Tillandsias grow in a different way than most other home plants, making them difficult to understand for beginners. They are extremely hardy and require far less care than other indoor plants. The following instructions are simplified; however, you can scroll down for much more detailed information.
- They can thrive with water misting and the occasional bath as long as the environment isn’t too dry.
- If you’re growing them inside and the air is dry, you’ll need to immerse the plant in water for 2-3 hours every two weeks at the very least.
- In a shaded or unheated residence, a soaking mist can be used once or twice a week in the summer and once a month in the winter.
Does Tillandsia need lots of light?
Tillandsias (also known as air plants) prefer bright, but filtered, light. Your air plants will be able to take a little more sunshine if they live in a more humid area since they will not dry up as soon.
Are Tillandsia easy to care for?
Tillandsia, or air plants, are among the easiest plants to care for, but they do require some attention and environmental considerations to grow. They’re dubbed “air plants” because they don’t need soil and get their nutrition from the air, but they still need water, fertilizers, and light to survive. Air Plants are epiphytes, which means they grow on another tree, host, or object in nature. They do not, however, rob nutrients from their hosts; instead, they use it as a place to grow. To take nutrients and moisture from the air, air plants use trichomes, which are microscopic capillaries found throughout their leaves.
They may survive in a variety of locations, vessels, and spaces because they don’t require soil (and most Tillandsia should not be planted in soil). Because of their adaptability, air plants can be used in a wide range of situations, which has led to an increase in the popularity of Tillandsia as home and office decorations.
While air plants are recognized for being easy to grow, they do require attention in order to survive and thrive.
Tillandia can live for several years if properly cared for, and it can even produce “pups” for more years of enjoyment!
Air plants prefer indirect light that is bright. That is, unless the windowsill receives filtered light or merely soft morning sun, don’t plan to keep them there. Air plants have a tendency to get a little wilted “In direct sunlight, especially when amplified through a glass window or terrarium, things get “fried.” In low light, on the other hand, they will be unhappy. Our air plants are kept in the brightest rooms of our home.
Yes, grow lights can be used to give additional light for air plants or even serve as their sole source of light! But take attention of what I said “Growing Lights” This necessitates the use of full-spectrum fluorescent or LED lights that are specifically designed for plant growth. Incandescent bulbs do not produce the quality of light required by air plants to photosynthesize.
Maintain a distance of 3 feet or less between the air plants and the light source. If artificial light is their primary source of illumination, keep it on for at least 12 hours every day to ensure adequate illumination. In that situation, a light timer might come in handy.
Where should I put my air plant?
All air plants are native to tropical areas where freezing and frost are unheard of. Is it necessary to keep them at temperatures that you are comfortable in without wearing a sweater? Temperatures are usually in the 60s and higher. Place them away from air conditioner vents and drafty winter windows.
Air plants need at least a few hours of bright, indirect sunlight per day to thrive. It’s best to put it within 1 to 3 feet of an east- or west-facing window, or within a foot or two of a light source. They may have hotter, more direct sun and longer exposure if you keep them well watered. Avoid places that are dimly lighted.
Can I soak my air plants overnight?
- Any plant requires light to survive, but air plants may get by with filter sunlight or even artificial light.
- Place your air plant 3-5 feet away from a window or near a source of artificial light.
- Even inside, too much sunshine is bad for an air plant. If you’re going to grow it outside, make sure it’s in a somewhat shaded spot. Only a few kinds can withstand full-day sun.
Watering
- The most important thing to know is that each air plant, like other plants, will require various quantities of water depending on the kind, size, and area in which it is cultivated. These are only guidelines, not hard and fast regulations.
- When growing air plants indoors, you should water them at least once a week. The frequency is determined by the humidity in their environment. An air plant kept near a heater will dry up much more quickly and require more frequent watering than one kept in a more humid environment.
- To water your air plant, submerge it face down in water for 10-20 minutes, either in a container or in your sink. Alternatively, you can repeatedly submerge plants in water. To avoid rotting or damage, gently shake off excess water after soaking.
- Water first thing in the morning so that moisture can evaporate throughout the day. After 4 hours, they should be dry enough to return to the container or display area.
- Misting your tillandsia can help in a pinch, but it is not suggested all of the time.
- If you want to fertilize your air plant, seek for a copper-free orchid or houseplant fertilizer (air plants are copper-sensitive). It’s easy to fertilize your plant too much, so don’t do it too often; diluting your fertilizer can help.
- You can immerse your air plant in water (in a bowl or sink) for several hours or overnight if it appears to be thirsty or struggling. This is typically effective in reviving your tillandsia.
