I recently visited the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Ft. Myers, Florida, where I was given a tour of their residences, gardens, research facilities, and museum. Particularly all the rubber trees they investigated as potential sources for tire materials, the plant collections there are amazing.
I took advantage of the fact that Edison is most well-known for creating the light bulb by buying a tiny hanging planter in the shape of a lightbulb. An air plant is within, resting on sphagnum moss. I enjoy looking at it every day because it hangs above my kitchen window.
Tillandsia, or air plants, are fascinating members of the Bromeliad family. Since all bromeliads are epiphytes, they depend on another object for support. Because of this, plants in nature use their root systems to grow safely on rocks and trees. They obtain water and nutrients from the air and rain through their leaves as opposed to using their roots to draw them from the earth.
Only three things are necessary to maintain air plants healthy and content: sunlight, water, and air movement.
First, you need light—filtered light, not direct light—coming through a window facing south, east, or west. You can hang them outside in a tree or other safe place during the summer.
Second, appropriate irrigation is essential for growing Tillandsia. I prefer to mist mine once or twice a week to keep the sphagnum moss substrate damp while allowing the plant to somewhat dry out in between waterings. The leaves are too dry if they curl or roll. Place the plant in water overnight to resuscitate it, then shake off any extra water before putting it back on display.
Third, proper air flow promotes disease prevention and allows the plant to dry out a little between waterings.
Terrariums, which are transparent glass or plastic containers filled with miniature plants, are ideal for growing and displaying air plants. Unlike other terrariums, which are securely closed, my light-bulb-shaped container includes an entire side that is open to promote air flow.
- Home watching is possible for all sessions.
- It will be broadcast in the Peoria and Havana Extension offices on Tuesday at 1:30 PM.
- After the presentation, viewers can watch recorded films of these sessions.
In an open terrarium, can air plants survive?
It’s wonderful to make terrariums, but your first thought presumably is, “Which plants should I chose for my terrarium?” The best plants for both open and closed terrariums will be discussed in this essay. Around 60 of the best plants for open and closed terrariums, including those that thrive in cramped conditions and can withstand high humidity and temperature swings, will be included on this list.
Air plants, or Tillandsia
Since they are epiphytes, air plants may survive without soil. For survival, these plants glue themselves to a host. Through their leaves, they take up water. For a number of reasons, air plants work best in open terrariums. One of them is that your air plant needs to be watered pretty frequently—about twice a week (apart from misting).
It is better to submerge air plants in water to water them, but this will be difficult in a confined terrarium. A few times a week removal of the plant will destroy the pattern. Because air plants don’t enjoy humidity or being wet, they are better suited for open terrariums. You must dry the plant after submerging it in water before putting it back in a terrarium.
You can utilize a variety of air plant species. The lengthy leaves that emerge from the core of air plants give them an incredibly gorgeous appearance. Top Tillandsia for terrariums include:
- Xerographic Tillandsia
- ionantha T.
- Houston
- Guatemala
- Tectorum
- Scaposa
- Aeranthos
- Stricta
- Peach, or capitata
- Caput-medusae
- Streptophylla
- Hondurensis
For your open terrariums, you can get a single air plant or a small collection similar to this. Here is a detailed guide to taking care of tillandsias.
Succulents
The best plants for open terrariums are succulents. To prevent overwatering succulents, be cautious when watering them. Succulents prefer drying out in between waterings and bright, indirect light. Ensure that the terrarium containing the succulents has an opening that is at least modest to medium in size. The following succulents make excellent terrarium plants:
- Jade tree (Crassula ovata). Deserts are where jade plants, which have heavy leaves, are found in nature. These plants require low humidity and strong light. Jade plants come in a variety of varieties; avoid picking any that can grow to be more than 4 feet tall! Select smaller varieties like “Mini Jade” or “Hobbit.” Jade plants require direct sunlight, good airflow, and rarely watering.
- Tiger Jaws, also known as Faucaria Tigrina, is a stunning plant with spiky leaves and star-shaped rosettes.
- Chickens and hens (Sempervivum). Chicks surround the main hen plant in these attractive succulent plants called “hens and chicks.” Hens and chicks can be used jointly or individually. They should only be planted in an open terrarium because higher humidity containers will cause them to decay.
- Aloe Vera, also known as the “medicine plant,” is a widely common plant with sharp leaves.
