Air Plant Blog

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.

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Air Plants, The Reasons Why They're Best For Non Green Thumbs

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Les Stein

Plants are beautiful; they are a symbol of life and beauty in its purest form. Having plants within the house is even better as they give you a sense of being in touch with nature and the peace that come with that even when you are inside your house. However, most plants require a lot of attention, finding the right vase; watering them regularly otherwise they will die. All this may be a bit overwhelming and if you love plants but do not trust yourself in remembering to tend to them regularly, then air plants may just be the plants for you.



Air plants, also known as Tillandsia, are a branch of the Bromeliad family of plants that DO NOT require soil in order to thrive, but rather get most of their nutrients and water from the air. Their leaves are designed in such a way that they absorb all the nutrients needed for their survival-hence the name air plants. In nature, they require a surface on which they can attach themselves using their roots, mostly trees, rocks, walls and other plants, and do not take any nutrients from the host.

Air Plants thrive naturally in  tropical, warm weather conditions. However, there are over 550 species of the plant and their needs may vary. Most air plant leaves are thin, tubular shaped and change color from green to red when they are about to produce their gorgeous purple/yellow flowers.

Air plants are quickly becoming popular. Given that they come in many varieties, you need to conduct some research in order to be able to make a decision as to what will grow best for your needs. The Internet is a good place to start and has pictures of the various types of air plants.

So after selecting the air plants you prefer for your collection or design, you need to know how to take care of them. They do not require as much attention as the other ordinary plants. but if neglected for too long will die. It is important to place the plants where they are getting a good amount of filtered sunlight, but not baking in direct sunlight.

A little misting is necessary once or twice a week, as is a monthly soaking bath. This will go a long way in providing the extra moisture air plants need inside a home. Fertilized in liquid low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as that used for orchids, on a quarterly schedule would help give them extra nutrients. Diluted the fertilizer to 1/4 strength and either add to your misting bottle or to your soaking bath. Air plants cannot survive in cold climates and therefore avoid keeping in temperatures below 50 degrees. Most importantly, the plant is totally dependent on air to live, hence ensure there is a lot of free flowing air around it. DO NOT bury in soil or other materials that absorb water. Do all this and your air plant will grow beautifully. Buying air plants from a reputable dealer is the best option, especially if you do not know much about air plants. This is because they have already made the decision concerning what species survive the best and would provide you with first hand advice on how to care for the plants. After all, we are part of nature.

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Air Plants: The Exotic Saviors Of Your Home Decor

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Les Stein

Air plants are ideal for those who have a phobia for houseplants but would still like to enjoy the luxury of modern beautiful home decor. These exotic plants are easy to grow and are quite tidy since they can grow and thrive without soil. They are becoming quite popular and readily available for purchase even in online markets. However, not all may be reputable dealers and a reputable one is highly recommended. Plantstr is a great choice, and you can check out their prices and stock. There is a large variety to choose from plus customer satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. You will get fresh air plants straight from the green house. However I must warn you, choosing is definitely going to be hard. They are all so adorable.

What makes air plants exotic plants is their ability to survive long on neglect. They are warm weather tolerant hence the fancy attribute. However, as much as they are easy to grow certain important guidelines should be strictly followed to take care of them and in turn keep your home's elegance. First, as the name suggests, constant air supply is a vital need for these exotic plants. It is important to ensure that your air plant are put in properly aerated areas of your home. If not create necessary vents to ease in air supply. As I mentioned earlier, air plants are dependent on warm weather and will die if kept in places where temperatures are below 45 degrees. If you live in temperate areas you can grow the air plants even outside your house provided that you protect them from the cold during the winter.

Like other plants, air plants also require fertilizer. You should try to fertilize your air plants at least once a week. The fertilizer should be a liquid low-level nitrogen mixed at only a quartrer strength. Another vital requirement you should consider when taking care of your air plants is moisture. Moisturizing the exotic plants should be done daily unless it is winter, in which case moisturizing twice or once a weak will be fair.

Despite being warm-weather tolerant, air plants should be protected and kept away from direct sunlight. In outdoor environments they will thrive best in partial or dappled shades. Indoor environments should be brightly lit and the lights filtered appropriately.

Reputable dealers are very important too. They offer the best deals and discounts in the first place. Secondly, air plants are quite delicate and so this requires you to liaise with reputable dealers when purchasing them. Reputable dealers usually have the best grown and disease free air plants available in stock. Reputable dealers also offer invaluable advice on how you can handle or take care of these exotic plants. Lastly a reputable dealer will surely come in handy when you need assistance in choosing an air plant that may suit your home and needs.

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