tillandsia Air plant get nutrients from the soils, water and also from air around them. Tillandsia air is easy to care plant. It has silver foliage tend to be the most drought tolerant plant.
Are you looking for a unique plant that grows without soil then bring home an air plant. Tillandsia air plant have narrow, strap shaped leaves that grow in a rosette pattern. Tillandsia air plant care for beginners can be low maintenance and easy to care for your home.
In this article I share how I have taken care of my tillandsia air plant. Plant lovers like me can grow indoor plants of their choice in short time.
Air plants also known as tillandsias are unique tropical plants that don’t require soil to grow. These epiphytic plants attach themselves to trees, rocks, and other surfaces in nature and absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. With their sculptural shapes and striking blooms in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white, air plants make excellent houseplants. They are super easy to care for indoors if you follow some basic tips. Read on to learn all about growing healthy and lush air plants in your home.
Light Requirements
Air plants thrive in bright, filtered light indoors. Place them near an east, west, or south-facing window where they will get lots of indirect sunlight. Direct hot midday sun will scorch their leaves, so provide some shade if needed. North-facing windows generally don’t provide enough light. An ideal situation would be a west or east window with a sheer curtain to diffuse the sun’s rays. If the only spot you have doesn’t get much natural light, supplement with fluorescent lighting. Just make sure to keep lights on for 10-12 hours per day. Rotate the plants occasionally so all sides get even light exposure.
Watering Your Air Plant
Watering is where many people go wrong with air plant care These tropical epiphytes need much more hydration than you would expect for a plant that doesn’t grow in soil In your home, you need to water your air plants about once a week. Some varieties can go two weeks without being watered. Air plants shouldn’t be allowed to sit in standing water other than during their regular soaking; it encourages rot.
The easiest method is to soak the plants for 30-60 minutes once a week. Remove from any decorative holder and place in a bowl, jar or sink filled with room temperature filtered water or rainwater. Let them sit and drink up as much as they can. You’ll see air bubbles coming out as a sign they are fully hydrated. Allow any excess water to drain off before putting them back in their display spot.
Another good technique is to mist your air plants daily to supplement the weekly soak. Use a spray bottle filled with pure water at room temperature. Aim for the base and center of the plant where new growth emerges rather than just misting the leaves.
Humidity and Air Circulation
Warm and humid conditions are ideal for air plants to prevent drying out. Place them in bathrooms, laundry rooms or kitchens where humidity levels tend to be higher. You can also set plants on pebble trays filled with water to increase moisture in the air around them. Use an electric humidifier nearby. Just watch that stagnant air doesn’t lead to rotten roots or leaves. Ensure the plants get decent airflow.
Fertilizer
While air plants pull nutrients from the air, you can fertilize them to promote lush growth. Use a bromeliad or orchid fertilizer following package directions. Dilute it to half or quarter strength before misting or soaking your plants. Fertilize this way every 2-4 weeks during active growth in spring and summer. Cut back in fall and winter.
Displaying Your Air Plants
One of the best parts of growing air plants is that you can get really creative with where to put them since they don’t need soil. Mount them to wood, twist tie them to fishing line or display on a piece of driftwood. Hang them from macrame plant holders or set them into pretty bowls. Group air plants together for interesting arrangements. Place them on mantels or shelves, or tuck them into a wreath or piece of wall art. Let them adorn tabletops or desktops. Just be sure wherever you display them that you can remove them easily for regular soakings.
Common Varieties
With over 650 species, there are lots of different types of air plants to choose from. Here are some of the most popular varieties for growing indoors:
-
Tillandsia ionantha: This clump-forming air plant has twisted, spiraling leaves that blush pink to red when they are about to bloom. The violet-blue flower spikes are long-lasting.
-
Tillandsia xerographica: Known for its striking silver-gray leaves that gracefully curl and twist, this large air plant can grow over 2 feet wide. It produces a tall red bloom spike.
-
Tillandsia cyclindrica: As the name implies, this air plant has a cylindrical shape with long, stiff leaves that curl over at the ends. The bright red and yellow bloom is impressive.
-
Tillandsia tectorum: With thin straplike leaves, this air plant has a triangular shape. Pups freely grow off the base. Flowers are white with purple bracts.
-
Tillandsia juncea: This fun, bulbous air plant has twisted green leaves. It blooms bright pink to red flowers that last for months.
