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Tillandsias are epiphytes, which means that in nature air plants grow on other plants—clinging to tree trunks, for instance—rather than by rooting in the ground. Air plants will grow on bushes, rocks, and shrubs. Other epiphytes include orchids (which grow on tropical trees) and many kinds of ferns.
What do air plants need to grow?
While they are called “air plants” as they do not require soil and take their nutrients from the air, they still need water, nutrients, and light to survive. Air Plants are technically epiphytes, meaning that they grow in nature on another tree, host, or object.
How does an air plant survive?
Air plants are usually tiny, easy to grow, and they don’t need soil. As the name implies, air plants absorb nutrients and water from the air through scales on their leaves. They’re having a moment as houseplants because they’re easy to care for and don’t need much light to thrive.
Do air plants grow bigger?
Do Air Plants Grow Bigger? If your air plant is a pup (baby air plant) then it will grow to full size depending on its species. As stated above, air plants range in size from two inches to seven feet so research your variety to find out more about how big it will grow.
How do you make air plants grow?
Air plants do best with at least a few hours of bright, indirect sun daily. Placement within 1 to 3 feet of an east- or west-facing window, or within a foot or two of an artificial light source is ideal. If you keep them well watered, they can have hotter, more direct sun and longer exposure.
How do you keep air plants healthy?
Below are 5 simple rules of thumb to follow when caring for Tillandsia: 1) Water your Airplant Regularly. You will need to regularly water your airplant. 2) Give your Airplant Light. 3) Let Your Airplant Have Some Air. 4) Keep Your Airplant in a Nice Temperature. 5) Don’t do this to your Airplant.
Can you overwater an air plant?
Drying your air plant within four hours is important because air plants can become overwatered by simply not drying out. If your air plant isn’t drying within 4 hours of watering get the fan on it and water it less next time.
How long do air plants live?
Tillandsias, commonly known as air plants, are perennial plants. This means that they typically live for more than two years (source), with their lifespan ranging between 2 to 5 years. However, their lifespan varies depending on the type of air plant and also the growing conditions.
How do I know if my air plant is healthy?
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.
Can you trim an air plant?
Take care when trimming or pruning the leaves of your air plant, making sure not to cut off too much of the length of the healthy leaves. While hardy and tolerant, cutting the air plant’s leaves down too much will reduce the surface area for the plant to absorb its nutrients.
How long can air plants go without water?
Air plants can live for two weeks without water. And even though the plant is still alive, its health is affected. You should soak your air plants in water at least once in two weeks and mist them once a week regarding the proper watering schedule.
Do air plants produce pups?
Once an air plant has gone through the bloom cycle, it will produce offsets, or “pups” with the proper conditions. On average, air plants will create 1 to 3 pups after the blooming process. Some varieties can product many, many more.
How do air plants multiply?
Air plants, which belong to the genus Tillandsia, reproduce like other flowering plants. They produce flowers, which leads to pollination, and the production of seeds. Air plants also produce offsets – new, smaller plants that are known as pups. Air plant pups will form even if the plant has not been pollinated.
How quick do air plants grow?
Air plants don’t grow quickly – in fact, they are very slow growers. Air plants grown from seeds take at least a month or two to germinate, and then 4-8 years to emerge into bigger to mature plants. Their growth will be especially slow for the first 2-3 of years or so.
What kind of water do you use for air plants?
Air plants aren’t too picky when it comes to water, and most tap water is just fine, but it depends on the water quality in your area. The best water to use: rain water, aquarium water, or pond water because these are more rich in nutrients (note: if using one of these waters, don’t add any additional fertilizer).
Do you soak air plants upside down?
The bottom line when it comes to watering air plants is to soak the leaves every week to 10 days. Then, always make sure to let the plants completely dry upside down before returning them to their regular spot.
Why do air plants turn red?
Specific varieties of air plants like the Tillandsia brachycaulos and Tillandsia bradeana are known to turn a shade of red when exposed to bright light. You’ll know if your air plant is receiving too much direct light (essentially drying it out) if the tips of the leaves begins to turn brown instead of red.
How often should I mist air plants?
Mist your plant every 4-5 days with one spray for tiny globes, 2-3 sprays for globes 3-5 inches, more if the plant is in a large open globe. The key is to judge the drying time, the smaller the globe, the less circulation, the longer the plant will hold the moisture. If you over water the plant will die.
