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Air Plant Care

Air plants, or Tillandsia, make up the largest subgroup found in the bromeliad family. These plants are epiphytic in nature, so they evolved to grow on other plants like trees. These plants will bloom once in a lifetime with a colorful bloom spike unique to the variety.

How to care for your Air Plant

Use these instructions to care for an Air Plant. This guide will tell you how to water an Air Plant; its light, temperature, humidity preferences and any additional care it might need to help it grow.

Air Plant

LIGHT

Air plants require indirect bright light. Too much light and foliage will dry out too quickly and burn, but too little light will cause a slow decline of the plant. Bright indirect light can be found in places like an eastern window or a few feet back from a southern or western window.

WATER

Every 1-2 weeks, fill a sink or tub with lukewarm water and soak your air plant for 30 minutes. After soaking, lay them upside down on a towel until they are completely dry, this will usually take 1-2 hours but can take longer. It is very important to dry them before putting them back as it prevents rot and mold from occurring. After drying, they can be put back into their home. Soak less frequently in the winter as they go dormant.

HUMIDITY

Air plants prefer a humid environment. Adding a humidifier to their environment will help, or lightly misting them in between watering waterings will benefit them.

TEMPERATURE

Air plants will do best in temperatures between 60-80°F.

FOOD

During spring and summer, use air plant foliar spray or soak in air plant water-dissolvable fertilizer while soak-watering. Use 1-2 times a month.

TOXICITY

Air plants are considered to be non-toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

ADDITIONAL CARE

If your air plant is given correct care, it will eventually bloom. After it blooms, feel free to cut it off with a pair of plant snips. After some time, you will also see new pups forming off of the mother plant. Eventually, the mother plant will die off. You can separate the pups or leave them as is.

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What's an Air Plant?

Botanical Classification: Tillandsia spp.

About

Air plants, or Tillandsia, make up the largest subgroup found in the bromeliad family. These plants are epiphytic in nature, so they evolved to grow on other plants like trees. These plants will bloom once in a lifetime with a colorful bloom spike unique to the variety.

Air plants are native to a wide range of ecosystems in South America and the southern United States. Found living on other plants, air plants get their moisture and nutrients from the air using tiny hairs called trichomes. Every 1-2 weeks, fully soak your air plant in a bowl or sink. While tap water is acceptable, keep your air plant looking its best by using rain or spring water. These plants need indirect light to thrive and like to be kept in a humid environment.

Fun Fact

Air plants are incredibly easy to propagate! Simply keep an eye out for pups, or baby plants, growing off the mother. Wait till they’re about ⅓ the size of the mother plant, then gently pluck them off at the base of the plant pup and tend to them like any other air plant.

Pictured Left: Air Plant

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