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.
How frequently do I need to water my air plant?
For the best care, your plants should be watered 2-3 times each week in addition to once every week. Every 2-3 weeks, a 2-hour bath should be taken. You will need to water or mist your plants more frequently if you live in a hotter, drier region. Your plant’s leaves will start to feel heavier and more wet after watering, and they will be softer and lighter in color when they require more water. Dehydration may be indicated by leaves that are wrinkled or rolled.
How much time should be spent soaking an air plant?
A magnificent and distinctive addition to any collection of indoor plants are air plants! Air plants can be mounted, hanged, perched, or otherwise creatively displayed for a fascinating visual twist because they don’t need to be potted in soil. For those who are unfamiliar with air plant care, it can be confusing and even frustrating. They differ greatly from the majority of typical houseplants, after all. I’ll admit that over the years, we’ve also killed a few. However, if you have a better understanding of how to care for air plants, you might find that they are less demanding to keep alive than some of your other leafy companions.
Learn how to care for air plants, including advice on watering, lighting, ventilation, and fertilizing, by reading on. One significant (perhaps obvious) hint: Despite their name, they require more than just oxygen to survive. Let’s discuss some typical air plant care errors, factors to take into account for mounted or terrarium air plants, and the end objective: how to not kill your air plants. With these care suggestions for air plants, you may perhaps make your new friends’ lives the best they can be.
What Are Air Plants?
The genus Tillandsias, sometimes referred to as air plants, contains more than 600 different species of epiphytes (plants that don’t require soil to develop). They truly belong to the Bromeliad family, which also includes Spanish moss and orchids, both of which live without soil.
There is no functioning root system in air plants. These perennial, evergreen plants thrive by absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air around them. The one and only function of the tiny, hair-like roots that they do occasionally produce is to cling to a host plant or building. They do not hurt or consume energy from the host, hence they are not parasitic.
Tillandsias are indigenous to Central and South America, Mexico, the southern United States, and the mountains, deserts, and woods of those regions. They simply flourish when they are attached to trees, rocks, or crevices between branches in their natural habitat! Even though Tillandsias can be grown outdoors in extremely warm areas (or in a sheltered greenhouse), most people prefer to maintain them as houseplants.
The proper amount of light, water, and air movement are the three most crucial components of air plant maintenance. Air plants may thrive in almost any home if you can get these three elements just right (which will vary slightly depending on your environment). Although air plants can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, they cannot tolerate cold temperatures. Although they may survive in temperatures as low as 45 degrees, air plants prefer a temperature range of 55 to 90 degrees.
How much light do air plants need?
Bright indirect light is preferred by air plants. In other words, unless the windowsill receives filtered light or perhaps only soft morning sun, avoid keeping them directly in the windowsill. It’s common for air plants to become a little “fried in the sun, particularly if the light is reflected through glass or a terrarium. On the other side, low light will not make them happy. We keep air plants in the rooms with the most natural light in our home.
The short answer is that grow lights can be used to either augment or replace other sources of light for air plants. But take note of what I said: “grow lamps They must therefore be full-spectrum fluorescent or LED lights that are designed specifically for plant growth. The type of light that air plants require to photosynthesize is not produced by ordinary incandescent bulbs.
Keep the air plants no more than three feet away from the source of light. Plan to keep artificial light on for roughly 12 hours each day if that is the only source of light they use. In that situation, using a light timer might be beneficial.
You may water your air plant in one of two ways: by misting it or by soaking it. In a moment, we’ll discuss how much and how frequently. Your air plants will be most healthy if you provide them with non-chlorinated water, regardless of the watering technique you choose. Use pond or collected rainwater as an example, or at the very least pass tap water through a simple charcoal filter to get the chlorine out of it.
Misting Air Plants
Some people contend that misting won’t be enough to keep an air plant satisfied. I must disagree! For instance, I can’t totally submerge or otherwise soak some of our air plants because they are mounted on wreaths, boards, or cork, but they are still doing great! Instead, I spray them with a spray bottle until it starts to leak heavily. Spray from all directions, covering as much of the plant’s surface area as you can.
