A purplish/black hue creeping up from the base of the plant into the foliage is the first sign of a decaying air plant. The air plant will begin to come apart as well; the foliage will begin to fall off, and the plant’s heart may fall out.
If any of these symptoms appear, the answer to the question “is my air plant rotting?” is a loud yes. What can you do about it, is the question. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do if your air plant is dying. On the plus side, if the air plant rot is limited to the outer leaves, you may be able to salvage the plant by removing the infected leaves and adhering to a strict watering and drying routine.
Why is my air plant rotting?
Rot usually begins as mushy purple or black areas around the plant’s base before spreading throughout. The leaves may begin to fall off quickly, or the plant’s center may fall off. An air plant that is rotting is usually an indication of too much water or humidity. Air plants thrive in arid conditions, and while they require frequent watering and enjoy air humidity levels of around 65 percent, they dislike being wet.
Depending on the species, you need only water your air plant once or twice a week. Soak your air plants in your sink for about half an hour, or until the water level is high enough to submerge them. Turn them over and let them dry for an hour or more to allow any contained moisture to drain. This is especially true of air plants in terrariums, as a lack of air circulation may trap moisture in the core, hastening the rot.
It’s also vital not to put air plants in other plants’ soil or on a pebble tray, as the frequent touch with a moist surface might induce rot.
In many circumstances, elder lower leaves of an air plant will turn dark and fall off naturally. The leaves of air plants that fall naturally will turn brown or yellow, but they will remain dry.
What happens when air plants turn brown?
It’s possible that your air plant is getting too much sun. While they prefer being in filtered sunlight, if they are exposed to direct sunlight all day, your plant may become sunburned and turn brown. Despite the fact that they are dubbed “air” plants, they nonetheless require weekly watering.
How do you save a dead air plant?
Why are my air plants dying so frequently? If your Tillandsia isn’t looking its best, especially if it’s shriveled or discolored, it’s likely that the plant is dehydrated. Although spritzing the plant is frequently recommended, it rarely provides enough moisture to keep it healthy and hydrated.
If this is the case, reviving a Tillandsia entails getting the plant back to a healthy, well-hydrated state. The best way to do this is to immerse the entire plant in lukewarm water in a bowl or bucket. To keep the plant from floating to the surface of the water, you may need to attach it to a hefty item.
Allow the bowl to soak for 12 hours in a warm location. Remove the plant from the bowl, place it on a layer of paper towels, and let it air dry before putting it back in its position.
If the plant remains dry and sickly, repeat the method, but just submerge the Tillandsia for around four hours this time. Shake the plant lightly upside-down to remove excess moisture from the leaves.
How do you revive an overwatered air plant?
It’s not a good idea to overwater air plants. It is the most common cause of death. So, if you notice that their bases are darkening and the leaves are falling out from the middle, or if they have mushy roots and yellowing leaves, you must act quickly to avoid any serious harm. Here’s how to save your dying air plant from being overwatered:
Should I cut brown tips off air plants?
Air plants should be trimmed, particularly the dead and brown leaves, to allow for the growth of new ones. Dried leaf tips, broken or ill leaves, and dead blossoms should all be removed. The plant will not be harmed if the roots are cut off. It’s also up to you to separate the air plant’s pups after they’ve reached adulthood.
Should I cut off brown leaf tips?
Is it necessary to remove dead leaves? Yes. Remove brown and dead leaves as quickly as possible from your houseplants, but only if they’re more than 50% damaged. By removing these leaves, the remaining healthy foliage receives more nutrition and the plant’s beauty improves.
How often should I soak my air plant?
On our Facebook page, we get a lot of queries on 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 kinds, 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 individuals who live in drier climes 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 house 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 might slow the drying process, it is not a suitable watering method in and of itself!
Again, you’ll want to adapt 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 settings. 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 area, 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 remain in the leaves can cause the plants to decay. The plants should be placed in an area with sufficient air circulation and should be able to dry entirely in 4 hours. If your plants are housed in a globe or terrarium, ensure sure they are thoroughly 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 good, but it all depends on the water quality in your location. 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.