- Rainwater or pond water are ideal for watering your tillandsia. Do not use distilled or artificially softened water to water your plants.
- Dehydrated air plants have closed and curled leaves, whereas healthy air plants have wide, open leaves.
- Submerging an air plant’s flower or blossom in water might cause it to decay.
Environment
- One of the greatest places to put your air plants is near a bathroom or kitchen window, where the steam and moisture will keep them happy.
- The way air plants grow and how much water they require can be affected by temperature. Air plants thrive in temperatures ranging from 10 to 32 degrees Celsius (50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit). Freezing temperatures are a no-no for tillandsia, as they are extremely sensitive to cold.
- Air plants, naturally, require clean air to thrive. They need enough air movement after watering to dry out within 4 hours.
- Although it is common to put tillandsia in pots or terrariums, and they do well in them, it is not suggested that they be completely enclosed in them. Your plant will be deprived of moisture and nutrients if there is no air movement.
- Avoid positioning your plants too close to heating and air conditioning vents, as they may dry up more quickly and require more watering.
Can you trim air plants?
We all love air plants because they’re low-maintenance, but like any other plant, you’ll want to trim or prune them from time to time to keep them looking their best. We get a lot of queries about how and when to trim these unusual plants, so we’ve compiled a list of suggestions to help you keep your air plants looking great and identify any problems.
As an air plant grows or acclimates to a new or changing environment, it is natural for it to lose some leaves while producing new ones. Some dead leaves are natural in any living plant, and they don’t necessarily indicate that yours has a problem. You might notice some wilted or dried-up leaves around the base of your air plant, which you can remove by gently pushing on them. When removing dead leaves, however, be cautious since a pup may be growing beneath one of them; in this instance, it’s best to keep the leaf on until the pup has grown to about 1/3 the size of the mother plant and can be securely removed.
At the base of this Tillandsia ionantha, a tiny pup develops beneath some leaves.
You may notice a small browning on the leaf tips of your airplant. This could be a sign of too much light or insufficient water. This is very widespread in the more affluent areas “ionatha and argentea are examples of “wispy” forms. These browning tips can be carefully trimmed away without hurting the plants. A good rule of thumb is to tilt the scissors and trim the air plant leaf at an angle rather than straight across for a more natural look. If the leaves of your air plants are browning or curling, it may be a sign that they require more water and/or less light, therefore we also recommend “Listening to your air plants and making adjustments to your care as needed. Depending on the amount of water given and the type of climate they are in, some xeric cultivars, such as xerographica and streptophylla, can naturally have curly leaves (read our post on mesic vs xeric air plants).
The leaves of the Tillandsia xerographica will naturally curl and cascade, depending on their moisture, surroundings, and how they are presented.
Air plants, like any live plants, are prone to have a broken or damaged leaf now and then.
These plants are still fully healthy, and the damaged leaves can be cut at an angle to give them a cleaner appearance.
When trimming or pruning your air plant’s leaves, be careful not to cut too much of the length of the healthy leaves. While the air plant is resistant and tolerant, cutting the leaves too short reduces the surface area available for the plant to absorb nutrients.
Tillandsia (air plants) are epiphytes, which means they get their nourishment from trichomes on their leaves and anchor themselves to a tree limb or rock with their roots. Because their roots aren’t employed for nutrient absorption, they don’t require them to survive. When used as houseplants, these roots can be trimmed for aesthetic reasons or used to assist anchor the plant on a wreath or frame. If you do decide to trim the roots, make sure you just cut into the roots and not the base of the air plant.
How often should I soak my air plant?
On our Facebook page, we get a lot of questions about how to water air plants, so I wanted to elaborate a little. While Tillandsia (also known as air plants) are easier to care for than many other plant varieties, they do require some upkeep and TLC, and water plays an important role in their overall health. Here are some of the most common questions we hear about watering air plants, along with our answers:
This is mostly determined by your climate and where you keep the air plants, as well as the Tillandsia species (learn more about mesic vs. xeric air plants here) and the type of environment in which it grows in nature. We reside in Tampa, FL, so it’s very humid here for the majority of the year, and we don’t run the heat in our house during the winter like our friends up North (I’m not trying to rub it in!). We water our plants twice a week on average, but those who live in drier climates will need to water more frequently. Depending on the time of year, you may discover that you need to water your plants less. It also depends on where you keep them in your home or office. A humid bathroom will keep the plants moist, but those near an air vent or heat source will need to be watered more frequently. (Please note that keeping your plants near heat sources is not recommended.)
Note that, while humidity can slow the drying process, it is not a sufficient watering method in and of itself!
