will eventually grow and blossom if given the right care; it just takes time!
Although certain species of Tillandsia grow more quickly than others, on the whole, they grow quite slowly, which makes them all the more unique when you have a huge specimen plant to exhibit! The growth rate of an air plant will also vary depending on whether it is a tillandsia seedling or an offset from propagation. The first two years of a seedling’s existence are spent growing slowly, rarely exceeding one inch in size. After the first few years, they begin to grow slightly more quickly as they reach bigger in size. Even though plants grown from seeds grow more slowly, they often are larger and better specimens than plants grown from offsets. In comparison to plants grown from seeds, plants developed from offsets or “propagation” grow far more quickly and typically blossom within the first few years as the cycle continues and they create offset of their own!
It can take a long time for the Tillandsia fasciculata tropiflora to reach this size.
Consider the locations where your species of air plant grows in the wild when caring for your air plants. Does the species come from a dry, arid desert with little water (xeric), a cloud forest at a high elevation, or a humid, rainy rainforest (mesic)? Due to the changes in climate, plants located in these particular climates will exhibit particular features and grow accordingly. Plants may develop more slowly in dry climates than in more humid, moisture-rich conditions.
Look at our blog entry (Mesic Vs. Xeric Air Plants) for more information on the distinctions between mesic and xeric plants, as well as what conditions each will require in terms of water and light.
Your ability to accurately recreate the plant’s natural environment will have a significant impact on how quickly it grows. Patience is essential because it might take years for a small air plant to develop and blossom. Although it’s not an exact science, your plant can surprise you and grow and blossom more quickly than usual!
If your plant hasn’t produced pups or offsets yet, don’t worry; it might just be a slower-growing plant. Most air plants will produce pups or offsets during the first year of their existence, after blooming. Just keep giving your plant the attention it needs and making sure it gets enough water and light.
This puppy is developing slowly. It can take a long time for T. xerographica to reach maturity.
T. xerographica is one of the Tillandsia species that grows slowlyest; it can take years for it to reach a size where it can bloom and produce pups. Small T. xerographica plants, which have a diameter of 4-5 inches, may be 3-5 years old! The T. capitata and T. harrisii are two other slow-growing plants that get rather big.
These large-growing Tillandsia plants, which are all slow-growing (top to bottom, left to right): T. harrisii, T. xerographica, T. xerographica in bud, and T. capitata
The T. ionantha variant, T. stricta, T. aeranthos, and T. brachycaulos are some of the air plants with the fastest growth rates. These plants are all categorized as mesic varieties, which implies they prefer more water and filtered indirect light.
These Tillandsia species that develop more quickly bloom and produce pups than other species. (From top to bottom, left to right) T. ionantha, T. stricta, T. brachycaulos, and T. aeranthos
In addition to routine watering, you can give your plants a boost by fertilizing them once a month. This will promote quicker growth, blooming, and pup production. To encourage the growth of your air plant, check out and buy our specially designed Tillandsia fertilizer!
Be patient with your plants; they will grow best with the right amount of light, water, and airflow. When the seasons change, such in the summer or winter, you need alter your care routine. You should have a healthy air plant that eventually blooms and gives birth to pups! You could even manage to cultivate a sizable specimen air plant!
Do air plants swell and expand in size?
The most common queries that air plant owners and potential owners have about their plants are listed below. Please post any further questions you may have about air plants in the comment area below.
Do Air Plants Purify Air?
Air plants are less successful in air filtration than other plants, although they do remove carbon dioxide and some trace chemical pollutants. However, some research imply that they may be useful in clearing the air of pollutants like mercury.
Do Air Plants Grow Bigger?
Depending on the species, your air plant will reach its full size if it is a pup (baby air plant). As was previously mentioned, air plants may grow from two inches to seven feet tall, so do some research on the kind you choose to learn more about how big it will get. An air plant that you purchase at a market is probably fully developed.
Do Tillandsia Die After Flowering?
