They often have strap-like leaves that develop in a rosette pattern, with new growth emerging from the plant’s core. Some produce flowers in hues of red, pink, or purple that last from a few days to a few months, while the foliage can be silver or green, spiky or fuzzy. The majority of air plants are small, measuring between 2″ to 12″ in height.
How long do air plants stay alive?
Blooms of air plants have a variety of lifespans, ranging from a few days to 2-4 weeks. However, the flowers of certain larger air plants, such as t.xerographica, can endure for up to a year.
If you want your air plant’s bloom to remain longer, avoid soaking it or watering it at all. The bloom of an air plant cannot absorb water, therefore watering it will cause it to wilt quickly.
Tillandsias only flower once in their lives, after which they produce pups and die. Blooming usually occurs within 1-2 years of receiving it, but this can vary.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Please see this resource page if you want to learn more about air plant care.
What does a healthy air plant look like?
Tip: Keep an eye on your plants’ leaves to see whether they’re thirsty. Curly leaves are drier, and a healthy white fuzz on your plant indicates that it is healthy, not that it is drying out. Under-watering is also indicated by brown leaf tips and a withered appearance. Take note of how your plant appears following a nice soakhow does it compare to how it seems now? Because each plant is unique, pay attention to what it is teaching you right now.
Where do you put air plants?
All air plants are native to tropical areas where freezing and frost are unheard of. Is it necessary to keep them at temperatures that you are comfortable in without wearing a sweater? Temperatures are usually in the 60s and higher. Place them away from air conditioner vents and drafty winter windows.
Air plants need at least a few hours of bright, indirect sunlight per day to thrive. It’s best to put it within 1 to 3 feet of an east- or west-facing window, or within a foot or two of a light source. They may have hotter, more direct sun and longer exposure if you keep them well watered. Avoid places that are dimly lighted.
Does air plants need sun?
Air plants make excellent office plants since they demand indirect light, which they can get either through a window or artificially with full spectrum fluorescent lights.
Of course, there are exceptions to everything in nature. Some silver-leafed air plants can withstand more direct sunshine than others. One of the few tillandsias that can tolerate full light is the enormous Xerographica air plant (read more about the Xerographica here).
We propose that you experiment with varied lighting circumstances for your air plants to observe how they respond. Where have you seen the best success with your air plants? What hasn’t worked for your air plants in terms of lighting?
How big does an air plant get?
Air plants (Tillandsia) are highly diverse, with over 450 kinds. Air plants are classed as part of the bromeliad family, which includes 3,475 mostly tropical plant species – which means they’re linked to pineapples! They reside in a variety of places, from the top of Argentina to the southern United States. Xeric and mesic air plants are the two main types of air plants. Xeric Tillandsia thrive in desert settings, requiring less water and more sunlight than their tropical counterparts (mesic Tillandsia).
Air plants use their roots to cling to trees, rocks, and other plants, collecting water at their base. In a tropical environment, for example, they dwell in the trees, gathering water from humidity and water that accumulates in the branches. They like temperatures in the range of 5090° F (1032° C) due to their acclimatization to the rainforest and warm desert climates. Mesic Tillandsia thrive in humid environments, but xeric Tillandsia thrive in desert environments. There’s no need to fret if you don’t live in a location with their ideal conditions; there are techniques to recreate them, and air plants are fairly hardy.
They are available in a wide range of sizes and colors. The sizes of air plant varieties range from two inches to seven feet. The sizes of the types commonly found in supermarkets range from two to five inches. Flowers may blossom in some kinds, but this usually indicates that the plant is nearing the end of its life cycle. Before they die, air plants produce pups (baby air plants) that grow to be identical to the original. Other strategies to grow more air plants from the original seedling can be found in the propagation section.
Do you soak air plants upside down?
When it comes to watering air plants, the bottom line is to bathe the leaves every week to ten days. Then, before returning the plants to their original location, make sure they are totally dried upside down.
How do I know my air plant is happy?
To determine if your air plant is healthy, make sure it is properly hydrated to avoid drowning. Check for discolored leaves or dry or wet rot on a regular basis to see if the plant is getting enough or too much water. When an air plant blooms and develops fuzz, it indicates that it is in good health.
Can I water air plants with tap water?
On our Facebook page, we get a lot of queries on how to water air plants, so I wanted to elaborate a little. While Tillandsia (also known as air plants) are easier to care for than many other plant kinds, they do require some upkeep and TLC, and water plays an important role in their overall health. Here are some of the most common questions we hear about watering air plants, along with our answers:
This is mostly determined by your climate and where you keep the air plants, as well as the Tillandsia species (learn more about mesic vs. xeric air plants here) and the type of environment in which it grows in nature. We reside in Tampa, FL, so it’s very humid here for the majority of the year, and we don’t run the heat in our house during the winter like our friends up North (I’m not trying to rub it in!). We water our plants twice a week on average, but individuals who live in drier climes will need to water more frequently. Depending on the time of year, you may discover that you need to water your plants less. It also depends on where you keep them in your house or office. A humid bathroom will keep the plants moist, but those near an air vent or heat source will need to be watered more frequently. (Please note that keeping your plants near heat sources is not recommended.)
Note that, while humidity might slow the drying process, it is not a suitable watering method in and of itself!
Again, you’ll want to adapt your watering methods based on your climate and air plant species, but we recommend soaking your plants in water at least once a week for MOST air plants and settings. You can use anything that allows you to totally submerge the air plants, such as a bowl, bucket, or your sink. Soak them for 30-60 minutes at least once a week, and every other week if you live in a dry area, give them a longer soak for an hour or more. If you live in a humid environment or have a xeric air plant, you may want to cut the soak time in half.
