The 18 Exceptionally Best Display Options for Air Plants
- In small porcelain figurines, plant tillandsia.
- Fill Mason jars in clear.
- People-shaped ceramic planters for air plants.
- Terrarium of Geometric Air Plants.
- Teardrop displays that hang.
- DIY Display Plaques made of wood.
- Triangle-shaped display shelf
- Metal Frame Exhibition.
What are air plants placed on?
- 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.
Are containers required for air plants?
Normal pots can be used to grow air plants, but due to their tiny size and low moisture requirements, they are also a good choice for a variety of different planter designs.
Try one of these unique air plant containers for a little something unusual.
This larger air plant is appropriate for a typical household fish bowl. For a distinctive beach picture, include some white gravel and a scattering of shells.
One of my blog’s followers gave me a picture of a wonderfully creative setup she had for her air plants.
These stylish planters are constructed from wood blocks, and the air plants are suspended from a curved wire at the top. so imaginative Lilibeth, thanks for sharing. I adore how these appear!
In the wild, air plants enjoy perching on trees. Wrap some sphagnum moss around a piece of wood and fasten the plant to it to create the same effect. When hanging in this manner, it will appear organic and woodsy.
Any exhibit in the terrarium design would look great with air plants. Terrariums provide the plant with a nearly ideal environment by retaining moisture.
This adorable copper wire-wrapped glass holder in the form of a teardrop is heart-adorned. It makes the small tillandsia, which is resting on a bed of moss, appear completely at home.
A note on copper and air plants:
When the copper area is repeatedly exposed to moisture, as is essential if you water the container, copper pipes and wires can be hazardous to air plants.
If you wish to use a copper-containing container for air plants, make careful to completely seal it with a clear coating like Flex Clear.
As an alternative, you can take the air plant out of the container before watering it to prevent the copper from coming into contact with the liquid.
An old wooden drawer with sections was transformed into a gorgeous succulent planter for an air plant and several more succulents with this simple DIY technique.
Since host trees are where Air plants naturally grow, using log holders to show them makes a lot of sense. With one plant on each end of this attractive log form, the arrangement is symmetrical.
Air plants are ideal options for shallow bowl planting due to their modest stature. For a planter with a minimalist appearance, this attractive air plant bowl employs gravel, a piece of driftwood, and three distinct types of air plants.
The best material to use to create a planter is driftwood. Naturally polished by the surf, it develops cracks where tillandsia can be planted.
Logs can be used in planters in countless different ways. View further designs for log planters here.
On my most recent trip to the neighborhood farmer’s market, I spent some time perusing a booth that sold air plants and had so many lovely containers. I was drawn to this bird cage because I adore the way it seems.
It was about 5 feet tall and had a massive piece of drift wood to hold the tillandsia plants!
This shield-shaped air plant holder is made from a copper tube and a stained wooden plaque. It’s simple to create and presents the plant attractively. View the tutorial for the shield planter at Walnut Hollow Crafts.
The ideal habitat for this air plant is a sphere constructed of flat copper wire. The beautiful moss beneath the assortment of air plants looks fantastic in the planter, which is simple to mist.
In this entertaining coffee pot terrarium, my old Mr. Coffee carafe serves a dual purpose. I paired my air plant with other succulents to create a lovely arrangement that requires very little care.
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 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.
My air plant will fit on rocks, right?
Terrariums are a wonderful way to add some greenery to any area, and you can really make your terrarium stand out by using several types of bases! We frequently receive inquiries regarding how to exhibit air plants in terrariums, including what types of bases to use and whether they require soil. The bases and decorations you should pick to create a stunning air plant terrarium are discussed below.
You can use small pebbles, seashells, bark, marbles, preserved reindeer moss, beautiful sand, etc. for the base. Have fun with it! There are countless options for the colors and textures of the sand and rock used in terrariums.
There is no need to provide soil because air plants can survive without it. Most air plants, in fact, shouldn’t be planted in soil. Layering moss, sand, or rock is a simple way to add variety and texture to your terrarium.
Make sure the base you use is entirely dry. You don’t want your air plants to be resting against any moisture in their terrariums or containers.
You should also consider the type and size of the terrarium you are creating. This terrarium will be presented where? Will it hang or rest on a table? You can choose the substrate for your terrarium by responding to these questions. Since moss is lighter than sand and won’t shift as much if the terrarium sways, using it as a base layer may be preferable for hanging terrariums.
Small bits of bark or driftwood can give your terrarium a charmingly rustic appearance as a base or accent, but make sure the wood you pick is pest-free. We like to use orchid bark, which is available at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Use caution when utilizing logs or bark that you may find outside because they could contain insects or pests that could harm your plant.
Watering Terrariums and Plants:
- If you water your plants while they are in your terrarium, too much moisture may become trapped amid the moss, rock, etc., leading to the rot of your plants.
- Before putting the plants back in your terrarium, remove them, soak or mist them, and then make sure they are totally dry.
- No water or moisture should be present in your terrarium or next to the Tillandsia.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer a kit that includes everything you need, look no further—we also carry those!
Check out these DIY terrarium kits, which include everything you need to build one.