Unfortunately, most air plant kinds that bloom are elderly and will soon pass away. On the plus side, air plants produce tiny pups before they die that will eventually reach the size of their parents.
Why Do My Air Plants Keep Dying?
The most frequent factor that causes air plants to die is overwatering. They are very susceptible to root rot, which will destroy them, if they are overwatered. Make sure your air plants dry off within three hours of watering to prevent root rot. Underwatering is the second most typical reason, which the plant can generally overcome. See our suggestions below to rejuvenate a dry plant.
How Do You Revive an Air Plant?
Give your plant an extra bath and then continue your regular watering schedule if you notice that you’ve only slightly under-watered it (for example, if the tips of your plant are turning brown or feeling a little dry). The steps listed below can be used to revitalize a brown or very dry plant:
Place the plant and water container in a room with plenty of light and a temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (1823C).
Repeat the procedure if the plant continues to wilt three days after being soaked, but this time soak it for just three to four hours.
Air plants are wonderful additions to your plant collection and can make wonderful presents for friends who also enjoy plants. Cute air plant jewelry can be made from the tiniest ones. Ingenious crafts like air plant string art and do-it-yourself terrariums may also be made using air plants. Have you thought of a unique way to use your air plant? Tell us in the comments section below!
Why won’t my air plants grow?
Beautiful and hardy, air plants can even flourish in unfavorable environments. However, you might be wondering how quickly air plants develop and why my air plant is currently expanding. You may learn about the growth of air plants (tillandsia) and how to encourage them to grow more quickly in this post.
In general, air plants, especially xeric air plants, develop slowly. Underwatering (air plants love adequate watering), a lack of sunlight, poor air circulation, and other factors can all prevent your air plant from flourishing.
Can air plants produce fresh leaves?
When air plants are grown in settings that resemble their native home, they develop the quickest.
- In homes with higher humidity and less light, mesic air plants thrive. Watering air plants often is required.
- Due of their adaptation to desert environments, xeric air plants favor more sunlight and less hydration.
Both varieties of air plants develop slowly, with the first two years seeing growth of less than an inch.
After blooming and maturing for up to five years (from seedling), air plants generate pups, which can either be used to start new plants or left connected to grow larger air plants.
How long does an air plant live?
Perennial plants are tillandsias, also referred to as air plants. According to the source, they have a lifespan of between two and five years, which indicates that they normally survive longer than two years.
The type of air plant and the growing conditions have an impact on how long they live, though. They reside in deserts, on various surfaces, and on tree branches in their natural habitat (other surfaces they can grow on).
Air plants only experience one flowering during their existence, which marks the culmination of their development and maturity.
Depending on the species, the flowers might remain in bloom for a number of months. However, the air plant will begin to die when the blossoms start to wilt and fade. Air plants develop pups or offsets before they die to carry on the same growth cycle.
Despite the mother plant dying, you can take the pups out and raise them separately. Separating the pups from the mother is referred to as “division is a method of air plant propagation.
As an alternative, you might leave those puppies grouped together ” (also known as “tillandsia balls).
How can I determine the health of my air plant?
Unique and hassle-free indoor plants, air plants (Tillandsia) add significant visual charm to your home. These unique plants come in a variety of sizes, have health benefits for your home during the photosynthesis process, and need very little upkeep from you, which appeals to busy professionals. How can you know whether your air plant is healthy considering that they require less maintenance than other plants?
Hydration of the plant is essential to avoid underwatering and determine the health of your air plant. To determine whether the plant is getting too much or not enough moisture, regularly look for discolored leaves or dry or wet rot. An air plant is in good health if it blooms and produces fluff.
There are numerous techniques to determine whether your air plant is healthy, and the majority of them only require a visual examination. They could quickly get ill by doing some unexpected activities. Continue reading to learn more about 11 quick ways to assess the general health of your air plant.
Do all air plants produce young?
