Air plants, also known as tillandsia, have become increasingly popular over the past few years. Their sculptural shapes, minimal care requirements, and ability to grow without soil make them ideal for modern home décor. But once your air plants have reached maturity, it’s important to know when and how to harvest them in order to maintain their health and encourage new growth. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to timing and techniques for successfully harvesting your air plants.
When is the Best Time to Harvest Air Plants?
Timing is critical when harvesting air plants, You’ll want to wait until they are mature enough to handle the harvesting process but harvest them before they become overcrowded or start going to seed Here are the signs that your air plant is ready for harvesting
- New pups or offshoots emerging from the base
- Central growth starting to blush and take on color
- Beginning signs of flowering/blooming
- Leaves spreading widely and plant appearing crowded in display
Ideally, you should harvest air plants when they are 1-3 years old. At this age, the plant will be established enough to recover from harvesting but still small enough for easy handling. Avoid harvesting during times of stress like extreme weather conditions.
Techniques for Harvesting Different Types of Air Plants
The specific harvesting technique you use will depend on the type of air plant you are working with Here are some guidelines for common air plant varieties
Soft-leaved species (T. ionantha, T. balbisiana, T. recurvifolia, etc.)
- Gently grasp the base and tug sideways to unattach
- Try to keep some roots intact for stability
- Can also cut with sharp, sterilized shears
Stiff, upright leaves (T. stricta, T. streptophylla, etc.)
- Hold leaves together to avoid breaking and cut off at base
- May need to cut through very stiff/woody growth
- Retain some roots for support
Large specimen plants (T. xerographica, T. aeranthos, etc.)
- Use two hands to gently work plant loose from its mount
- Take care not to break leaves which can be quite brittle
- Cutting through the base is safest for very large plants
Mounted varieties
- Use fishing line or wire to securely reattach harvested plants to a new mount
- Superglue gel can also affix plants to wood, seashells, cork, etc.
Post-Harvesting Care Tips
Proper care after harvesting is crucial to help your air plants recover and produce new growth:
- Soak in room temperature water for 30-60 minutes to rehydrate
- Allow to dry upside down until thoroughly dry
- Provide bright, indirect light from a south or west facing window
- Mist 2-3 times a week or soak every 1-2 weeks depending on climate
- Fertilize monthly with a bromeliad/orchid fertilizer at 1/4 strength
Monitor for signs of stress like browning leaves, failure to thrive, or slowed growth Harvested air plants may require a few weeks to reestablish themselves before showing new growth. Have patience!
Troubleshooting Common Harvesting Issues
Harvesting air plants does take some practice. Here are some common issues and how to avoid them:
Problem | Cause | Solution
Grooming & Aesthetic Maintenance
Everyone needs a little grooming once in a while! It is normal for some of the lower leaves of your tillandsias to dry out as the plant grows or acclimates to a new environment, and those leaves can be gently pulled right off of the plant. If the leaf tips have dried out, you can snip the dried tip off (try trimming at an angle to leave a natural-looking pointy tip), and the same can be done for the plants roots. Dont worry about harming your plants during grooming–theyll regrow.
Fertilizing your plants is not necessary, but will keep them in top shape and should promote blooming and reproduction. We recommend using our custom spray fertilizer once per month.
Tillandsias are tropical plants that usually live for several years and will bloom and produce flowers only one time during their lifetime. The flowers are striking and brilliantly colored, and the bloom period will last several days to many months, depending on the species. Different species bloom at different times, also depending on their care and environment. A plant will most likely go into bloom sometime between mid-winter and mid-summer.
Around a plants bloom time, theyll produce offshoots, or “pups.” Youll notice the pups have a separate and distinct center of their own, distinguishing them from the other leaves. Once the pup reaches at least one-third the size of the parent plant, the pup can be removed by gently pulling it apart from the parent. Hold both the parent and the pup at their bases and gently twist in a downward motion. You can also cut the plants apart using a clean razor blade, slicing as far down the pup stem as possible. Each pup will follow the life cycle by growing into a parent plant, blooming and producing pups of its own.
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Tillandsias can grow into clumps if the pups are left to grow on the parent plant. Clumps can also be created by wiring multiple plants together, as theyll begin to grow into and around each other.
Since air plants are very unique in that they do not require soil to grow and thrive, they can be mounted to almost any different surface for display. We recommend using the base of the plant as the mounting area. Adhesives like E-6000, Liquid Nails, or a hot glue gun will work great, as well as fishing line or any non-copper wire. When choosing your mounting surface, remember that your plant will still need to be watered, so something waterproof or water-resistant will be the best choice for a long-term display method
All orders over $75 ship for free. Most plants will ship with USPS Priority Mail. Non-living items are sent with ground service.
We will replace dead or dying plants once within a 30 day period. Contact us via email at [email protected] with photos.
All of our tillandsia are farmed by CITES-certified nurseries. We do not support the collection of plants from the wild.
Can my air plants live outdoors?
Sure! Cant you imagine admiring a beautiful hanging Stricta clump while sitting out on the porch enjoying an evening cocktail? The most important need for the plant will be bright, filtered light, so a patio or deck spot where theyll get indirect sunlight would be the best spot. Theyll need to be watered more often than plants kept inside, especially in dry periods, so grab the garden hose or dunk them in the pond, whatever is easiest. Make sure the plants are drying out within about 4 hours after being watered, especially after any long, soaking rains.
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FAQ
How to separate pups from air plants?
How long should I soak my air plant?