It is preferable to soak your air plants in a bowl of water for 20 to an hour once per week to 10 days. Totally submerge the plant. Even though they are constantly wet in nature, if your plant is in bloom, you might want to keep the bud above the water to avoid disturbing it.
Is it possible to over-soak an air plant?
Most air plants with plenty of trichomes (xeric plants) should be often misted or soaked, whereas mesic plants, which have bright green leaves and less trichomes, prefer to be drenched only once a week. In our blog post Mesic Vs Xeric Air Plants, we go into further detail regarding the differences between Xeric and Mesic plants. However, there is one exception to this rule: air plants with bulbous bases, even those with bright green, smooth leaves, should frequently not be wet for extended periods of time as well. Because of water buildup in their bulbous bases, plants are susceptible to internal rot.
Instead of being wet, Xerographica air plants should be sprayed or submerged. These plants, which are xeric in nature, are indigenous to arid areas. These plants can survive more sun and less water. A xerographica should be submerged in a basin or pail of water, then gently shaken to let the water drip off the leaves. To prevent water from getting stuck in the leaves, let the item dry upside-down.
The Tillandsia tectorum is an air plant that you shouldn’t wet because it has a lot of fuzzy leaves. The tectorum’s large trichomes on its leaves aid in absorbing moisture from the surrounding atmosphere. These plants have evolved to survive without much precipitation and are naturally found in arid areas of Ecuador and Peru. Depending on how hot and dry it is where you live, we advise spraying these guys every other week or so. They also favor open air and strong light.
The distinctive feature of bulbous air plants is that they have what are known as “pseudobulbs.” In the natural, ant colonies construct their nests inside of these hollow onion-shaped bulbs, which are essentially hollow themselves. When watering these plants, especially when soaking them, exercise caution. These so-called pseudobulbs are susceptible to water intrusion, which can cause the plant to rot from the inside out. You can either submerge them in water and shake off the extra afterward, or you can hold them under running water while avoiding their bases. The T. caput medusae, T. bulbosa, T. pruinosa, T. pseudobaileyi, T. butzii, and T. seleriana plants are included in this group.
Another reason not to soak T. pruinosa and T. seleriana is that they both have a lot of trichomes. They could decay from soaking because of too much water.
You shouldn’t immerse air plants with delicate leaves like T. fuchsii v gracilis and T. andreana. These plants benefit more from light misting or rapid dunks. You may need to spritz these plants as frequently as every couple of days to make sure they are receiving enough water because of their thin, wispy leaves, which can cause them to dry out more quickly between waterings.
The Tillandsia magnusiana should be misted or dipped rather than soaked because it has a lot of trichomes. These plants’ form and trichome content can make them more prone to decay.
When watering air plants that are in bloom, exercise caution to avoid getting the blossom itself wet. While it would be acceptable to soak the plant’s bottom leaves, we frequently advise pouring water over them or immersing them to avoid wetting the blossom. A bloom that has been moist for a long time may develop rot, which may eventually spread to the leaves and kill the plant.
Can you soak air plants overnight?
Yes. Your plant is clearly showing indications of dehydration. Your plant is dehydrated if the leaves seem lighter in color or feel softer. You can give your air plant a water soak overnight if it appears to be parched or dehydrated to bring it back to life.
Can you water air plants with tap water?
Tap water is suitable for air plants, but be sure the tap water in your location is of a high standard. The majority of the time, tap water lacks crucial minerals and contains contaminants.
Use water from a well, pond, spring, or lake wherever possible. However, rainfall would be the ideal type to employ.
How do you water glued air plants?
Hold the plant under a gentle stream of water or submerge it in water for several minutes while keeping the surface of the air plant mounting dry. After watering, turn the plant upside down until all the water that was trapped in it has been released, and then set it on its side to dry.
Why soak air plants, exactly?
Because tillandsia grow in the air without soil, they are more commonly referred to as “air plants.” The belief that Tillandsia are air-only organisms is one of the most widespread misconceptions about them. However, what it really means is that they must consistently absorb moisture through their leaves. This is either the result of frequent soaking or extremely high humidity (like in a greenhouse).
They have incredibly cool-looking spiky tendrils, and since they don’t require soil to survive, there are countless inventive ways to show them, such as by placing them inside seashells or terrariums. They can also be used to create jewelry! The most frequent issues individuals have with air plants are brought on by improper watering; otherwise, they are hardy and simple to care for.
Since we often keep Tillandsia inside, where the air is significantly less humid than it is in the wild, we must soak them in water to rehydrate them. However, it must be carried out correctly or the air plant may decay.
How to Take Care of Air Plants
You’ve come to the right site if you want to learn how to care for air plants. Let’s start by quickly going over what air plants are and aren’t.
- Tillandsia is the genus of plants that includes air plants, and in their natural habitat, they coexist together with other plants and trees. This indicates that while they may eat other plants to survive, they do not do so exclusively. None of them are parasitic.
- They don’t need soil because air plants can survive on other plants and trees. They obtain all of their nutrients from the nearby water and air.
- You must give Tillandsia the same care that they would receive in nature if you want to retain them as indoor house plants. nutrition, water, light, and air.
- Aside from that, air plants can be positioned just about anyplace. They can be wired or fastened to surfaces without hurting them, utilized as live decor, or even used in plant crafts. (So long as watering them is still possible.)
Do Air Plants Need Sun?