Again, you’ll want to adjust your watering methods based on your climate and air plant species, but we recommend soaking your plants in water at least once a week for MOST air plants and environments. You can use anything that allows you to totally submerge the air plants, such as a bowl, bucket, or your sink. Soak them for 30-60 minutes at least once a week, and every other week if you live in a dry climate, give them a longer soak for an hour or more. If you live in a humid environment or have a xeric air plant, you may want to cut the soak time in half.
After bathing, make sure the air plants are completely dry. Turn them over and softly shake them, or lay them out to dry with the leaves down. Allowing water to sit in the leaves can cause the plants to rot. The plants should be placed in an area with good air circulation and should be able to dry completely in 4 hours. If your plants are housed in a globe or terrarium, make sure they are completely dry before bringing them back home!
You’ll notice how wide and open the leaves are after soaking them, and how much more “happy” they appear. This is how a properly hydrated air plant should seem! If the color turns slightly dull and the leaves begin to close/curl over time, this is an indication that your Tillandsia is thirsty, and you should give them another soak. If your air plant is in desperate need of water, soak it for several hours or overnight to see if you can rehydrate it. Before soaking or spraying them again, make sure they have a chance to dry thoroughly.
It’s also a good idea to spray the plants in between waterings. If you live in a dry area, this might be a terrific method to keep plants healthy and offer them some additional attention. Unless you have one of the few varieties of air plants that like low moisture, such as the T. tectorum (which we only propose misting) or the T. xerographica, misting is not a substitute for a proper soak (which we recommend dunking instead of soaking).
When it comes to water, air plants aren’t picky, and most tap water is fine, but it all depends on the water quality in your area. Because these waters are more nutrient-dense, the best water to use is rain water, aquarium water, or pond water (note: if using one of these waters, don’t add any additional fertilizer). If you’re using tap water, let it out for a few hours to allow the chlorine to disperse (maybe 24 hours in some areas.)
Do not use distilled water because it is too “clean” for these plants and will deprive them of the nutrients they require. Also, avoid using artificially softened water because it contains too much salt for Tillandsia.
We recommend soaking your air plants in the morning to ensure that they dry completely throughout the day, as well as because air plants utilize the evening to breathe carbon dioxide and will be unable to do so if they are wet in the evenings.
This is known as CAM, and you can learn more about it in our page on how air plants breathe. You can check on them before going to bed and put them back in their terrariums or displays if you expose them to some indirect sunlight.
These are the most frequently asked questions about watering air plants. Did we respond to your question? If you’re not sure, just ask! Are you looking for more information on how to care for air plants? Visit our Air Plant Care page for more information.
Why is my air plant dying?
Although there is no clear answer as to why any given air plant perished, here is a list of points to consider when considering the health and care of your tillandsias.
Over & Under Watering
An air pant can be killed by too much or too little water. It can be difficult to keep a plant hydrated at times. Soak your plant for 20-30 minutes, shake it off, then let it air dry for a few hours before repotting it. We’ve had the best luck making our weekly water baths a habit. The state of the leaves the day following a good soak is a decent rule of thumb. Curled or folded leaves should be avoided in favor of open, flat leaves. After each watering, aim for this look and adjust the frequency as needed so that your air plants look this way the majority of the time. Aeranthos Major is an excellent hydration indicator for air plants. Depending on the plant’s moisture, the leaves of this species coil and open drastically. In smaller species like Ionanthas, the distinction is more subtle.
When plants are not allowed to dry out completely for several days between water baths, they will die from over-watering. When the air plants are misted with water while inside a terrarium or enclosure, this happens frequently. The enclosure’s tightness traps moisture, which can cause rot at the plant’s base.
Exposure to Salts & Chemicals
Water softener salts may be good for our skin and hair, but they are bad for air plants. Have you ever had a house plant that developed a white crust on the top of the soil after a few waterings and allowing it to dry? These are salt deposits that are particularly detrimental to plants that live in the air. Because air plants don’t have soil to filter their salts, they wind up accumulating on the ends of their leaves. This will eventually suffocate the plant since the trichomes will be unable to absorb water and nutrients. Chlorine, which can be found in certain municipal water, is bad for plants and should be avoided if at all feasible.
Rain, well, pond, lake, or non-carbonated mineral water are the best options. Although free of harmful salts, most minerals are removed from store-bought bottled and filtered water. Although bottled water will not hurt the plant, if it is the only source of water, it will deprive it of essential nutrients.
