Air plants, also known as tillandsia, are unique and low maintenance houseplants that have captured the hearts of plant parents everywhere As epiphytes, they absorb moisture and nutrients from the air and require no soil to grow While relatively easy to care for, air plants go through distinct growth phases you’ll want to understand to help your plant thrive. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating stages of air plant growth from juveniles to mature, blooming plants.
Stage 1: Juvenile Stage
In the juvenile stage, air plant growth is focused on root and leaf establishment. Young air plants will have soft, thinner leaves that may lay flatter against each other. The leaves tend to be solid green or gray-green at this point. Though small, juvenile air plants need frequent watering just like mature plants. Soak or mist them 3-4 times a week. Providing proper moisture, indirect sunlight, and good air circulation will ensure vigorous growth.
Signs your air plant is still in the juvenile stage
- Small overall size, under 3 inches wide.
- Smooth, flat, flexible leaves.
- Leaves lay closely stacked.
- Lacks long aerial roots.
- No signs of blooms emerging.
With the right care, your air plant will mature rapidly from a juvenile to an established adult plant within its first year.
Stage 2: Mature Vegetative Stage
The mature vegetative stage is when air plants transition to their familiar rosette shape with stiff, curly leaves angled outwards from the base. Mature air plant leaves are thicker and may display the signature striping, marbling, or spotting patterns of the variety Robust roots also emerge to anchor the plant during this stage
Indications your air plant has reached maturity:
- Distinct rosette shape.
- Stiff, sturdy leaves angled outwards.
- Prominent leaf markings and coloration.
- Thicker leaf texture.
- Aerial roots extending from base.
- Leaves spread out wider.
- Size over 3 inches diameter.
Mature vegetative plants have higher light requirements and prefer watering 2-3 times per week. Provide bright, filtered light to encourage the growth of bloom stalks next.
Stage 3: Bloom Stage
Once an air plant reaches maturity, you can expect it to begin blooming under ideal conditions. The initial sign is the emergence of a tall bloom spike from the center. Elongated flower clusters will gradually open into attractive blooms in various shapes and colors depending on variety. The blooms last 2-6 weeks before fading. Blooming is a sign of a healthy, thriving air plant.
Hallmarks of the blooming stage:
- Long bloom spike emerging from center.
- Elongated flower buds forming.
- Flowers opening on bloom spikes.
- Vibrant flowering display lasting weeks.
- Increased sunlight promotes blooming.
- Die back of bloom spike after flowers fade.
To encourage reblooming, keep your air plant in bright filtered light after the initial bloom finishes. Increase watering frequency after blooming as well.
Stage 4: Offsets Stage
Later in an air plant’s life cycle, you’ll notice tiny plantlets called offsets or pups forming around the base. The parent plant uses these clones to reproduce asexually. As the offsets grow, they can be gently removed and potted separately once they reach at least 1/3 the size of the parent.
Signs your air plant is producing offsets:
- Tiny rosettes emerging from base.
- Offsets have distinct leaves and roots.
- Offsets joined by stolons to parent plant.
- Number of offsets increases progressively.
- Offsets reach 1/3 size of mature plant.
- Removing offsets stimulates growth.
Letting your air plant produce offsets gives you the reward of new baby air plants to grow or share. Just be sure not to remove offsets until they have sufficiently matured on the parent.
Stage 5: Final Stage
Sadly, air plants are monocarpic, meaning they die after flowering and producing offsets. However, by propagating offsets, you can continue growing genetically identical air plants for generations beyond the parent plant’s lifespan.
Indications your air plant may be entering its final stage:
- Decline in plant vigor and yellowing leaves.
- Little new growth appearing.
- Leaves becoming smaller/curling inward.
- Progressive dieback from the base up.
- Drying out of the center rosette.
- No signs of new offsets forming.
The natural lifespan of air plants varies by variety but is often 3-5 years on average. Providing great care can extend that lifespan a bit longer. By mastering the different stages of air plant growth, you can give your plant the best conditions for it to flourish and reproduce.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Plant Growth Stages
How long does it take for air plants to reach maturity?
Air plants typically reach maturity and their mature rosette form within their first year of growth when cared for properly. Larger varieties may take closer to 18-24 months.
Why did my air plant bloom then die?
Unfortunately, air plants naturally die after blooming and producing offsets. However, you can continue growing the plant by removing and propagating offsets before this point.
