All air plants are native to tropical regions where freezing temperatures never occur. It’s crucial to keep them at a reasonable temperature without a sweater, right? typically from the 1960s or earlier. Keep them away from windows that are cold in the winter and air conditioner vents.
At least a few hours of bright, indirect sun each day are necessary for air plants to thrive. 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 be exposed to hotter, more direct sun for longer periods of time if you maintain them well-hydrated. Avoid areas that are poorly lit.
How may air plants be displayed outside?
When your air plants arrive at your door, you might question if you can put them on display outside. The answer is yes! The majority of air plants flourish in the abundant light and healthy airflow that they receive outside, which is where we love to display our air plants.
A covered patio, a deck, on a table outside (if not in direct sunlight), or in the crooks of tree branches are some suitable outdoor display locations for air plants.
There are a few important considerations you must make if you choose to grow and show your air plants outside:
Where will your air plants be on display and what are the local temperatures?
Plan your activities based on what the temperature might be during the hottest or coldest period of the day. The best results have been obtained when air plants are placed in locations with good indirect sunshine and some afternoon shade. Despite the fact that these are tropical plants, leaf burn or rotting may appear on your air plants if the heat becomes too intense. So be on the lookout!
The xeric species T. xerographica, which enjoys plenty of sunshine, fits in perfectly with these succulents in our outdoor bed.
While some, like the xeric species of air plants, can endure more direct sunshine, most air plants prefer bright indirect light. (Our article Mesic Vs. Xeric Air Plants has further information on xeric species of air plants.) Make sure your plants are in a location where they will receive at least 4 hours of decent indirect light, but not too much direct light, to prevent the sun from burning their leaves.
How to Care for Air Plants
Before spending the time and money to create this fantastic terrarium, you might want to get a quick lesson on how to take care of air plants. Fortunately, it’s really simple for you! Tillandsias, often known as air plants, require this in order to flourish.
- Although they may tolerate some direct sunlight, air plants prefer bright light. Low light levels might abruptly cause air plants to falter and perish. Make sure you attend to their lighting requirements since once they reach that stage, saving them becomes challenging.
- It’s simple to water air plants… Put all of your air plants in a big bowl or sink and soak them in water for 20 to 30 minutes once a week. Allow them to dry on a towel, upside-down. Give your air plants a gentle shake before setting them out to drain since they are prone to rot if water is allowed to gather in their leaves.
- Add a water soluble fertilizer to the water you soak them in every other time you water them during the growing season.
I’m done now! Now that you know how to construct an air plant terrarium, you can not only showcase your plants in a stunning fashion but also enhance the design of your home.
Air Plant Terrarium Supplies
- Open terrarium or glass container that provides for optimum airflow
- Sand or gravel for aquariums
- Sculptural rocks, stones, and wood
- Ideally, different types and sizes of air plants
Our initial air plant terrarium was created with simplicity in mind. This consists of of two stunning air plants, a few stones, and white sand. Notice the one is in blossom! There is a misconception that air plants perish once they bloom. They still have a lot to do, despite the fact that they will eventually die after flowering. Blooming is a sign that the plant is preparing to generate air plant pups, sometimes referred to as baby air plants, near its base. Therefore, never throw away an air plant that has bloomed because it is still very much alive.
Air Plant Terrarium Instructions
- Sand or gravel can be added as a base to the terrarium’s bottom.
- Include rocks, stones, wood, or other beautiful natural elements.
- To achieve the desired look, add air plants. For a more understated appearance, use one or two; for an urban jungle feel, use as many as you can!
- Done!
As you can see, there are numerous varieties of air plants. Others have more coarse leaves than others, some with fine leaves. various shapes, hues, and even watering requirements.
Additionally, we wanted to give this air plant terrarium a more natural look. We gathered materials for our DIY terrarium from our neighborhood beach, including a piece of driftwood and a stone coated in barnacles. We adore this terrarium, which contrasts three distinct air plants and a small amount of preserved moss beautifully.
With the plant parent revolution, air plants are popular, and this only goes to show that they can be just as stunning and fascinating as any philodendron or fern!
Where to Buy Air Plants
We are so satisfied with the air plants, preserved moss, and terrarium that were provided by Etsy seller “Spyloh” that as of right now, we won’t purchase our air plants from anybody else!
We hope you are prepared to construct your own terrarium for air plants. Make the ideal area for your plants to be shown! We believe you’ll also enjoy our posts on What are Air Plants and Clever & Cool Indoor Garden Ideas & Projects. or check out OhMeOhMy’s DIY Branch Chandelier Air Plant Display!
There may be affiliate links in this article. For additional information, please see our disclosure.
Can air plants be grown on rocks?
On shrubs, rocks, and bushes, air plants can grow. Other epiphytes include several fern species and orchids, which are found on tropical trees.
How are air plants attached to rocks?
Utilizing silicone sealant, airplants can be installed on a variety of logs, rocks, and wood. Apply a little amount of silicone to the branch on which you want to install the plant. Then, firmly press the plant into the silicone.
Do you soak air plants with their tops up?
It is best to provide air plants with water that is rich in minerals and nutrients because they obtain many of their nutrients directly from the water. The best water is rainwater, although spring water is a close second if you don’t have a convenient way to collect rainwater. Alternatively, you might utilize well, lake, or creek water. Never use filtered or distilled water. Less minerals and nutrients are present in distilled and filtered water. Many municipal water systems include fewer minerals and nutrients and more contaminants. If you are concerned about your pH level, air plants enjoy slightly acidic water. The ideal range for alkalinity is between 5.5 and 6.0. Most frequently, tap water from the city is higher than this range, making it unsuitable for air plants. Do not worry yourself too much about PH levels. Any good, pure water would do.
