A sick air plant generally shows signs of either dehydration or rot. A dehydrated plant has wrinkling, curling, or brown, crispy tips. A rotting plant features mushy brown or black bases and easily detaches from its center when pulled.
Reviving a Dying Air Plant
Switch to rainwater or unchlorinated water. Move the plant to a well-lit place away from direct sunlight if you suspect lighting issues. Finally, spray the plants with Tillandsia fertilizer to provide nutrients and allow the plant to thrive.
Although air plants like Xerographica don't need much water to survive, not getting enough would cause dehydration and they will begin to show signs like; looking a bit dull, the tips of the leaves are drying out, and are starting to make a u-shape and get droopy at the same time.
Signs of an Overwatered Air Plant
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. Remove any damaged or diseased parts with sanitized shears, put the plant in a sunny spot in the room, and hope for the best!
Air Plant Life Cycle
Most air plants mature at the time of flowering and, depending on the species and growth conditions, their life expectancy is between two to five years. Even though most air plants have a short life, they can be kept alive indefinitely.
Just a spoonful of hydrogen peroxide helps the root rot away. 🌱 On top of fighting bacteria and fungus around the clock, diluting your propagation water with hydrogen peroxide also works to release oxygen, helping roots grow stronger. *Adjust the amount added depending on the size of your propagation.
Identifying Rot
If the base of your air plant looks brown and feels overly soft/mushy to the touch, it might be the victim of rot or fungus. Often times a rotting air plant will also lose leaves around its base and could start to fall apart, or the center of the air plant might come out.
Coughing, sneezing, breathing difficulties and itchy, watering eyes are telltale signs of poor air quality. Many airborne pollutants can irritate our eyes, nose, throat and lungs, leading to a spike in inflammation within our respiratory systems, Dr.
Tip: Watch your plants' leaves for clues on whether they are thirsty or not. Curly leaves are drier and a healthy white fuzz actually means your plant is healthy, not necessarily drying out. Brown leaf tips and a general shriveled appearance are other clues you are under-watering.
That's why Feng Shui and interior design experts say it's a mistake to choose one of these five houseplants you should never place in your bedroom:
It's a good idea to trim these plants once a year and remove dead and yellowing leaves, as well as spent blooms. However, try to be very gentle when handling this fragile plant. Use sterilized scissors and trim damaged leaves all the way down to the plant's base, leaving only the healthy leaves.
Fill a spray bottle with rainwater, or aquarium water. Mist each air plant 2 to 3 times a week, covering the whole plant. Ensure good air circulation around the plant so it dries out naturally.
Mist them with filtered water with air plant fertilizer every couple days. If they are completely brown on the bottom and the leaves hang off they might be dead. Don't let the base sit on anything wet.
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.
Signs Your Home is Affecting Your Health
Using Indoor Air Quality Monitors
This device measures various pollutants depending on the model you choose. Low-cost indoor air pollution monitors usually track volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde, humidity, and temperature.
Below is an overview of why our indoor air is so polluted and some solutions for purifying it.
What's Killing My Air Plants?
The first signs of root rot will be above ground. As the roots stop functioning, your plant will start to yellow and wilt all over. If you have a plant that's made up of several stems in the same pot, it's possible only one stem will get root rot.
So, if you use 1 teaspoon of Dawn, you will need 2 teaspoons of peroxide. Or 1/2 cup of Dawn and 1 cup of peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is better for non-porous surfaces, while vinegar works well on porous materials. Choose based on the type of surface you're treating for effective mold removal.
Here's a quick guide to what you should never clean with hydrogen peroxide, and what to use instead.