Should I remove offsets from my air plant?
Yes, gently removing offsets once they reach 1/3 to 1/2 the mother plant’s size encourages growth of both plants. Pot up offsets individually.
How often do air plants bloom?
Given ideal conditions, air plants can bloom 1-2 times per year, usually in spring and fall. Blooming exhausts the plant so allow it to recuperate before forcing it to rebloom.
Do air plants stop growing at a certain size?
No, air plants will continue growing given adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients throughout their lifespan. Max size depends on the variety.
How do I get my air plant to produce offsets?
Mature, healthy air plants will naturally produce offsets in time. Providing optimal care with enough light and fertilizer can encourage offset production.
Can I delay the end stage of my air plant?
While you can’t reverse the plant’s natural cycle, providing excellent care, sunlight, water, and fertilizer can maximize lifespan. Propagate offsets well before end stage.
Understanding the different developmental stages of air plants enables you to provide tailored care for their needs at each phase. With the proper growing conditions, you’ll be rewarded with a long-lived, flowering air plant and baby offsets to expand your collection.
Choose the Right Species of Air Plant
Air plants need different care depending on where they grow naturally in the wild. Air plants that are native to desert regions need a lot of sun, lower humidity and more infrequent watering. Those from rainforest environments require high humidity, shelter from the direct sun and careful attention to watering. All the Tillandsia species that are sold as houseplants are fairly resilient and adaptable, but they will perform best if you cater your care to their specific needs.
If you do not know the native region of your air plant, you can make an educated guess based on its traits. Air plants from dry, desert areas tend to be silver-green with scaly or fuzzy, flattened leaves. Those from humid, tropical places are dark green, less scaly and are more likely to have curved leaves. Some species will fall in-between. Most houseplant owners will probably find it easiest to care for silvery, fuzzy air plants, because these are most forgiving when it comes to watering.
In general, air plants need bright, indirect light. East and west-facing windows are perfect for year-round growth, while south-facing windows are an excellent location in the fall, winter and spring, but they may get too hot in the summer months. It is unlikely that air plants will do well in windows with a northern exposure or interior rooms without a light source. Though they might look nice on the coffee table, they won’t usually hold up for very long or put on much growth in this location.
Warm temperatures are also important for keeping air plants healthy. Like most houseplants, air plants prefer the indoor temperature to fall between 65 and 85℉ in the daytime, and between 50-65℉ at nighttime. At lower temperatures, growth tends to be poor, and plants are more prone to rot.
Properly watering air plants is absolutely essential, as incorrect watering is one of the top reasons growers are unsuccessful with them. Because air plants absorb water and nutrients through their leaves, they need to be watered frequently and consistently. Slightly rolled or curled leaves indicate it is time to water, and brown leaf tips are a sign that plants aren’t getting enough water.
One way to meet plant needs is to mist them with a spray bottle every other day. This method works well for air plants from arid regions, but is less effective for those from rainforests that have higher water needs. If misting doesn’t work for you, another option is to rinse plants with tepid water under the faucet a couple of times a week, which works for those with wells, as air plants can be sensitive to chlorine and fluorine. Perhaps the best option is to soak air plants in tepid water for 10-20 minutes once or twice a week. Dark green, less scaly air plants will benefit the most from this treatment. A quick dunk underwater is more than enough for silvery-green foliage varieties.
As important as watering is, many air plants meet their end from over-watering. Air plants will likely rot if they are watered too frequently, stay wet for too long or if water is allowed to collect at the base of their leaves. Ideally, air plants should be kept in a warm location with good air circulation so that their foliage will dry within four hours after watering. After soaking or rinsing, it is also helpful to suspend or rest plants upside down for a few seconds to allow excess water to drain away from their crowns.
Air plants should also be fertilized about once a month or so. The easiest way to do this is to soak them in a diluted fertilizer solution for a few minutes. Any water-soluble houseplant fertilizer will do, though it is possible to buy specific fertilizers formulated for bromeliads and air plants.
Displaying air plants is really where most of the fun comes in. One popular option is to place them inside of glass globes. Other possibilities include attaching them to bark or cork with wire or glue, or displaying them in dishes of decorative pebbles. Air plants can be grown on essentially any surface that dries quickly and makes it easy to water. You are only limited by your own creativity!