After bathing, make sure the air plants are completely dry. Turn them over and softly shake them, or lay them out to dry with the leaves down. Allowing water to remain in the leaves can cause the plants to decay. The plants should be placed in an area with sufficient air circulation and should be able to dry entirely in 4 hours. If your plants are housed in a globe or terrarium, ensure sure they are thoroughly dry before bringing them back home!
You’ll notice how wide and open the leaves are after soaking them, and how much more “happy” they appear. This is how a properly hydrated air plant should seem! If the color turns slightly dull and the leaves begin to close/curl over time, this is an indication that your Tillandsia is thirsty, and you should give them another soak. If your air plant is in desperate need of water, soak it for several hours or overnight to see if you can rehydrate it. Before soaking or spraying them again, make sure they have a chance to dry thoroughly.
It’s also a good idea to spray the plants in between waterings. If you live in a dry area, this might be a terrific method to keep plants healthy and offer them some additional attention. Unless you have one of the few varieties of air plants that like low moisture, such as the T. tectorum (which we only propose misting) or the T. xerographica, misting is not a substitute for a proper soak (which we recommend dunking instead of soaking).
When it comes to water, air plants aren’t picky, and most tap water is good, but it all depends on the water quality in your location. Because these waters are more nutrient-dense, the best water to use is rain water, aquarium water, or pond water (note: if using one of these waters, don’t add any additional fertilizer). If you’re using tap water, let it out for a few hours to allow the chlorine to disperse (maybe 24 hours in some areas.)
Do not use distilled water because it is too “clean” for these plants and will deprive them of the nutrients they require. Also, avoid using artificially softened water because it contains too much salt for Tillandsia.
We recommend soaking your air plants in the morning to ensure that they dry completely throughout the day, as well as because air plants utilize the evening to breathe carbon dioxide and will be unable to do so if they are wet in the evenings.
This is known as CAM, and you can learn more about it in our page on how air plants breathe. You can check on them before going to bed and put them back in their terrariums or displays if you expose them to some indirect sunlight.
These are the most frequently asked questions about watering air plants. Did we respond to your question? If you’re not sure, just ask! Are you looking for more information on how to care for air plants? Visit our Air Plant Care page for more information.
Can air plants have babies?
Check out the size of this Tillandsia streptophylla pup that we recently removed from its mother plant it’s huge and healthy!
After an air plant has completed its bloom cycle, it will produce offsets, or new plants “pups” if the right conditions are met. The offsets grow in a variety of ways depending on the Tillandsia species, with some air plants producing pups around the base or root system and others sprouting them from beneath one of but it really serves as protection for the young Tillandsia pup that has sprouted beneath it.
After blooming, air plants produce one to three pups on average. Some kinds can produce a large number of offspring.
When the offsets have grown to reach about 1/3 the size of the mother plant, gently remove them from the mother. The pup will then progress through its own lifecycle, becoming larger and eventually flowering and generating its own offsets if given the correct conditions and care. Gently tug on the pup’s base while supporting the mother plant to remove it. If you have to use too much force to separate an offset that is ready to be removed, we recommend leaving it in tact.
If the offsets are not separated from the mother air plant, they will continue to create a clump “clump” that has the potential to get quite large. The way you store them will influence the shape to some extent; for example, hanging clumping ionantha air plants will allow the pups to grow 360 degrees and eventually form a spherical clump. These air plant clumps can create several blooms if the conditions are correct, as the individual pups progress through adulthood, finally flowering and producing their own pups.
Following the blooming process, air plants produce offsets, or pups. At some point throughout their lives, all Tillandsia will go through this process, however some types, such as the xerographica air plant, are significantly slower to bloom and produce pups. Tillandsia require plenty of light (the level and intensity that your air plant prefers can vary according on type), water, and air flow to grow during the blooming process and generate offsets. To speed up the blooming process and pup production, you can use a fertilizer specifically developed for Tillandsia (such as this one), but bear in mind that fertilizer should be used in moderation and does not replace adequate care or circumstances.
In our articles about the air plant blooming process and what happens after the bloom, you’ll learn about what happens before an air plant produces pups.
Why is my air plant red?
When exposed to bright light, certain air plant kinds, such as Tillandsia brachycaulos and Tillandsia bradeana, have been found to become a shade of red. This feature appeals to plant collectors who seek them out primarily for the purpose of adding this lovely tone to their collection.
If the tops of your air plant’s leaves start to turn brown instead of red, you know it’s getting too much direct light (and so drying up).
If you plan to keep your air plant indoors, mist it at least twice a week if it will be exposed to a lot of light in a non-humid environment.
If you’re not sure what circumstances your indoor plant requires to thrive, providing indirect light is always a safer bet.
If you’re wondering if you can use artificial light to assist your air plant turn red, the answer is yes, but there are a few guidelines to follow to ensure your plant can continue photosynthesizing and growing as it would in natural sunlight.
- Full spectrum illumination is recommended since regular lightbulbs do not give the wavelengths required for your plants to fully photosynthesize and flourish.
- Keep your plant at least three feet away from the artificial light: If you keep your air plant too far away from a poor light source, even if it’s a full spectrum light, it won’t be able to absorb enough light to stay healthy.
- Consider supplying supplemental light for a minimum of 12 hours per day in areas completely devoid of natural light: Most grow lights have an automated timer built in, so you’re essentially simulating natural sunshine.