But remember that even if our environment isn’t very “humid,” it most certainly isn’t dry. Instead, air plants that thrive in more arid environments will benefit from longer soak times. Misting can also be used in conjunction with soaking, such as to give your air plants a small midweek drink during the warmer months in between weekend soaking treatments.
Simply fill a bowl, bucket, or other container with dechlorinated water to soak air plants. Only a few minutes should be given for the air plant to soak in the water. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes. Since air plants are prone to rotting if left in standing water for too long, it is actually simpler to harm them by overwatering than by under-watering. Frequently, I am in a rush and don’t have a large enough container to fit all of our air plants in to soak at once, so I just immerse each one for around 30 seconds instead of letting them soak for a longer period of time.
The body of some air plants is more densely bulbous than that of others. Since water is easily trapped inside the thick section, I’ve discovered that these ones are more prone to rotting than more open-structure or frilly air plants. So I typically don’t bathe the bulbous-body ones completely. Instead, I rapidly dip them in water or heavily spray them.
Air Drying Air Plants After Watering
Pay attention to this. Because it’s the most common mistake people make when taking care of air plants. Do not immediately place your air plant back in its container after watering it. As I have explained, air plants that have a “soggy bottom” can quickly rot and perish. So, after giving your air plants a quick shake and setting them upside-down (bottoms up!) on a towel or drying rack, whether you spritz or soak them, is advised. As a result, any extra water can drain from their body and crevices.
After being watered, air plants should be completely dry in 4 to 5 hours. If the air plants are left out to dry in a warm area with good air circulation, this will typically happen naturally. However, if you discover that your air plants are not drying quickly enough, a nearby fan can help hasten the process. Conversely, don’t dry them too quickly! Don’t necessarily direct the fan at the plants; instead, use it to improve airflow in the space. For a few hours, they should be damp in order to absorb the necessary moisture.
Depending on your environment, your regimen for watering air plants may change a little. As a general guideline, water air plants once a week on average—sometimes more, occasionally less. Water the air plant at least once every week if the air in your home is warm and dry. Watering twice weekly may be essential in extremely hot and dry weather (or in extremely arid regions). However, if you reside in a humid environment, you may probably get away with watering only every other week.
We water our air plants every two weeks eighty percent of the time due to our cool summers and coastal influences, changing to more regularly during sporadic hot weather or exceptionally dry conditions. Also consider alterations to the air or climate within your house brought on by factors other than the weather. A forced air heating system could be more drying in the winter, for instance. On our fireplace mantle, we have some air plants. We water those few more frequently in the winter than in the summer since they dry out more rapidly while the fireplace is on.
How can you determine whether you’re giving enough water or perhaps too much? Although it may be challenging to distinguish, there are differences between the symptoms of underwatering and overwatering air plants.
The body of the air plant will become squishy, rotting, and most likely discolored when it is overwatered. From the center, the leaves will start to fall. This might be brought on by overwatering, but it’s more likely the result of the air plant’s inability to completely dry up after watering.
An air plant submerged in water will grow more crispy and brittle. The leaves could develop dark, dried tips and further curl.
How to Water an Air Plant
The most challenging aspect of caring for air plants is watering them. Some individuals use misting religiously, others immerse their air plants, while yet others utilize a mix of misting and soaking.
In our experience, watering air plants is challenging because the plant’s requirements differ significantly depending on the environment. Additionally, some species need particular care. Assessing your environment is the first step in watering your air plant. How much light is reaching your plant? What’s the temperature like inside your house right now? Is there a lot of dry air there (is your plant close to a heater or fireplace)? Is it also really humid?
Following your responses, you can modify the air plant watering schedule to meet your specific requirements. Here is what we suggest as a place to start:
- Every one to two weeks, give your air plant a 5- to 10-minute soak in room-temperature tap water (or, if you can get it, rainwater or pond water).
- Once your plant has soaked, gently shake off any extra water. It should be placed on a towel upside down in a well-lit area. This is very crucial. If extra water is allowed to stand, air plants will quickly decay.
- The plant should be able to dry completely in 3 hours once the soaking process is finished. More time than this could cause your plant to decay. Try putting it somewhere brighter with better airflow to encourage quicker drying.
- Mist your plant well once a week (instead of watering it). Make sure the entire surface is saturated (but not so much that there is water dripping down into the plant).