Extreme Heat and Light
Plants will dehydrate more quickly if they are exposed to direct sunshine. Sitting near to a hot window or in a hot room has the same effect. Direct sunlight can occasionally cause plant leaves to burn. Air plants should not be kept in glass enclosures with direct sunshine since the enclosures can become very hot (like a miniature greenhouse) and the glass can function as a magnifying glass, concentrating the sunlight on the leaves and causing them to burn quickly. Most air plants like temperatures that you prefer, as a general rule. If you wouldn’t sit near your window for several hours at a time because it’s too hot, your air plant is likely to dislike it as well. The majority of tillandsias like temperatures between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Several species of air plants, however, are adapted to extreme temperatures in their natural habitat. Xerographica, Harisii, and Stricta are all xeric plants that grow in hotter lowland climates. These species can thrive in hotter temperatures and brighter environments as long as they have access to water. In general, the hotter the weather gets, the more watering is required.
Too Little Light
Air plants require many hours of indirect natural light or intense artificial lighting every day. Air plants that are kept in dim restrooms or dark inner halls will soon wilt and perish. Because the lights are on for several hours each day, office settings usually provide adequate lighting. If you have enough light for other typical houseplants like potho vines, spider plants, and philodendrons, then tillandsias should thrive.
Cold
Although many types of air plants thrive natively at high heights, frost or freezing temperatures are extremely unusual. Most air plants are sensitive to frost and temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Spanish moss and various forms of ball moss, which can be found naturally from Texas to Florida and up into coastal Virginia, are the principal exceptions to these guidelines. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) can survive nights in the teens and twenties Fahrenheit, as well as a few days a year when the temperature does not rise above freezing. This, on the other hand, would be a death sentence for most air plants, especially those that are commercially available.
We continue to give our 30-day guarantee for plants that arrive DOA due to the cold over the winter. We don’t utilize heat packs to ship the plants right now because they run out quickly and aren’t particularly effective near the conclusion of their life cycle, when they’re most needed. We’ve also discovered that they can actually burn the plants. When ordering plants in the winter, the best option is to have them delivered to wherever you are when mail is delivered (for example, your place of work or school) to limit their exposure to the cold.
If your air plants are exclusively outside during the summer, we recommend bringing them inside as the temperatures drop below 45 degrees. Indoors, any air plant will thrive. There are certain key winter care issues to evaluate during the winter months, especially at higher latitudes. Here’s a link to a different blog post about air plant winter care.
Fertilizer Burn
Higher fertilizer concentrations in the water and more frequent fertilizing may cause your air plants to burn. If you prefer to water by misting, you may want to include fertilizing in your routine as well. However, it is critical that you thoroughly mix and dilute the fertilizer before spraying the plants (at the same one-quarter teaspoon per gallon of water).
Moisture & Poor Air Circulation
Arid deserts and chilly, dry, and windy highlands are home to the majority of air plants. Some air plants, but not all, thrive in extreme humidity. After you’ve soaked your plants, make sure they dry quickly. When they’re drying, we prefer to place them in front of a ceiling fan. This will help to avoid wet bases, which are prone to root rot. We still recommend that you take your plants out of their enclosures for watering, even if you mist or spray them. Spanish moss should be hung in an open area with plenty of air. If placed flush against a wall or used as stuffing in a terrarium globe, it will eventually brown.
Their Natural Life Cycle
Nothing lasts forever, and air plants are no exception. Growth, blooming, and reproduction through pups and seedlings are all part of the life cycle of air plants. Although flowering is one of the high points in most air plants’ life, things do not always go worse after that. Smaller air plants, such as Ionanthas, have bloomed for us a number of times every year. The mother plant, on the other hand, will eventually devote the majority of her resources to producing little offsets. The offsets will be the same size as the mother by the time the mother plant has totally given up, and the cycle will resume. Some species appear to prefer producing pups before the mother plant has bloomed, therefore a pupping plant does not always imply that the mother plant’s bloom has been misted! When an air plant begins to produce offspring, you have two options: divide the young air plants or allow the air plants to organically clump together. For further information, see our blog on Dividing Air Plant Pups.
What is the lifespan of an air plant?
Air plants, often known as tillandsias, are perennial plants. This indicates they survive for an average of more than two years (source), with a lifespan ranging from two to five years. However, the length of time they live depends on the type of air plant as well as the growing conditions.
How do I know if my air plant is healthy?
Tip: Keep an eye on your plants’ leaves to see whether they’re thirsty. Curly leaves are drier, and a healthy white fuzz on your plant indicates that it is healthy, not that it is drying out. Under-watering is also indicated by brown leaf tips and a withered appearance. Take note of how your plant appears following a nice soakhow does it compare to how it seems now? Because each plant is unique, pay attention to what it is teaching you right now.