The best water to use for air plants is rain water; pond or aquarium water will also work, because they all contain some nutrients. Regular tap water is okay, too; but first let it sit in an open container overnight. "This allows chlorine to dissipate, and the water to reach room temperature," says Steil.
What type of water to use? In their natural habitat, air plants get their nutrients from rain water, bird droppings, and dying bugs. If you can collect rainwater, this would be the best option, or if you have access to pond, creek, lake, or well water. If not, the next best option is spring water.
Municipal water often has some chemicals such as chlorine and/or fluoride. If you have well water, pond water, creek water or rain water, your air plants will love that. You can also use bottled spring water. Do not use distilled water as it has fewer natural minerals and nutrients that air plants like.
When growing air plants inside, they benefit from being watered at least once per week. Frequency depends on the humidity of their location. An air plant grown near a heater will dry out much faster and need more frequent watering than a plant grown in a more humid environment.
How long can air plants go without water? Some of the fuzzier Tillandsia varieties with the most trichomes can last 2 weeks or more without water, but most air plants should go no more than 2 weeks without water.
How often do I water my air plants? Your plants should be watered once per week, and 2-3 times is recommended for optimal care. A longer, 2-hour soak is recommended every 2-3 weeks. If you are in a drier, hotter climate, more frequent watering or misting will be needed.
A light application of water, such as misting, will not fully absorb through the plant's leaves and the water will most likely evaporate before it can nourish the plant. A deeper, more thorough method of dunking or soaking is recommended for most plants every week to ten days to ensure proper hydration.
The best option for you to use is rainwater or filtered water. If none of the above is available, you may use tap water, but make sure to allow your air plants to sit out in a bowl for at least 24 hours. This would evaporate the chlorine that can turn the tips of your plant's leaves to brown.
Mist your plant every 4-5 days with one spray for tiny globes, 2-3 sprays for globes 3-5 inches, more if the plant is in a large open globe. 3. The key is to judge the drying time, the smaller the globe, the less circulation, the longer the plant will hold the moisture. If you over water the plant will die.
Roots: Air plants anchor themselves to objects by their roots and need to be attached to something in order to grow.
Xerographica air plants should be dunked or sprayed rather than soaked. These plants are considered xeric, and come from dry regions. These plants can withstand less water and more sun.
Do Air Plants Grow Bigger? If your air plant is a pup (baby air plant) then it will grow to full size depending on its species. As stated above, air plants range in size from two inches to seven feet so research your variety to find out more about how big it will grow.
For indoor cultivation we recommend submerging your airplant underwater once every 7-10 days for 6-12 hours. Make sure your soaking container does not have any soaps or chemical residue which will harm your plant. After soaking make sure your plant dries completely within 4 hours.
The average lifespan of an individual air plant is between two and five years depending on the type, propagation method, and level of care—but a single plant can produce enough offshoots (or “pups”) to live indefinitely.
Generally, the best place to keep air plants thriving is where they have access to indirect sunlight or under a bright home or office lighting. Short periods of direct sunlight won't harm air plants but too much direct sunlight causes moisture depletion so misting them will help keep them hydrated.
Air plants are a protected species in Florida, and taking them without permission can result in hefty fines. If you're caught picking air plants without a permit, you could be fined up to $500 per plant. So if you're hoping to add some air plants to your collection, be sure to buy them from a reputable source.
Pro: Tap water has added minerals in it, so you can worry less about fertilizing your plants. However, different water has different minerals and chemicals and you may want to test to make sure it's what your plants need.
Misting is simple, just take a spray bottle or a hose attachment on the “mist” setting and lightly mist your plants. When misting, make sure that the entire plant is moistened. As stated before, this is not the best watering method to use if this is their only source of water.
Fill your bowl with water and put in your air plant, upside down. Give it a few good swirls in the water to clear any debris or bubbles from the leaves, then leave it to soak. 15 to 30 minutes is perfectly fine. Once the Tillandsia has had its bath, take it out and place it upside down and allow it to drain.
One of the leading reasons why air plants die is root rot. Root rot occurs when the plant roots are left submerged in water for too long, causing them to break down and rot. To avoid root rot, shake excess water from the plant once it has finished soaking.
Provide Bright Light
If your climate is warm, try placing your mature plant outdoors with filtered light and adequate moisture and it should jump-start the blooming cycle. Avoid placing air plants in windowless rooms or bathrooms as they will not receive enough sunlight to produce the energy needed to bloom!
The roots serve only to attach the air plant to a host tree or rock or even the ground, nothing more. Soaking air plants in a bowl of water for 20 minutes to an hour every week to 10 days is best. Make sure the water is lukewarm or room temperature so you don't shock the plant.