- the Chocolate Soldier, or Kalanchoe tomentosa
- Kalanchoe luciae, or the flapjack plant
- Ghost Plant, or Graptopetalum
- Alpine Aloe
- Haworthia, or the Zebra plant, has stunning leaves with striped surfaces.
- Sedum morganianum, often known as burro’s tail, has leaves that resemble beads.
- Gasteria
- Beautiful little round plants called lithops have a stone-like appearance. Read more here about Lithops care.
Cacti, or cactuses
Cacti need to be dry in order to look their best in terrariums. In closed terrariums with high humidity and poor airflow, these plants won’t survive. Make sure the container has a medium to large opening when making cactus terrariums. Because many cacti grow very enormous when they are fully mature, only choose little ones.
Baby tears, or Soleirolia soleirolii
a really lovely plant with leaves that have spots of various colors. These plants thrive in humid settings and adore dampness.
The adorable strawberry begonias are the ideal flowers for open terrariums. Be cautious because they require open terrariums with dry foliage. If not, the plant will begin to wilt.
Using croton plants, you may make incredible terrarium designs. You will need to prune these plants because they grow pretty tall. Make sure to grow them in terrariums with open doors. This plant will do well in Wardian case terrariums.
Best plants for closed terrariums (or better those with small openings):
It is always a good idea to have at least a little gap in the container, even though you can make a terrarium that is completely closed. Fully closed terrariums can fog up, make it difficult to care for plants, and yet result in rotting roots. Small, spherical glass spheres like this are the most common containers that produce lovely patterns.
There are many different types of bromeliad plants, and some of them enjoy warmth and humidity. The following are some of the top bromeliads for terrariums:
- Earth Star, or Cryptanthus It is the perfect plant for a sealed terrarium. They enjoy moisture, and
warmth. You can grow numerous varieties of Cryptanthus in a terrarium. Choose plants that don’t expand rapidly or get very large.
- Another lovely plant for a closed terrarium is neoregelia. Its lovely pink/violet blossom is of exceptional beauty.
- The magnificent Silver Vase plant, also known as Aechmea fasciata, has lovely flowers. This plant should be placed in a terrarium with a small to medium opening.
Long stems from this plant terminate in tiny, spherical, creamy-white blooms. They fit tall terrariums like Wardian enclosures and are ideal for humid conditions.
Popular and attractive plants like orchids work well in Wardian instances. Sphagnum moss must be present surrounding the roots of the plant.
The majority of carnivorous plants thrive in moist, nutrient-poor environments. For this reason, insect-eating plants capture them and consume them to obtain nutrition. These fascinating plants thrive in humid environments and intense direct sunlight.
Both open and closed terrariums are capable of supporting carnivorous plant growth. The only issue you might run into with carnivorous plants in tight terrariums is feeding them—they can have trouble collecting insects. You can either choose a terrarium with a tiny entrance or give your carnivorous plants their food by hand. Following are some of the top carnivorous plants for terrariums:
- Venus flytrap is a potential choice, but it will need to hibernate over the winter.
- The Tropical Pitcher Plants, often known as Nepenthes. Given that they grow very large, they might not be the greatest for small terrariums. Large terrariums can be used for planting plants, but the proper temperatures must be maintained. Nepenthes come in two varieties: Highlanders and Lowlanders. You may need to heat the terrarium during the day and chill it at night, depending on the type.
- Sarracenia, or American Pitcher Plants Since the majority of them grow huge and require winter dormancy, they are not the greatest plants for terrariums. However, you can choose Sarracenia for a terrarium, such as S. rubra or S. purpurea (purple pitcher plant). Select young plants, and make sure to give them a winter dormant period.
- Drosera, or sundews. For the winter dormancy, you must remove them, although they require bright light.
- Heliamphora, or Sun Pitchers. They enjoy high humidity, but they also require colder temperatures, as the nighttime temperature drops.
- Follicular Cephalotus Note that during the winter they require chilly temperatures.
- Pinguicula or butterworts
- Utricularia, or bladderworts
- Drosophyllum lusitanicum, also known as Dewy Pine, but only in an open terrarium. They require excellent ventilation and bright lighting.
The majority of ferns are quite hardy and can withstand high humidity. Ferns give any terrarium depth. The following ferns make excellent terrarium plants:
- Bird’s nest fern (Aspleniumnidus)
- Little Holly Fern
- Hemionitis arifolia, sometimes known as heart fern
Nerve plants prefer high humidity, therefore they will do best in a closed container or, preferable, one with a tiny aperture. You must routinely monitor the soil’s moisture because they dislike soggy dirt.