After watering your air plants, thoroughly drying them off is the second most crucial step. To ensure that your air plants completely dry, put them down on a dish towel on their side or upside down. For the larger species like Xerographica, Streptophylla, and Sparkler, this is especially crucial. Within two hours of their bath, they should be completely dry to the touch. Wait until your air plants are completely dry before putting them back in terrariums and vases. If you water your plants and then put them in an enclosure right away, your plant can get rot. Your air plants will be content and healthy if you follow these straightforward watering guidelines.
Is it necessary to hang air plants upside-down?
- An air plant is what? when a person mentions “air plant, they typically mean Tillandsia, a sizable genus of closely related plants. Tillandsias are a genus of plants with approximately 700 species, making them unique from any other plant genus on Earth. Instead of growing in soil, these plants use their unique leaves to collect water and nutrients. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and growing characteristics, are simple to maintain, tolerant of drought, and adaptive. Because they don’t require soil, air plants make wonderful decorative items.
- How should I look after my air plant? For optimal health, air plants require three things: water, light, and airflow. Once a week, air plants should be completely submerged in water for 30 to 60 minutes. Ideally, you should thoroughly immerse them in bottled water or rainwater, but if none of these options is available, tap water will do. To prevent rot, which is the main threat to air plants, it is imperative to let air plants dry after watering. Dry them upside down, especially the ones with a bulbous shape. The majority of air plants prefer direct, strong light, like that found close to a south-facing window. A little direct sunlight is okay, but too much can be fatal. Light and water should always be in harmony with one another. They cannot thrive in standing water and like to stay dry the most of the time. If at all possible, try to arrange their exhibit so that air circulation is maximized because they prefer windy environments. Your plants will live for many generations if you maintain a balance between water, light, and air circulation.
- My air plant may I plant? usually not. Except for a couple of species (T. cyanea and T. somnians, for instance), planting an air plant will result in its death. In any case, there are more inventive methods to present them!
- How should my air plant be watered? Water your air plants 1-2 times a week if you reside in an arid (dry, hot) region. If you reside in a cool, humid climate, you can get by with watering only once per week. Fill a container with water until the plants are completely submerged to water your air plants. After around 30 minutes, remove your plants and let them dry. After watering, plants should have access to adequate light and airflow to dry within four hours. Always dry air plants upside down, if at all possible. This guarantees that there is no standing water at the base of the plant, which might easily cause the interior to rot. For this reason, before soaking, you should also remove plants from decorative fittings. If you live somewhere dry, you might want to spray your plants in between waterings. If your plants aren’t getting enough water, you’ll notice because the leaves will start to curl in an unusual way and feel dry to the touch.
- What level of light does my air plant require? Since most Tillandsia species naturally grow on trees and other plants, they are accustomed to receiving sunlight that is filtered via a canopy of leaves and branches. However, the great majority require bright, indirect light. Although certain species do flourish in direct sunlight. This essentially goes from “no direct sun” to “everything that a particular plant can tolerate,” depending on the species “gentle direct sunshine only in the morning. Although Tillandsias can thrive indoors with the right care, some air plants can adapt to growing outdoors in certain climates. Give your air plants plenty of indirect sun as a general rule for all air plant types. Even a little (a few hours) of early sun can be useful. Air plants thrive on window sills, and south or east facing windowsills are typically the best. They can also use fluorescent lighting, but prefer it when it is placed around 12 inches from the source.
- Can I grow my air plants using artificial light? The best artificial lighting for air plants is fluorescent light. Depending on the light intensity, plants should be placed anywhere between 6″ and 35″ away from the fluorescent tubes. Aim for 12 hours of light each day for your air plants. If you’re going to keep your air plants under artificial light, we advise using a timer that runs automatically to ensure they get the right amount.
- Will my air plant perish after it blooms? Yes, generally speaking, although it is not a rapid death. The plant is now what we like to refer to as “over the hill.” After blooming, many Tillandsia can live for many more years. They “die” because they start to generate offset pups after flowering, which is when they start to do so (babies). The mother plant starts expelling energy and providing nutrients for the growth of her young. While the puppies are young and well-formed, the mother plant will start to wilt and lose its youthful appearance. The offset pups can be plucked and cultivated separately after they reach at least one-third the size of the mother plant.
- Will the roots of my air plant grow? They might if the circumstances are just right! In the wild, air plant roots are utilized to affix the plant to a tree or rock. They can provide the same function at home.
- How come my air plant broke down? It most likely rotted. Air plants can easily rot if they are kept moist for an extended period of time or if water becomes trapped inside of them. Dark coloring, a spongy feeling, and final disintegration are frequently the results of this. Drying is essential in between each watering.
- My air plant looks lifeless. It has probably deteriorated and won’t survive if it turned dark and gooey. The plant is probably dead if the innermost, newest growth easily pops out and has black tips. On the other hand, an overnight soak in water has a decent possibility of reviving the plant if it is simply dehydrated.
Are air plants placed in soil?
- Don’t bury them in the ground. Ever. Because they are epiphytes, they grow atop other plants rather than in the ground.
- You can plant them in imaginative locations because they don’t require dirt. One can be set in a shallow bowl or vase with rocks or sand, one can be put in a small container with a magnet and placed on the refrigerator, or one can be tied to driftwood with a clear fishing line.
- Don’t confine them to a terrarium. Yes, they are adorable, and Instagram is full with pictures of air plant terrariums, but air plants need to breathe. They will become overly damp in a confined vessel, which will cause them to rot or contract a fungus.