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.
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.
How long should air plants be soaked for?
Tillandsias, often known as air plants, are a common and simple to grow plant. They’ve become incredibly popular and are frequently utilized in homes and workplaces. They naturally grow on another host, tree, or item and are considered an epiphyte, along with orchids and bromeliads, without taking nutrition from its host. They need water, light, and nutrients but no soil to flourish. Through microscopic capillaries on their leaves known as trichomes, air plants can absorb moisture and nutrients from the atmosphere. What a cool thing!
Despite being incredibly easy to maintain, air plants nevertheless require some care in order to flourish. Tillandsias can live for several years with proper care and give birth to “pups” (baby air plants) for added enjoyment. We’ve provided highly detailed care advice that is supposed to be helpful. We merely want to arm you with the knowledge you need to take excellent care of your tillandsias. Keep in mind that air plants are quite simple to maintain.
Light
- Any plant needs light to survive, but fortunately, air plants may survive with filter sunlight or even artificial light.
- Place your air plant between three and five feet from a window or close to a source of artificial light.
- An air plant should not receive too much sunshine, even inside. Choose a spot that is only somewhat shaded if you are growing outside. Few plants can withstand full-day sun.
Watering
- The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that each air plant will need a different amount of water depending on its variety, size, and environment of growth. These are recommendations, not unalterable laws.
- Watering air plants at least once a week is beneficial when growing them inside. The location’s humidity affects frequency. In comparison to a plant grown in a more humid environment, an air plant grown close to a heater will dry up considerably more quickly and require more frequent watering.
- Place your air plant face down in water, in a container or in your sink, and let it soak there for 10 to 20 minutes to hydrate it. Alternately, you might repeatedly submerge plants in water. To avoid rotting or damage, gently shake off extra water after soaking.
- Water should ideally be applied early in the day so that moisture can evaporate. After four hours, they should be dry enough to be put back in a container or on display.
- While spraying your tillandsia sometimes can be helpful, it is not always advised.
- Use a houseplant or orchid fertilizer with a low copper content if you want to feed your air plant because they are extremely sensitive to copper. Don’t fertilize your plant too frequently because it’s quite easy to overfeed it; diluting your fertilizer can help.
- You can soak your air plants in water (in a bowl or sink) for several hours or overnight if they ever appear “thirsty” or like they are having trouble. This frequently aids in reviving your tillandsia.
- Rainwater or pond water work best for watering tillandsia. Never use distilled or artificially softened water to water your plants.
- Dehydrated plants’ leaves are closed and coiled, while healthy air plants have wide, open leaves.
- An air plant’s flower or blossom should never be submerged because doing so can cause rotting.
Environment
- Your air plants will thrive in a bathroom or kitchen window, where the steam and moisture will make them extremely content.
- The growth and water requirements of air plants can be impacted by temperature. Between 10 and 32 degrees Celsius, air plants thrive (50F-90F). Since tillandsia are extremely sensitive to cold, freezing temperatures are one thing they do not enjoy.
- It makes sense that air plants need clean, healthy air to grow. They require considerable air movement after watering so that they can dry out in 4 hours.
- Although it is fairly common to place tillandsia in containers or terrariums and they have thrived there, it is not advised that they be completely enclosed in them. No air circulation means your plant won’t have any moisture or nutrients.
- Keep your plants away from heater and air conditioner vents so they don’t dry out too quickly and require additional watering.
Other Tips
- Do not ever submerge an air plant in soil. They don’t need soil because it will just make them decay.
- In addition to gaining new leaves, your air plant will also shed some. You can use scissors to clip off any brown or dead leaves for aesthetic purposes. Cut at a sharp angle so that the leaves still have a natural appearance to “conceal” this trimming.
- Although they are not necessary and just serve to anchor the plant to a host, roots may already be present or continue to grow. Depending on your preference, you can either leave the roots on or chop them off.
