Air plants do best with at least a few hours of bright, indirect sun daily. Placement within 1 to 3 feet of an east- or west-facing window, or within a foot or two of an artificial light source is ideal. If you keep them well watered, they can have hotter, more direct sun and longer exposure. Avoid dimly lit locations.
Air plants absorb all of their water and nutrients through their leaves. A thorough 20 to 60-minute soak in room-temperature water every week to ten days is the best way for the plants to fully hydrate. Always remove your air plants from their vessels or displays before watering.
Air plants need moderate indirect light; mine thrive in a spot on a wall in between two south facing windows. To care for them, simply submerge and soak in water for at least an hour--overnight if you can--every 7-10 days. People tend to be surprised you can submerge airborne plants underwater, but they love it!
Grow air plants in bright but indirect light, such as near a window. They can tolerate some direct sunlight, but too much can cause their leaves to burn. Air plants require temperatures between 10-32°C and moderate humidity levels, around 40-60 percent, making them ideal for growing in terrariums and bathrooms.
Roots: Air plants anchor themselves to objects by their roots and need to be attached to something in order to grow.
When plants are stressed, they may display this with browning of their leaf tips. This is one scenario where misting your plant between waterings may be beneficial to help prevent leaf tips from browning. Causes of dried leaf tips can be too much sun or not enough water.
It's easier to damage air plants through overwatering than under-watering, as they are prone to rotting if left in standing water for a long period. To water them properly, you can opt for misting or soaking.
For best results and an extra boost of nutrients, add one pump of Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food to the soaking water or mist your air plant once a week with Miracle-Gro® Ready-to-Use Orchid Plant Food Mist.
A healthy air plant will have wide open leaves while a dehydrated air plant will have closed and curled leaves! Never submerge the bloom or flower, as it can cause the flower to rot. If you are using tap water, let the water stand for several hours to dissipate any chemicals prior to watering the plants.
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 Lifespan of an Air Plant
An individual plant, not counting the pups that grow into their own plants from broken-off leaves, can live up to a few years. Of course, this is only the case if they receive the proper care.
Alternatively, clean tap water or bottled spring water works well too. If using tap water, let it sit for a day to allow chlorine to dissipate. Avoid distilled water as it lacks essential nutrients. If you're concerned about nutrient deficiency, use Air Plant Fertilizer monthly.
Feed them once a month by adding water-soluble fertilizer for epiphytes, bromeliads or air plants to the water you dunk them in. These specialized fertilizers contain nitrogen in a form they can absorb. Air plants like temperatures ranging between the 50s and 90s. They thrive with temperature fluctuations.
Therefore, any kind of wood-based container or surface is absolutely ideal for the Tillandsia variety. If you search online, you'll get some attractive options—for example, wood air plant holders with curved wires at the top. Simple rustic style wooden vases go well too with all kinds of indoor decor.
Other than watering on a set schedule, you'll know if your air plant needs water by taking a close look at the leaves. The edges of each leaf will curl inward along its length as the plant uses up moisture. And although thirsty air plants don't wilt as obviously as other plants do, the whole plant will feel limp.
Look for Bromeliad or Tillandsia fertilizer. Ours has a formula ratio of 17-8-22 or nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium, all things that air plants love and need to bloom and reproduce. Make sure the fertilizer you use contains a non-urea-based nitrogen. Fertilize once a month in addition to weekly waterings.
MG is so strong that if used incorrectly, the fertilizer will actually burn the leaves and roots of your plants (you may have already experienced this). Imagine what it's doing to the healthy bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes that are working so hard to provide the nutrients your plants need.
To encourage faster growth in your air plants, ensure they get bright, indirect light and proper air circulation. You should also mist your plants occasionally to promote a more humid environment.
Tip: Tillandsia don't love to be handled. Besides our clumsy hands snapping the occasional leaf, the oils in our fingers actually clog the air plant's sensitive leaves. All Airplantman designs keep this in mind so that it is easy to give your Tillandsia the water it needs without touching it directly!
Air plants are a growing trend and a must-have in every bathroom to brighten up your space and bring a little bit of nature into a room where you typically do not see much “natural green.” Air plants are perfect for a bathroom - they do not require soil, just occasional watering and lighting from either a window or ...
Remove the dead parts of your Air plant. Get a bowl of water and dip it in for at least 5-8 hours. Air plants absorb water through their leaves, not in their roots. So make sure all the leaves are submerged in the water.
If the center leaves are falling out, or the base of the plant begins to turn black or brown, this is a sign that it's beginning to rot from too much water.
Lay your air plants on a dish towel or drying rack on their side or upside down to dry completely. This is especially crucial for larger, Xeric species like Xerographica, Streptophylla, and Sparkler. They should feel fully dry within a couple hours after their soak.
2. Air plants use roots to attach themselves to things (rather than to absorb nutrients).