Bright, filtered light is preferred by air plants. Assuming that since air plants don’t require soil, they also don’t require light is the quickest method to destroy one. Although you shouldn’t place them in the light directly, a bright window is ideal. We have successfully grown air plants up to 10 feet away from a light source, but if you want your air plants to thrive, I would not advise going any farther. Remember to keep your air plants away from direct sunlight if you display them in glass globes, which is a common practice. Make sure not to turn your air plant pets’ habitat into a little oven because glass concentrates heat and sunlight.
Soaking Air Plants
The soaking method of watering air plants is the most effective. It’s fairly easy… Take a sizable bowl—or even a stopped-up sink—and fill it with fresh water. The air plants should soak for an hour in the water. To make sure they get a nice soak on all surfaces and the tips of the leaves, I flip mine over halfway through. Some of the air plants actually show signs of swelling while absorbing water. When properly watered, the curly variety will actually relax their curl. I give the water a weak dose of liquid plant fertilizer once a month. The ideal strength is half.
Misting Air Plants
Misting air plants a few times a week is another way to water them. If your Tillandsia is a mounted display that is difficult to separate for soaking, this may be your only choice. Simply put, some people favor this approach. In dry weather or when your home is utilizing air conditioning or heating, misting air plants should be done more frequently. Conclusion: For typical conditions, 2-3 times each week; for a dry or hot household, 4-5 times per week. In addition to soaking air plants, we utilize misting. When we don’t have time for a thorough bath, we spray instead, and at least once every two weeks, we give them a good, long drink.
How Often to Water Air Plants
Make sure your air plants receive a really nice soak at least once a month if you’re misting and soaking together. a minimum.
More drought-resistant air plants than those with green or smooth leaves are those with gray or fuzzy leaves. They won’t need as much watering as a result.
Depending on how warm or dry your air is, you may need to water your air plants more frequently. It’s time for a good watering if you notice any leaf shriveling. It’s best to err on the side of underwatering, as with most houseplants, rather than overwatering.
Avoiding Air Plant Diseases
Rot is the only pathogen that poses a serious threat to air plants. And with proper air plant care, it may be completely avoided 99 percent of the time. Always place your air plants upside down on a towel to dry for at least an hour after you’ve finished bathing them. This stops water from accumulating in the plant’s crown, which is the primary cause of rot.
Bulbous air plants are particularly prone to it. Before I set it out to dry, I flip my upside down over the sink and shake off any extra water.
Where to Buy Air Plants
We already know you can’t get enough of these low-maintenance houseplants, so you need to know where to look. Here are our top picks for buying air plants:
Our sole source for air plants today is Etsy vendor “Spyloh.” The plants are always of the highest caliber and at a reasonable cost. She sells a huge variety, and she even has some uncommon sorts for when you start to become fully addicted! (And you’ll do it.) We adore the care cards she includes with every order for air plants. Most essential, she knows how to pack them well, especially for delivery during the cold. Pay attention to her recommendation to include warming packs with your order during the winter to avoid any issues during delivery. Fortunately, air plants are quite resilient and travel well throughout the year. She also offers some adorable containers for displaying air plants. We have four. Don’t trust us? Check out her tens of thousands of 5-star ratings now.
Local nurseries and garden stores may have air plants. To find out if they have them, simply give them a call.
At this time, we solely endorse “Plants for Pets” as an Amazon vendor. In our opinion, the plants’ quality isn’t as good as “Spyloh.” However, they offer some excellent discounts on variety packs. Excellent as gifts or favors for weddings. However, if you’re shopping for yourself and quality is a concern, you already know. ‘Spyloh’.
You now understand how to care for air plants, including how to water them and where to get them. Do you wish to learn how to display them? Go to our posts at OhMeOhMy to see our DIY Branch Chandelier Air Plant Display, What are Air Plants (With Display Ideas), and DIY Air Plant Terrarium!
There may be affiliate links in this article. For additional information, please see our disclosure.
What kind of water are air plants soaked in?
Although air plants are typically fairly easy to maintain, watering is often the deciding factor. But don’t worry! To make things simple and easy, we offer some tips and tricks.
Air plants acquire their nutrients from rainwater, bird droppings, and dead insects in their natural habitat. The greatest choice would be if you have access to a pond, creek, lake, or well, or if you can collect rainfall.
Neither filtered water nor tap water should be used. Municipal tap water typically contains more chemicals than minerals. Many of the natural minerals and nutrients that are advantageous to air plants have been removed from filtered water.
Depending on the weather and time of year, it is ideal to bathe your air plants for 20 minutes to an hour once per week to 10 days. Because cold or hot water will shock the air plants, the water should be lukewarm. If you choose to mist your air plants only, be sure to do it once daily, or as frequently as necessary. When misting your plants, be sure to water all of the leaves just enough to prevent them from dripping, but not too much.
It is crucial to allow your air plants to completely dry after soaking or misting them, especially before putting them back into a terrarium or other container. Place your air plants in some indirect sunshine to make sure they dry. Like drying a cup, you can place them upside-down on top of a towel and allow the water trickle down the leaves. As air plants are highly prone to rotting if they are left wet for too long, give them a few hours to completely dry.
What month is it in the year? Are you frequently using your heater? Do you reside in a humid or arid environment?
You may more accurately assess how much water your air plants need by taking into account all of these elements. Your plant will require more regular watering if you reside in a dry region than if you do in a humid one.
The time of year might also affect when to water. You will need to water more in the summer because the air is hotter and dryer. Your air plants may require a little less water in the winter because the weather will be cooler and more humid. However, if you have a heater on or are using a fireplace, this will also slightly dry the air.