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.
If you have air plant displays that do not allow for the soaking or dunking techniques and misting is the only option, be sure to water the plants more frequently. A heavy mist is recommended every one to three days and always be sure there is plenty of indirect light and ventilation so the plant dries properly.
The best watering option is to submerge the leaves, but keep the flower out of the water. "If this is too difficult, mist the leaves frequently, but avoid wetting the flower. You can also hold the air plants under gently-flowing water, being careful to only wet the leaves and not the flowers," says Steil.
Soak your air plants in a bowl of water for 20 minutes to an hour every week to 10 days is best. Submerge the entire plant. If your plant has a bloom, you may wish to keep the bud above the water to not disturb it, although in nature they get wet all the time.
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.
Roots: Air plants anchor themselves to objects by their roots and need to be attached to something in order to grow.
With a water plant mister or spray bottle, you can simply spray your air plant 2-3 times a week. Make sure the entire plant is sprayed. Once sprayed make sure there is plenty of air circulation so the plant can dry quickly. Air plants can rot if they are in spaces without plenty of air.
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.
Because they don't need dirt, you can put them in creative places. Place one in a shallow bowl or vase filled with rocks or sand, place one in a tiny container with a magnet and put it on the fridge, or tie them to driftwood with a translucent fishing line. Don't put them in an enclosed terrarium.
Try to place your air plant 3-5 feet from a window or near an artificial light source. Too much sunlight is not good for an air plant, even indoors. If growing outside, make sure to select a partially shaded location. Few varieties can handle all day sun.
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.
Letting the leaves get too wet and / or allowing them to stay excessively wet for a prolonged period of time can encourage mold growth on the leaf surface, so it's always important to ensure you don't ever allow puddles of water to form on your plants' leaves - this applies when watering as well as when misting.
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.
“A lot of people don't understand the importance of misting,” adds Jenkins. “Misting is one of the top things that you can do for your houseplants. I advise my clients to mist their houseplants one to two times per week.”
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 will quickly rot if they are allowed to stand in excess water. From the time soaking ends, the plant should be able to dry fully within 3 hours. If your plant stays wet longer than this, it may rot.
Don't use chlorinated or water in the softening system as it can harm your air plants. 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.
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.
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. If you buy an air plant at a market it's likely full grown.
In fact the majority of air plants should NOT be planted in soil. You can easily layer moss, sand, or rock to create variation and texture in your terrarium. You don't want your air plants sitting against any moisture in their terrariums or holders, so make sure whatever base you use is completely dry.
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.
Is My Air Plant Dead? If the leaves of your tillandsia begin to dry out and have a more pronounced convex shape, this doesn't necessarily mean it's dead. It might just be a little dried out, in which case, you can perk up an under-watered air plant by increasing the frequency of watering and misting.
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 ...