- You need to water more when the air is hotter and dryer (summer, early fall). Your air plant will require less water during the cooler and more humid seasons (winter and spring). Just be mindful of your plant because heaters and fires dry out the air.
- Water everything in the morning. Evening sopping or sprinkling interferes with the plants’ ability to breathe at night and prolongs the drying process.
Is My Air Plant Getting Enough Water?
The tops of your air plant’s leaves may turn brown or crispy if you’ve been neglecting to water it. When an air plant is under-watered, its leaves’ inherent concavity tends to become more pronounced.
Unfortunately, it’s frequently too late to save an overwatered air plant. Your plant has certainly succumbed to rot if the base of the plant turns dark or black and leaves are falling out or off from the center.
Regarding temperature, air plants are fairly tolerant. They thrive between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature difference between daytime and nighttime is roughly 10 degrees.
To maintain your air plant healthy, include orchid or specific air plant fertilizer in your watering routine once or twice a month. Simply sprinkle some in your water, then carry on as usual. Your air plant will blossom and propagate if you fertilize it (or pup — more on this later)
An air plant can you overwater it?
More air plants perish from overwatering than from underwatering. The telltale indicator is when the bottom of your air plant appears brown and slimy. Instead of submerging or soaking your air plants, try misting them with a spray bottle. In between waterings, make sure your air plant has completely dried out. Only mist your air plants 1-3 times each week. Less can be more. It’s crucial to dry your air plant within four hours because they can become overwatered if they don’t. Get a fan for your air plant if it doesn’t dry after four hours of watering, and water it less the following time.
2. Insufficient air causes air plants to lack nutrients. It results in “dry rot.” There won’t be enough food if there isn’t enough air movement around air plants. Keep in mind that air plants consume nourishment. Terrariums and small, quiet locations like toilets shouldn’t be used to house air plants because there isn’t enough airflow in these areas. Instead, pick a place with lots of natural light and fresh air, such as close to an open window, in a large room with other rooms adjacent to it, in a courtyard or on a veranda. Lack of air flow can also lead to overwatering because it delays the air plants’ ability to fully dry up. The problem with air plant holders is dry rot. Your air plant may develop dry rot on the area of the plant that has poor air flow from the planter if the base is placed in a planter, such as a pot, hanger, or pouch, that has no ventilation. Before you notice the rot, it will have spread and your air plant will be dead.
3. Lack of Light – To produce their own nourishment, air plants require light. If your air plants are indoors, make sure they are one meter or less from a window. They’ll definitely perish from lack of sunshine if you put them in a dark hallway.
4. Too much direct sunlight will burn your plant or severely dry the foliage. Generally speaking, 45 minutes of moderate early morning or late afternoon direct sunshine is acceptable. However, it is advised to use filtered sunlight or total shade.
5. Frost – Because they are sensitive to the cold, air plants. They dislike temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius. If you live in a chilly climate, you might want to think about bringing your air plants inside during the winter.
6. Humidity – some types of air plants like it when the humidity is high. If the leaves of your air plant are too curled, the air may be too dry for the plant. Spraying or soaking air plants in water just isn’t enough moisture if the air is too dry. Consider soaking your air plant for 30 minutes each week in addition to your regular spraying if you believe it died from low humidity. or daily spray your plant. Additionally, you can put the air plant on a piece of driftwood or any object that can hold moisture. Another choice is to make a bed using a mixture of 50% perlite and 50% orchid potting mix. Spray the mixture every time you spray your plants. Your air plants might even drop roots into the mixture since they are so content.
7. Rust – Your air plant will develop dead areas as a result. Keep your plant away from anything that is rusty. Regular wire might rust in the future. For mounting air plants, use plastic-coated or galvanized wire.
8. Copper wire is well recognized for killing air plants. Copper is poisonous to air plants, particularly when it is regularly moist.
9. It’s typical for the mother air plant to pass away. Air plants develop, blossom, give birth to pups, and then go extinct. If your air plant has already bloomed and produced pups, it’s entirely possible that she is about to die. Don’t get rid of her just yet. Before she leaves, she might surprise you by bearing even another pup.
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