Air Plant Blog

Interesting Facts About Air Plants

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Joan Bruggink

Air plants are part of the Tillandsia family and they come from the tropics. The main cool fact about them is that they get their name from their capability of drawing all the nutrients and water that they need directly from the air (no soil is needed). Because of the way they feed, these plants can be hanged on fences, wires, or any structure you have indoors and outdoors. Some long arms that look like roots help these plants to attach themselves anywhere.

More than five hundred varieties of air plants exist in the world, spread naturally across Central America, West Indies and South America. These plants are different than regular plants because they don't have any typical roots, leaves or stems. The air plants can turn red and produce yellow-purple tubular flowers during the bloom cycle. In order to thrive, the plants need bright light from the sun, but the light needs to be diffused. In addition to misting once or twice a week, monthly soaking in water is beneficial for complete hydration. You can leave the plants to hydrate for a few minutes or for a few hours, depending on how much water they seem to need. Let them dry out before putting them back into your container.

For hydration, you should use bottled water or tap water from which the chemicals have evaporated over night. You will have to immerse the whole plant in water. The only type of water that shouldn't be used on air plants is distilled water, as it can kill them. Air plants are very popular today because they are beautiful, can live in any environment and don't occupy a lot of space. 

The closest "relative" of air plants is the pineapple. You can find a lot of air plant varieties for sale today because they don’t need too much care and they can be combined with various decorative items.

Posted in air plant, air plant care, air plant design, air plant love, air plant tips, air plant webshop, air plants, air plants for sale, airplant terrarium, creative with air plants, plantstr, tillandsia, tillandsias, tillandsias for sale

Types Of Air Plants: Ionantha And How To Grow Them

Posted on June 08, 2015 by Les Stein

Air plaints, otherwise known as Tillandsia, are not only colorful and easy to care for, but also do not cost a lot and are small and easy enough to grow any where indoors. This makes air plants great for small apartments.

The majority of airplants come from Central and South America, but they are also found in California, Texas and a few other areas of the USA. The reason the name given is air plant is because of how they feed – they get their hydration and nutrients from the air. 

A prime example of airplants is the Ionantha family, which includes Fuego, Mexicana, Rubra and numerous other varieties. Before they go into bloom, the Ionantha's will be  mainly green in overall color.  During the bloom cycle, the top leaves of the plants will turn bright red, then produce tubular purple flowers with yellow pistils. The flowering cycle is truly magnificent.

When buying Ionantha air plants online, the majority of them will be 1.5" to 2” high at the time they are purchased, but will grow about another inch during maturity.

Ionantha's are some of the easiest to grow, reproduce and maintain. Check out our other blogs to learn more about air plant maintenance.

Posted in Air plant, air plant care, air plant DIY, air plant for sale, air plant terrarium, air plants, air plants care, air plants DIY, air plants for sale, air plants terrarium, DIY air plant, DIY air plants, DIY Tillandsias, how to care for air plants, Tillandsia, Tillandsia care, Tillandsia DIY, Tillandsia for sale, Tillandsia terrarium, Tillandsias, Tillandsias care, Tillandsias DIY, Tillandsias for sale, Tillandsias terrarium

How To Take Care of Air Plants

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Josh Stein

Air plants, also known as Tillandsia, are a kind of epiphytes. The plants are well known for their thick, silvery foliage and vivid flowers, but these unique plants don’t require any soil to grow, however, they still require a place to hang-out. Unlike traditional plants, air plants are not parasites, meaning they do not get their nutrients from their host. Even though they have roots, the roots are used for anchoring rather than getting nutrients. These plants get all their water and nutrient requirements from absorption through their leaves.

When grown indoors, these plants make a striking addition to your indoor décor. They have different appearances and can be used to decorate different rooms in a house. Just like any other house plant, these plants require some care to thrive. 

So how do we take care of Air Plants...

Water Needs

Water is crucial to the survival of air plants. When they receive the water in sufficient quantities, their silvery leaves are very beautiful. You need to mist them every few days, especially if they're exposed to dry indoor environments or drying winds.

These plants also require regular deep-water hydration, especially if there are signs of drying out. To give an air plant a bath, submerge the whole plant in clean, room-temperature water for about 30 minutes. Make sure the flowers are not submerged or they will die prematurely. Shake off any excess moisture, let dry and then return your plant to their home. Soak your plants once every month.

The plants are very sensitive to the chemicals in water. if you use tap water, let it sit overnight so the chemicals evaporate. Water with a PH higher than 8 or softened water which is high in salt is deadly to these plants. Bottled water works well and rain water is even more effective.

Lighting

Air plants require indirect or partial sunlight to grow. When indoors, keep them no more than 10 feet from the window. A simple fluorescent light will also work well. However, be sure not let the plant stay exposed to direct sun for too long, as it might suffer from leaf burn.

Dealing with Pups

These plants produce beautiful, long-lasting flowers, before producing pups (baby air plants). The plants will grow 2-8 pups. The pups can be left on the parent plant to give a fuller appearance, or can be removed to create separate plants. If you want to remove the pups, make sure they are at least 1/2 the parent’s size. This ensures the pups are strong enough to live on their own.

Grooming

Air plants rarely require pruning thanks to the natural dense, tidy growth pattern. However, they require occasional grooming to restore their beautiful appearance. Remove all dead, dry or brown leaves from your air plant. Cut back any dead or brown tips until what is left is a healthy growth. Trim any unsightly growth of, if you wish, roots from your plant. When pruning use sharp pruning shears. I like to use a small pair of surgical scissors.

