QA

Question: How Much Light Does An Air Plant Need

Air plants prefer bright indirect light. Meaning, don’t plan to keep them right in a windowsill unless it receives filtered light, or possibly only gentle morning sun. Air plants are prone to getting a bit “fried” in direct sunlight, especially when it is amplified through a glass window or terrarium.

Can air plants live in low light?

Air plants will survive in low light situations and are therefore marketed as ideal plants for bringing some greenery into dark locations. Although they will live with little light, air plants do best when they get lots of bright indirect light.

Do air plants need lots of light?

In general, tillandsias (AKA air plants) prefer bright, but indirect, filtered light. Because they require indirect light, air plants make great office plants as long as they get some light, either indirectly from a window source, or artificially from full spectrum fluorescent lights.

How often should you 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.

How long can air plants go without light?

Air plants are very hardy and easy to care for. We have seen them survive up to 2 weeks in a shipping box with no light or water (Do not try that at home).

Where do you put air plants?

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 long do you soak an air plant?

While most air plants do well with 15-30 minute soaks once a week, there are some air plants that actually would prefer to be misted or dunked rather than soaked.

Can I soak my air plants overnight?

If your air plant is ever looking ‘thirsty’ or like it’s struggling, you can soak them in water (in a bowl or sink) for several hours or overnight. This can often help to revive your tillandsia.

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.

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).

Should I soak my air plants?

Here at the Air Plant Supply Co., we have found that air plants do best when you soak them in water. It’s important to remember that air plants take in all their nutrients through their leaves not through the roots. Soak your air plants in a bowl of water for 20 minutes to an hour every week to 10 days is best.

How do you get air plants to bloom?

Most healthy Tillandsia will bloom eventually, but they require proper care and plenty of light in order to do so. To help speed up the blooming process, you can use a diluted fertilizer like our specially formulated Air Plant Food once per month or so to encourage blooms and pup production.

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 air plants survive in a bathroom?

Air plants are famous for being low-maintenance — they don’t even need soil! Don’t forget to give the plants enough light — a bathroom with bright light is preferred. Give air plants a soak in a dish of water for 12 hours every 2-3 weeks.

Can you soak air plants in tap water?

Air plants are fine with tap water, but make sure that the quality of tap water in your area is good. In most areas, tap water lacks important minerals and has chemicals as well. It is best to use water from a well, pond, spring or lake. But, the best water to use would be rainwater.

What is the white stuff on my air plant?

Customers often email and call us about an unusual white, fuzzy substance on the leaves of their new air plants. They are always pleased to find out that this white fuzz is nothing to worry about, in fact, it’s the sign of a healthy, happy air plant. The mysterious white fuzz are called Trichomes.

What do you do when you first get an air plant?

Here’s what we recommend as a starting point: Every one to two weeks, soak your air plant in room temperature tap water (or rain/pond water if you can find it) for 5-10 minutes. After soaking gently shake excess water from your plant.

Can I hot glue air plants?

Mounting: Airplants can be mounted on a variety of wood, rocks or logs using silicone sealant. A small dab of hot glue can also be used to help hold the plant in place while the silicone cures. Let the glue cool for about 10 seconds to avoid burning the leaves.

Should you mist air plants?

Just like any plant, air plants need regular water, light, and food. Air plant misting is the most common method of watering but it doesn’t get plant roots really well moistened and can cause leaves to have fungal issues if the plant isn’t in good ventilation where leaves dry quickly.

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.