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
Can air plants survive in fluorescent lighting?
- 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.
How long can air plants survive in the dark?
The care of air plants is simple and they are highly hardy. We have observed them surviving for up to two weeks without light or water in a shipping box (Do not try that at home). You should open the package as soon as your new air plants are delivered. As with all plants, air plants require light, air, and water. We ship them using Priority Mail, which delivers packages in 2 to 3 days.
You should soak your air plants in room-temperature water for 20 to 60 minutes to reduce the stress of transportation. Simply place the plants totally submerged in a dish of clean water. Municipal water frequently contains chemicals like fluoride or chlorine. Your air plants will thrive if you have well water, pond water, creek water, or rain water. Spring water in bottles is another option. Use tap water instead of distilled water since it has more nutrients and minerals that air plants need. Since air plants do not require soil to survive, all of their nutrients, light, and moisture are obtained through their leaves.
Your air plants’ leaves may have a white, fuzzy coating, especially after a thorough soaking. Trichomes is the name for them. Trichomes, which are tiny protrusions on the leaves, are what the plants use to absorb water and nutrients. They are not a fungus or a mold.
After soaking, take your air plants out of the water, carefully shake off the excess water, and then spread the plants out so they may dry completely before being placed in a display. The best spot to let them dry and soak up some sunlight is on a lovely sunny window sill. Avoid placing your air plants in the sun’s direct rays. They prefer direct, bright sunlight. Allowing your air plants to dry completely is crucial if you intend to place them in a glass terrarium, a wall hanging display, or any other type of enclosure (or in a hole to stand them up). Your plants are less likely to rot if you let the air plants completely dry.
Within an hour or two, your air plants ought to be dry. After they have dried, place them where they will receive a lot of bright, indirect sunlight. They will quickly dry out if you place them in the sunshine. Your air plants often simply require a weekly 30-minute soak in water. In addition to the soak, you might need to spritz them with water once a week if they are in an extremely dry or heated area. If their leaves start to curl, that is a sign that they are becoming too dry. If you observe this happening, give them a nice bath. Despite their name, air plants require a little bit more than just air to survive.
Spraying them with water two or three times a week would enough if you are unable to let your air plants soak in a bowl of water while they are on display.