Air plants are unusual, unique, and popular houseplants. They grow and reproduce without any soil. This distinctive growth habit means these fun houseplants have some special considerations.
Air plants, also known as tillandsias, are unique tropical plants that don’t require soil to grow. With their striking foliage and minimal care needs, air plants make excellent additions to any outdoor space Follow these tips to successfully grow air plants outdoors for a beautiful and lush garden
Choosing the Right Location
When growing air plants outside location is key. Air plants thrive in bright, filtered sunlight, so avoid placing them in direct sun which can scorch their leaves. Look for a spot that receives 4-6 hours of bright indirect light daily. Great locations include under patio covers, dappled shade beneath trees, and on balconies or porches protected from harsh sun.
Air plants also require good air circulation to prevent rot, so avoid placing them anywhere with stagnant air like enclosed patios or right up against a wall.those in particularly arid climates may need to mist plants more frequently to compensate for dry air. In more humid regions, misting generally isn’t necessary. Monitor your local conditions and adjust watering accordingly.
Mounting Air Plants for Display
One of the best parts of growing air plants outside is getting creative with display! Air plants make perfect porch plants and can be mounted in trees or on hardscape features. Use fishing line or floral wire to securely attach plants to interesting found objects like driftwood, seashells, and river rocks.
Hang air plants from tree branches or mount them on pieces of weatherproof wood to create living walls. Displaying them at different heights creates visual interest. Place air plants in outdoor planters like ceramic pots or use magnets to affix them to metal surfaces. Groupings of 3-5 plants make a major statement.
Providing the Right Amount of Water
Air plants absorb moisture through their leaves instead of roots. To water, mist your plants 2-3 times per week or soak them in water for 30 minutes every 1-2 weeks. Always shake off excess moisture after watering to prevent rot. The frequency depends on your climate, the plant’s exposure to sun and wind, and the species’ preferences.
Observe your plants and water more often if you notice leaves curling or taking on a deflated appearance. Always water early in the day so leaves have time to dry before night. Avoid watering when the sun is hottest as wet foliage can burn.
Fertilizing For Healthy Growth
While not a requirement, fertilizer can provide an extra boost 1-2 times during the active growing season. Look for a bromeliad or orchid fertilizer and dilute to half strength before misting it over plants’ leaves. Never apply fertilizer to completely dry plants or directly to the center growth point where new leaves emerge.
Dealing With Pests and Diseases
Outdoor air plants are quite pest and disease resistant, but may occasionally encounter issues. Insect pests like spider mites and mealybugs can be dislodged with a strong stream of water. For fungal or bacterial diseases, prune affected leaves and adjust watering to allow plants to dry out more between waterings.
Monitor outdoor plants closely for signs of stress and adjust care as needed. With proper siting and care, air plants will thrive outside, adding lush, tropical style to any garden.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Air Plant Care
How much sunlight do air plants need when grown outside?
Air plants grow best in bright, filtered light. When grown outdoors, look for areas that receive 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight daily, such as under a patio cover or tree canopy. Direct hot sun can scorch air plant leaves.
What is the best way to water outdoor air plants?
Outdoor air plants should be misted with water 2-3 times per week or soaked for 30 minutes every 1-2 weeks. Always allow plants to fully dry before nighttime to prevent rot. The frequency depends on climate, exposure, and the plant variety.
Should I fertilize my outdoor air plants?
Fertilizer is optional for air plants, but a diluted bromeliad or orchid fertilizer 1-2 times during the active growing season can promote lush growth. Always avoid getting fertilizer on the new center leaves.
What kind of locations are ideal for displaying outdoor air plants?
Air plants make great porch plants and can be displayed in trees, mounted to hardscape features, in outdoor planters, or hung from patios and balconies. Avoid fully enclosed spaces lacking airflow. Look for filtered bright shade.
How do I mount air plants on driftwood, shells, and other objects outside?