Feeding

Air plants in captivity need minimal supplemental nutrients to flourish. Feeding these plants differs from many others because of the epiphytic nature. Their own roots are very sensitive and can't absorb urea like the terrestrial plants. You can feed them with urea-free fertilizer with N-P-K analysis of '30-10-10'. Orchid fertilizer works well when diluted. Mix this fertilizer at ¼ the recommended strength. Dissolve the fertilizer in one gallon of water. Mist the fertilizer solution onto the plant’s leaves until they’re saturated, or just add to the monthly soaking bath. 

Potential problems

Air plants experience few problems. They don’t suffer from chronic diseases and insects and pests rarely bother them because the do not grow in soil. For a healthy air plant, the entire plant requires access to free air. Grow the plants mounted on some wood or any other organic material, or place the plants on top of stones or sand, like in our Terrarium Globes. Avoid putting your plants vessels that allow water to collect, as this will surely kill you plants.

Posted in air fern, air plant care, air plant terrarium, air plant tillandsia, Air Plants, air plants for sale, airplant, airplant terrarium, airplantbowles, airplantcare, airplantdesign, airplantframes, airplantgifts, airplantlove, airplantpups, airplantreproduction, airplants, airplantsforsale, airplantterrarium, airplantterrariums, airplanttips, airplantwebshop, buy air plants, how to care for air plants, How to Care for your Air Plant, how to water air plants, purchase air plants, terrarium, tillandsia air plant, tillandsia tillandsias, tillandsias, tillandsias for sale, tillandsiasforsale, water air plants, where to buy air plants

3 Tips About Buying Air Plants That You Need To Know

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Les Stein

With their wiry foliage and unique appearance, air plants are becoming an increasingly popular choice for homeowners. They require little in the way of upkeep, and can be kept inside the home as long as they receive plenty of moisture. However, finding air plants can be a tricky business - especially if you don't know where to look. Many retailers don't stock air plants, but you will be able to find them with a little bit of research. This article explains where to buy air plants, and how to care for them.

1. Looking Online

There are around 600 different species of air plants, so it's a good idea to take a look at the different varieties and choose the ones that you want to purchase. There are several websites that sell these plants, but you should take some time to check the reputation of the retailer before you make a purchase. Some websites will allow you to search for the exact species of air plant that you are looking for. Alternatively, you can browse through their online store, and visit individual product pages with photos and plant specifications. You will also be able to filter search results based on price, availability, and size. Websites like ETSY have many vendors who specialize in this type of plant. Always check the returns policy and any warranty information before you make a purchase in case there's a problem in the future. You will want to be able to contact the seller quickly if you have any problems, or your plants arrive damaged in transit.

2. Farmers Markets and Craft Fairs

Farmers markets and craft fairs are a great place to purchase air plants. Here you will be able to examine the plants first-hand, and decide on the best product for you. There might be a vendor who specializes in this type of plant, and you will be able to ask for more information about the best products to buy, and how to take care of the item once you've taken it home. However, finding these plants at a farmers market or craft fair can still be somewhat of a challenge - especially if you live in a part of the country that experiences cooler weather. Search online for local farmer markets and craft fairs in your town or city, and phone ahead to see if any vendors will be specializing in air plants.

3. Purchasing Air Plants

Once you have purchased air plants, you will need to ensure that you have all the information you need when it comes to caring for the plant. Directions for upkeep might be included with the product; alternatively, ask the vendor for more information, or refer to their website. If your part of the country is currently experiencing cold weather, you will also need to purchase a winter heat pack which will protect the plant during shipping. Although air plants require little in the way of supplements or nutrients to survive, you may want to apply an urea-free fertilizer on a regular basis. You will be able to purchase this at a local gardening store.

Posted in air plant care, air plants for sale, how to care for air plants, how to water air plants, terrarium, tillandsias, where to buy air plants

8 Air Plants Facts You Might Not of Known

Posted on February 07, 2015 by Les Stein

Air Plant or Air Fern is the common name for the Tillandsia family, which belong to the diverse Bromeliad family. Air Plants actually get all the nutrients and water they need to survive from the air, hence the name Air Plants.

 Air Plants require no soil. Instead, they are epiphytes in nature, meaning they attach themselves to trees, rocks, fences, telephone wires and whatever other structures are available, but do not rely on their host for survival. They attach themselves by a cluster of long, tough root-like arms growing from the base of the plant.

 Air Plants are native to the West Indies, Mexico, and much of Central America, south to Colombia, eastern Brazil and Argentina. They are also grown and widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical states, from California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. 

 There are well over 550 different varieties of air plants. While each variety is similar in the way they grow and reproduce, the variety among species is phenomenal. When Tillandsias begin to flower, the uppermost leaves become bright red and most produce tubular flowers with bright violet petals that are absolutely gorgeous.

 After flowering, most plants produce offsets, called Pups, around its base. Mature plants will eventually produce many Pups and therefore continue the life cycle. If left to grow together, the Pups grow into beautiful Air Plant clusters.

 Most Tillandsias require bright, diffused sunlight and will benefit from misting several times per week, as well as a good soaking every other week. Placing the entire plant into a tub of water from several minutes to several hours to fully benefit from the hydration. Bottled water works well, as does tap water that has sat overnight so the chemicals have time to evaporate. Never use distilled water, it will kill your air plants. When you remove your plants from the soaking bowl, shake off any excess water and let the plant air dry before returning it to its home. Be careful to not soak the delicate flowers, as they will dissolve.

 With proper care and a friendly environment, your Air Plants will live and reproduce for many years.

Posted in air fern, air plant care, air plant tillandsia, air plants, how to care for air plants, how to water air plants, tillandsia air plant