How exciting to know that your wonderful Tillandsia will eventually create their own air plant offspring! The name puppies, which is a term of endearment for these “baby” air plants, is just the cutest thing ever.
Did you know that raising puppies is the preferred method for air plant enthusiasts to expand their plant collections? Yes, air plant enthusiasts worldwide can grow their very own puppy nursery. Additionally, puppies always grow into their mother plant’s traits.
In the correct circumstances, all Tillandsia species will give birth to pups in a relatively short period of time. Knowing what to look for—nodes at the mother plant’s base—and when/how to separate the pups from the mother plant are all that are required. It’s also crucial to make sure that the mother plant and the pups receive enough sunlight and water continuously.
Pups should start to grow soon after your plants’ first bloom cycle. Typically, your Tillandsia won’t produce its first bloom for up to six months. It’s important to keep in mind that some air plant species may require several years to blossom.
The magic starts to happen once your plants have blossomed. Small nodes can be seen at the base of your plant. This indicates that the young plants have begun to appear!
It’s critical that you continue to care for the mother plant as usual during this period. But always remember to treat the puppies with care. As they begin their life’s adventure, they might be rather fragile.
Once the puppies are about a fifth the size of their mother plant, you must divide them.
Laying the mother plant carefully on its side will allow you to clip away the pups with a sharp kitchen knife or good pair of garden sheers. After finishing this procedure, you are ready to launch your very own air plant farm!
You should give the cut-off point on the mother plant and the pup a few days to harden off.
Your plants will begin to recover from their separation at this time. They might have developed a distinctive (lopsided) morphology when they were growing alongside their mother. Your pup’s shape and size will begin to become more uniform during the next few months. As they are still fairly sensitive, wait to feed the pup plant food until they have been apart for at least three months. Throughout the duration, continue to water as usual.
The longevity and simplicity of growing air plants are two of its best qualities. They only require a little sunlight and water every so often; they don’t require soil. And as you’ve seen, raising your air plant pups is also very easy. You’ll soon see a handful of puppies arrive with a little TLC!
See for yourself how lovely air plants may be by looking at our collection of them and their young.
Can air plants be grown in sand?
Terrariums are a wonderful way to add some greenery to any area, and you can really make your terrarium stand out by using several types of bases! We frequently receive inquiries regarding how to exhibit air plants in terrariums, including what types of bases to use and whether they require soil. The bases and decorations you should pick to create a stunning air plant terrarium are discussed below.
You can use small pebbles, seashells, bark, marbles, preserved reindeer moss, beautiful sand, etc. for the base. Have fun with it! There are countless options for the colors and textures of the sand and rock used in terrariums.
There is no need to provide soil because air plants can survive without it. Most air plants, in fact, shouldn’t be planted in soil. Layering moss, sand, or rock is a simple way to add variety and texture to your terrarium.
Make sure the base you use is entirely dry. You don’t want your air plants to be resting against any moisture in their terrariums or containers.
You should also consider the type and size of the terrarium you are creating. This terrarium will be presented where? Will it hang or rest on a table? You can choose the substrate for your terrarium by responding to these questions. Since moss is lighter than sand and won’t shift as much if the terrarium sways, using it as a base layer may be preferable for hanging terrariums.
Small bits of bark or driftwood can give your terrarium a charmingly rustic appearance as a base or accent, but make sure the wood you pick is pest-free. We like to use orchid bark, which is available at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Use caution when utilizing logs or bark that you may find outside because they could contain insects or pests that could harm your plant.
Watering Terrariums and Plants:
- If you water your plants while they are in your terrarium, too much moisture may become trapped amid the moss, rock, etc., leading to the rot of your plants.
- Before putting the plants back in your terrarium, remove them, soak or mist them, and then make sure they are totally dry.
- No water or moisture should be present in your terrarium or next to the Tillandsia.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer a kit that includes everything you need, look no further—we also carry those!
Check out these DIY terrarium kits, which include everything you need to build one.