Mosses are a wonderful addition to terrariums that are closed. You can utilize a wide range of mosses, such as moss balls or Golden Club moss plants.
Pilea microphylla, often known as artillery ferns, are stunning plants that are simple to grow and maintain in terrariums. They enjoy moist environments and direct, bright light. Additionally, the seeds shoot out with a popping sound!
High humidity and indirect light are favorable to creeping fig. It is a fairly resilient plant, but because it grows so quickly, you will need to clip it frequently.
High relative humidity and direct light are favorable to pothos plants. Additionally, they enjoy warm temperatures of about 70 degrees, so in the winter, be sure to keep them away from windowsills that are too cold. However, you will also need to constantly clip its leaves, so think about getting a terrarium with a little hole.
What sort of container should I use for my air plant?
Tillandsia, often known as air plants, have grown more and more popular in recent years. The peculiarity of these tiny epiphytes intrigues us since it contradicts our understanding of the needs of conventional plants. Because of their mystique, air plants are wonderful gifts because producing stunning displays of them is so simple that anyone can do it. Unfortunately, they can also be rather simple to kill if they are not cultivated in the proper conditions. We will go over Tillandsia development patterns, general care instructions, how to create a Tillandsia terrarium, and the tools required for them to thrive in this article.
In order to properly care for Tillandsia, as with all air plants, we must be aware of how they develop. Tillandsia are epiphytes, which means they often coexist parasitically with other plants. They can be divided into two groups: mesic and xeric. In the American tropics, mesic species are frequently found high in the tree canopy, which tells us that they typically like brilliant indirect light, good airflow, regular rainfall, and roots designed for anchoring. Xeric varieties, on the other hand, flourish on rocky outcrops and exposed cliff slopes. These kinds of air plants also have roots designed for anchoring and require much less water, little direct sunlight, and lots of air movement. The trichomes that cover the leaves of the xeric kinds, which suck additional moisture from the air, set them apart from the mesic varieties. In contrast to the mesic air plants’ shinier greenish tint, they almost have the appearance of silver fur.
We may improve the environment for Tillandsia in our homes by being aware of the natural circumstances in which they flourish. I always advise maintaining Tillandsia in an open terrarium because they all thrive in humid environments. The secret is to produce an environment with better airflow and a relative humidity that is higher than that of our ordinary residences. A Tillandsia kept in a confined terrarium or under a cloche is bound to fail. So search for glass containers with large top openings or side holes.
A standard terrarium needs many layers, but an air plant terrarium really only needs one: the drainage layer, as was covered in a previous blog post. The drainage media can be made of nearly anything that won’t decay and has the purpose of preventing the plants from ever sitting in water. For decoration and to raise the humidity, you can also add some moss or lichen.
Finally, and maybe most critically, Tillandsia require the right amount of light. Many individuals attempt to maintain their air plants in too little light. In comparison to their natural surroundings, our dwellings are like caves. Keep them in an east or west facing window if at all possible. They may also be outside of or adjacent to a sunny south-facing window. With a few hours of direct daylight either in the morning or afternoon, the goal is to have bright indirect light throughout the day.
To sum up, the prerequisites for making a suitable habitat for Tillandsia are an open glass vessel, inert drainage media, possibly some attractive moss, and adequate lighting.
Most of the supplies needed to properly feed and water these tiny curiosities can be found around the house. Zenaida Sengo compares air plants to a kitchen sponge in her book Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias to better explain how to hydrate them. You can water the sponge in a variety of ways, including routine drenching, frequent misting, and sporadic soaking. You don’t want the sponge to entirely dry out.
Every day or every other day, misting with a little spray bottle is recommended. You can dip a plant two to three times per week in a bowl of water, in a terrarium with a deep drainage layer, or under the sink in a colander. Once a week, take the plants out of their container and soak them in a bowl of water for 10 to 1 hour. Whatever method you use, make sure to shake off any water that has accumulated in the cup of the leaves to keep the plants from decaying. Keep in mind that xeric cultivars require less frequent watering.
Tillandsia, like all plants, require occasional feedings for optimum growth. I advise mixing a solution of kelp with a well-balanced water-soluble orchid food. Half a dose every couple of weeks or a full dose every month to three months are also acceptable feeding schedules.
You should be able to successfully develop these small wonders now that you have this fundamental understanding!