Repotting
You obviously don’t need soil to repot an air plant! The only time you need to move it is if the plant is overflowing its current home or container. Gently remove and place in a larger display, or go ahead and divide it into smaller plants. Speaking of which…
Dividing Air Plants
Air plants will produce pups or offshoots as they mature. When these reach about one-third to halfway the size of the mother plant, you can detach them and create new plants. Gently twist and pull the pups off. Be careful not to damage the roots of the mother plant.
Let the pups sit out for 2-3 days to allow the breaks to callous over and seal. Then begin caring for the pups the same way you do the mature plant. In time, the pups will bloom and produce even more babies to expand your air plant collection. It’s super rewarding!
Common Pests
Generally speaking, air plants are less prone to pests than typical houseplants. Their lack of soil and quick drying leaves provide less opportunity for insects to take hold. However, you may encounter an occasional infestation of:
-
Mealybugs: Cottony white sap-sucking bugs that leave sticky residue on leaves. Wipe off with rubbing alcohol.
-
Scale Insects: Small bumpy brownish bugs that drain plant juices. Remove manually and use neem oil spray.
-
Fungus Gnats: Tiny flying black bugs from overwatering. Let plants dry out to eliminate them.
Diseases
Overwatering is the most common way air plants get sick. Ensure the plant dries adequately after its soak before returning to its display. Discard any mushy or rotting leaves immediately to prevent spread of bacteria and fungi. Dry air can also cause tips to brown. Just increase humidity and water a bit more frequently.
Getting Air Plants to Bloom
With the proper care, most air plant varieties will bloom at some point during the year. Blooms last several weeks or longer in colors like pink, purple, yellow, white or green. Nothing triggers flowering; it occurs naturally as the plant matures. But you can encourage it by providing excellent growing conditions as detailed above. Welcome these blooms as a sign of health and happiness in your air plant!
Enjoying This Easy Houseplant
Air plants definitely live up to their reputation as being simple indoor plants even plant newbies can grow with success. Their sculptural shapes and vibrant tropical vibe add nice texture and interest to home decor as well. Follow these basic care tips for lighting, water, humidity, fertilizer, pests, and more. Then get creative displaying your air plants in fun containers and arrangements around your indoor spaces.
Tillandsia air plant propagtion
Propagation is a method by which you can make many plants of your choice. The most of the epiphytes plant, like tillandsia air plant can be propagated through the pup removal. You can easily propagate tillandsia air plant in the Spring when it starts active growth. Pups are always genetically identical to original plant. You will need to separate the pups once they get to around of their mother plant.
Use a sharp knife, carefully lay the mother plant on its and cut away the pups. Air plants are healthy and established will begin to grow pups.
Repotting the tillandsia air plant
Air plant is the easiest plant to move because they are not rooted in soil. This plant is requires no soil and receives their nutrients from the environment. Air plants can thrive in any kind of container or pot.This plant reports the time to shift home and shifts to larger containers. If the plant gets proper water, light, fertilizers, temperature, it will grow as before.
Air Plant Care Guide // Garden Answer
FAQ
How do I keep my air plant happy?
How do you make indoor plants lush?
How do air plants grow?
Use this guide to grow air plants in your home and help them thrive. Air plants ( Tillandsia spp.) are epiphytes, meaning they grow on other plants in nature, usually on tree branches. There are hundreds of species and varieties of air plants.
Are air plants easy to grow?
Air plants really are superbly simple for growing in any conditions. You just need know what those conditions are, and you will know that shortly. Of all the plants in the world, air plants are the only type to grow on another host, like trees, branches, rocks and even sand in desert climates. They don’t need much, aside from moisture.
How do you care for air plants?
Air plants are tropical and they will die if they’re exposed to temperatures lower than 45 °F (7 °C). Soak air plants in a basin or tub of water for 30 minutes once a week. Give your air plants a thorough watering every week by placing them directly in a tub or sink filled with water. Submerge the plants and leave them for half an hour.
Where should I put my air plant?
Place your air plant within 3–5 feet (0.91–1.52 m) of a south, east, or west-facing window to ensure it gets plenty of bright, filtered sunlight. In the Northern Hemisphere, a south-facing window will receive the most light during the day. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite—a north-facing window gets more light.