How Do You Care for Air Plants?

Air plants need bright, filtered light, good air circulation and thorough watering about once a week. Clemson Cooperative Extension says to water by misting well or by submerging the whole plant for 20 to 30 minutes, and then to let it dry. They grow without soil, so everything they take in comes through their leaves. 

Watering advice for air plants varies from source to source, and the disagreement hides the step that keeps them alive. UF/IFAS, the University of Florida's extension service, recommends a weekly misting heavy enough that water runs off the plant. Clemson offers misting or a soak. Both agree on what comes next: the plant has to dry out before it is watered again. Clemson is specific about how. Shake off the water that collects between the leaves and turn the plant upside down to drain, because water left sitting in the center causes rot. This post covers what air plants are, light, watering and drying, displays, fertilizer, and what happens after one blooms.

What is an air plant? 

An air plant is a member of the genus Tillandsia, a group of more than 500 species in the bromeliad family. UF/IFAS explains that air plants are epiphytes, meaning they use other plants or structures for support. They attach to their host without harming it.

The name comes from how they feed. Air plants have no need for soil. Clemson notes that small scales on their thin, stiff leaves let the plant absorb water and nutrients from the air, and those scales are what give many species a fuzzy, gray-green look.

Spanish moss, a familiar sight hanging from trees in Florida, is a Tillandsia too. 

UF/IFAS adds one request for buyers: never harvest air plants from the wild. Florida's native bromeliads, Tillandsia included, are threatened by collection, development and an invasive weevil, so buy plants from a shop or grower. 

How much light do air plants need? 

Bright light, with no direct sun. UF/IFAS recommends keeping indoor air plants near a south, east or west window. Clemson describes the same exposures and adds that the light should be filtered, so the plant should not sit in direct sunlight.

In practical terms: 

• A shelf or table near a bright window works.
• Direct sun on a windowsill does not. 
• Air circulation is the third requirement both sources list alongside light and water. Moving air is what lets a plant dry after watering.

How do you water an air plant?

Once a week, by one of two methods. 

Misting. UF/IFAS recommends a good misting once a week, to the point where water is running off the plant. A few light sprays are not enough. 

Soaking. Clemson gives soaking as the alternative: submerge the plant in water for 20 to 30 minutes.

Either method works when it is done thoroughly. A bowl or a clean sink is all a soak takes. Plants mounted on wood or set in a display that cannot go underwater are candidates for heavy misting. 

The plant shows when it is thirsty. UF/IFAS notes that curled or rolled leaves indicate a dehydrated Tillandsia. Clemson adds that the foliage turns a dull color and the tips turn brown.

Why does drying matter as much as watering?

Because water left sitting in the plant leads to rot. 

Clemson explains that excess water can collect between the leaves around the center of the plant. Its instructions after every watering are simple: 

• Shake the plant gently to remove trapped water.
• Turn it upside down so the rest can drain.
• Let it dry before returning it to its display. 

UF/IFAS makes the same point from the other direction: allow the plant to dry out between waterings.

This is where placement matters. A plant set back into a closed glass globe or a deep ceramic cup while it is still wet stays wet at its base. Leave it out on a towel, upside down, until it is dry to the touch, and then put it back.

How should you display air plants?

Almost any way that does not trap water. UF/IFAS lists shells, pieces of cork, bark, a bed of dry pebbles in a shallow dish, and glass globes hung from ribbon or fishing line. Its one rule is that whatever surface holds the plant must not hold water. 

For mounting, UF/IFAS says air plants can be attached with an adhesive such as liquid nails or hot glue that has cooled slightly, or tied on with wire.

Displays are half the fun of owning them. The air plant bar at Roots to Petals in Oakmont stocks dozens of air plants in different shapes, sizes, textures and colors, along with displays in cork, wood, ceramics and glass terrariums. Customers can assemble their creations at the studio's workshop table. 

For any display, think about watering the day before committing. A plant that lifts out easily can be soaked and dried. A plant glued in place will need to be misted and given time to air out.

Do air plants need fertilizer?

No, though it helps. Clemson states that fertilization is not necessary, and that plants will be more vigorous with a light application.

Its recommendation is specific:

• Use a liquid fertilizer made for bromeliads.
• Dilute it to one-fourth of the suggested dosage.
• Apply it once a month as part of the normal watering.

Do air plants bloom, and what happens afterward?

They can. UF/IFAS notes that Tillandsia does not always bloom indoors, and that when it does, flowers tend to appear in late winter and midsummer and can last from days to months.

Blooming is the end of one plant and the start of several. UF/IFAS explains that the mother plant slowly dies after it blooms, while new plants sprout from it. Clemson calls these new plants pups and notes that they develop from the base of the parent.

A healthy air plant that flowers and then fades has done what it is supposed to do. Keep caring for the clump, and the pups will take over. 

FAQ

How often should you water air plants? 

Once a week, by a thorough misting or a 20 to 30 minute soak, according to UF/IFAS and Clemson Cooperative Extension. Let the plant dry between waterings. 

Do air plants need soil?

No. Air plants are epiphytes that take in water and nutrients through their leaves.

Can air plants live in a glass terrarium?

Yes, as a display. Take the plant out to water it, and let it dry completely before putting it back, since the container should not hold water.

Why are the tips of my air plant turning brown?

Brown tips, dull color and curled leaves are signs of too little water, according to Clemson. Water more thoroughly, and consider soaking in place of misting.

Are air plants safe for cats? 

Air plants do not appear on the ASPCA's toxic or non-toxic plant lists for cats. The ASPCA notes that eating any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset.

What are air plant pups?

Pups are the new plants that grow from the base of an air plant after it flowers.

Air Plants at Roots to Petals in Oakmont

Roots to Petals is an independent, woman-owned florist and plant studio at 527 Allegheny Avenue in Oakmont. Its Plant Studio includes an air plant bar and a succulent bar, with a workshop counter stocked with soil, gravel, pebbles, moss and tools for building displays. The shop's workshops include terrarium building, and its plant collection can be ordered for delivery. For more plant help, see the guides to the best house plants for Pittsburgh homes and apartments, to choosing houseplants at a plant store, and to flowers, plants and workshops around Pittsburgh. 

Visit Roots to Petals or call 412-822-6023 today. Contact us for more information.