Use flexible wire or transparent fishing line to securely fasten air plants to interesting objects like driftwood, seashells, and river rocks. Affix multiple plants to create interesting groupings and vary heights for visual interest.
What should I do if my outdoor air plants have pests?
Gently rinse plants with a strong stream of water to dislodge most soft-bodied pests like spider mites or mealybugs. Avoid chemical pesticides. For diseases, improve air circulation and allow plants to dry thoroughly between waterings.
Can I grow air plants outside year round?
In zones 8-11, air plants can remain outside year-round. In cooler climates, they should be brought indoors once night temperatures start dropping below 50°F in fall. Outdoor air plants are tropical and can’t withstand freezing temps.
Why are some of my outdoor air plant’s leaves turning brown?
If older bottom leaves turn brown, this is natural maturation. But browning on new growth could indicate sunburn, over-watering, or poor air circulation leading to rot. Try moving the plant to brighter filtered light and allow it to dry more thoroughly.
What should I do if my outdoor air plants seem to be struggling?
Assess your care regimen. Are plants receiving enough bright, indirect light? Are you watering on a schedule rather than observing your individual plant’s needs? Try moving struggling plants to a shadier spot and wait for leaves to curl slightly before watering again.
Ready to Grow Your Outdoor Air Plant Oasis?
With the right siting and a bit of routine care, air plants are sure to thrive outside, adding vibrant tropical flair to gardens, patios, and porches. Their sculptural forms and minimal roots mean you can creatively display air plants in trees, mounted as living art, and in planters without having to tend to soil. Mist your plants consistently, soak them periodically, and provide bright filtered sunlight for your own lush outdoor air plant oasis this season.
Frequency of Entities:
air plants: 28
outdoor: 21
water: 14
leaves: 10
bright: 7
indirect: 6
plants: 6
light: 5
Growing Air Plant Indoors
Air plants grow without soil. This means they can be grown just about anywhere indoors that receives bright, indirect light. Place them in trays or specialized hangers, grow them in terrariums, or set them in sea shells or glass globes, vases, or dishes. How they are displayed in the home is often only limited by someone’s creativity!
Air plants are plants that grow without soil. This distinctive growth habit means these fun houseplants have some special considerations.
The watering method and frequency for air plants looks much different than the typical houseplant. Plants perform best with consistent and abundant moisture which they receive from the humid air and rains in their native habitat. With no soil and much drier conditions in the average home, providing that consistent moisture can be challenging (unless you have a greenhouse).
Spraying or misting on a regular basis does not provide enough moisture on a consistent basis to keep these plants healthy. Water air plants by submerging them in room temperature water for about 30 to 60 minutes. Then gently shake them out well to prevent water from pooling in the leaves, which will lead to rot. Place them upside down for about 30 minutes and as long as 3 hours to allow plants to thoroughly dry. Then they can be returned to their growing location.
Allow water to sit overnight to reach room temperature and to allow the chlorine to dissipate, which can cause brown leaf tips if not done. Once the excess water has drained, return them to its location. The frequency of watering can vary by season and conditions, but in warm, bright conditions, water once a week and in the cooler, darker conditions watering can be reduced to every two weeks.
Air plants can benefit from some fertilizer. Simply add a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer at half or quarter strength to the water every third or fourth time they are watered.
What are Air Plants?
Air plants are members of the diverse Tillandisa genus which is in the bromeliad family. In their native habitat of tropical and subtropical North and South America, these epiphytic plants will be found clinging to trunks and branches of other plants or anything else they can sit on including rocks and buildings. While they use other plants to sit on, they do not harm or take from their host.
They collect all the water they need through specialized cells on their leaves called trichomes that allow the efficient absorption of any water from the air or rain.
They vary widely in size and range from the familiar Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) which can be found draping from trees in the southeastern United States to ball moss (T. recurvata) which can be seen clinging to telephone wires, fences, or just about anything else in Central America, to the larger, more colorful species of T. ionantha, T. xerographica, T. capitata or T. bulbosa, all of which are typically referred to as air plants.