- You can use E3000 super glue (other glues can come loose over time/when wet or harm your plant) or string to secure your air plant in place on decorative “hosts.” With your air plant, stay away from pressure-treated wood and copper.
- As air plants develop, they can produce both blooms and pups, which are their young. Pups can either be removed when they are 1/3 the size of the mother plant or left on the mother plant to form a “clump” that hangs in a longer string.
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.
Mist
Spraying air plants with water from a bottle on occasion is beneficial. Your air plants will enjoy a cool mist, especially if you live in a dry environment. Remember that you shouldn’t use this technique to water your air plants exclusively. The trichomes won’t be able to get all the water they require from misting on their own.
Although most air plants require more watering than misting, Tillandsia tectorum is an unique exception. This air plant is native to the Andes mountains, where the hard environment has allowed the plants to evolve in a special way. Due to an abundance of trichomes that protect them from the sun’s rays, they appear fuzzy. The trichomes also maximize the little moisture that is present.
This indicates that misting—rather than soaking or dunking—is the optimum method of hydrating these air plants, which also benefit from direct sunlight.
Your climate will determine how often you need to water T. tectorum. If your area is humid, spraying the plant thoroughly once every three weeks will do. You must sprinkle your T. tectorum once a week in dry regions.
Depending on your climate, thoroughly mist a T. tectorum once a week to once every three weeks. Never submerge a T. tectorum or wet it.
Dunk
Giving your air plants a brief dunk will keep them going for the day until you have time to give them a full drink if you are in a rush and are aware that they are thirsty. You can swiftly immerse an air plant in water once or multiple times by doing so. Alternately, place the plant under the sink’s faucet.
Air plants should be promptly and entirely submerged in water before being dunked. Quick dip time for this T. tricolor v melanocrater.
Soak
Nothing works better than a thorough soaking to truly hydrate an air plant. This can be done by placing the entire plant in a dish that has been filled with tepid water. You might use a sink or even a tub if you have a lot of air plants.
Allow your air plants to soak in a water bath for about an hour once a week. Make sure to modify this timetable to reflect your local climate. Your plants might just require 20 minutes if the humidity where you reside is extremely high. It can be necessary to soak for up to 4 hours in dry conditions.
Watering Air Plant Arrangements
It can be a little challenging to remove an air plant that has been affixed to a display, but it is definitely achievable. Use your faucet instead of soaking the entire arrangement in a bowl of water.
Hold the air plant under a gentle stream of lukewarm water, keeping the wood or other surface it is bonded to out of the water. Allow the water to soak the plant for a while.
Hold the air plant under the faucet for a few minutes while using lukewarm water to keep the driftwood dry. A T. abdita is shown above attached to driftwood.
Hold the display after watering to ensure that any extra water runs off and does not collect inside the plant.
If the air plants can be easily removed and are not permanently attached to the display. Remove them from the arrangement and hydrate them by soaking the plant in a bowl of water, just like you would any other air plant.
Drying
Allowing your air plants to dry up completely can maintain their long-term health and longevity. After watering your plants, allow them to rest for around 4 hours on their side with plenty of airflow. With this drying technique, water won’t build up inside the plant and cause it to decay. Return the plants to their display once 4 hours have passed. You cannot exaggerate how crucial it is to let your plants drain and dry off.
Place air plants on their sides or upside-down so that any excess water may drain away from the plant. This will help the plant to dry. For this, you could make use of a dish drying rack, a colander, or a towel.
Vacation
Taking a trip? No issue. Without you, your air plants will remain alive. Soak your air plants for 12 hours right before you leave. Soak them once more for 12 hours when you get home. This strategy works well for a two-week trip. If it takes longer, you’ll need to enlist the aid of a friend or neighbor.
Soak and Dry
You now know how to water your air plants correctly. Your air plants won’t decay from too much moisture accumulation or crumble in your palm from dehydration. You can do this. Rinse and dry. I’m done now!