Can air plants get root rot?
The care of air plants varies depending on the species, but for the most part, they have comparable needs. Keep in mind if your air plant is xeric (desert-dwelling) or mesic (tropical-dwelling), as this may alter how you care for it. Learn more about light, water, temperature preferences, toxicity, pests, issues, repotting, and multiplication by continuing reading.
What kind of light does an air plant require? It prefers bright, indirect light. They should be placed near a source of natural light that receives light for the most of the day. If the humidity in your area is higher, the plant can withstand more light without being overly dry. A xeric air plant, on the other hand, will be more tolerant to direct or bright sunlight.
Air plants can thrive in the absence of natural light. Your plants will need at least 12 hours of fluorescent light and should be no more than three feet from the lamp if you choose this option.
How to water air plants: The amount of water that air plants require is determined by their environment. Drier, hotter temperatures will necessitate more frequent watering, whereas humid, colder climes would necessitate less. Mesic air plants should be watered once a week, whereas xeric air plants should be watered every two weeks. The following are the basic irrigation guidelines:
Allow them to dry entirely by turning them upside down (root side up) on a towel in the sun (usually for one to three hours).
ProTip: If your air plant hasn’t dried completely after three hours, transfer it to a brighter area to ensure it does. If it is moist for more than three hours, it may develop root rot.
What temperature do air plants prefer? Air plants enjoy temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 32 degrees Celsius). Fortunately, they can thrive outside of that temperature range. They prefer humid air, which is why they thrive in sunny bathrooms where they can absorb the moisture from the shower. Some people mist their air plants a couple of times a week to simulate a humid environment.
Are air plants toxic to humans, cats, or dogs? Air plants are not toxic to humans, cats, or dogs, so don’t worry if your pets eat them. However, the plants may be damaged, so clip any nibbled or broken leaves and continue to care for them as usual.
Scale insects and mealybugs are two of the most common pests that can harm air plants. Scale insects feed on the plant by attaching themselves to the underside of leaves. These pests appear on the foliage as small scale-like pimples. Mealybugs are little white insects that feed on the plant. Check for a pest infestation if your plant’s leaves become yellow or fall off.
The most crucial thing to do if you suspect your plant has an infestation is to quarantine it. This will prevent the infestation from spreading to your healthy plants. Consult a gardening professional to determine the best treatment for your unique plant type and infestation situation.
Root rot is the most common disease that affects air plants. This is caused by overwatering or soaking the plant in water for an extended period of time. Root rot is characterized by brown or blackened roots that are soft to the touch. Make sure your plant isn’t overwatered to avoid root rot. Plant care tracking sheets make it easier to keep track of the watering routine.
How to propagate an air plant: Using the plant’s pups is the best approach to propagate an air plant. The pups, which can be seen at the plant’s base, are miniature duplicates of the parent plant. All you have to do is separate the pup from the parent with a sharp tool, taking care not to injure the pup in the process. If you treat the pup like any other air plant, it will grow into a full-grown air plant.
“Repotting” air plants: Because they are not rooted in soil, air plants are the easiest plants to transport. When it comes to “Just be careful not to bend or break your air plant’s leaves or roots when repotting it. Otherwise, simply relocate your air plant to its new location and continue to care for it as usual.
How do you dry air plants after soaking?
After watering your air plants, the next most crucial step is to properly dry them. It’s critical to dry your air plants fully by placing them on their side or upside down on a dish towel. For larger species like Xerographica, Streptophylla, and Sparkler, this is especially crucial. Within 2 hours of their bath, they should be completely dry to the touch. Air plants should not be returned to terrariums or vases until they are entirely dry. If you water your plants and then immediately put them in an enclosure, your plant may get rot. You will have happy and healthy air plants if you follow these simple watering instructions.