Air Plants
- Owner: Holly Dz
- May 9
- 6 min read
Corresponding Blog for Podcast Episode #111
Air Plants are fascinating, wild, and beautiful plants with unique care needs, capable of adding joy to different areas of your home!
Botanical Name: Tillandsia
Tillandsia xerographica (Giant Air Plant, King or Queen Air Plant)- pink and purple bloom, soak about every 2 weeks
Tillandsia stricta (Tillys)- has pink leaves and purple flower in summer, soak about once a week
Tillandsia streptophylla (Shirley Temple)- known to be more drought tolerant, pink and purple flower
Tillandsia brachycaulos- leaves turn red when blooming a purple flower, soak about every 2 weeks
Tillandsia ionatha (Sky Plant)- leaves start as a silver/gray and turn a pink tint when it starts to bloom a purple flower with gold tips, soak about once a week
Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish Moss)- it is best to regularly mist Spanish Moss instead of soaking it
Tillandsia tectorum (Snow Ball)- known for its fuzzy, silver leaves, tips, soak about once a week
Tillandsia juncea- known for narrow grow habit, soak about once a week
Sun Requirements:
They do best in bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct light. For best growth I would try to avoid any less light that bright, indirect light.
If you need any guidance to understanding light, or are in need of a grow light to help increase your light, check out the links!
Water Requirement
The frequency of watering is dependent on your environment and the type of Air Plant you have. As a genera rule, it is best to place your Air Plant in a bowl of water to let them soak for about 10-15 minutes. After you soak them, make sure to shake off excess water and place them in a area that allows for good air circulation and drying. I would say to soak them about once a week but I would say it ranges from once a week to every 3 weeks. You may start to see signs your plant needs water like curling leaves to help determine your correct timeline.
You can also mist your plant a few times a week in between watering.
Extra humidity is encouraged to help your Air Plants thrive. It will also help produce flowers on your Air Plant if that is what you are hoping for! Higher humidity may decrease the frequency of watering my a little bit.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is usually not recommended for Air Plants unless you are attempting to help it bloom. Using a quarter dosage of a blooming specific fertilizer in the water you are using is best.
If you need help understanding fertilizer a bit more, check out Podcast Episode 103 or the Fertilizer Explains blog post.
Propagation
Most Air Plants will produce "pups" off the parent plant. When the pup is at least a quarter size of the parent plant, you can cut or pull it off the parent plant and grow as normal.
Other Facts
All part of the Bromeliaceae Family
They are native to Mexico, southern parts of North America, South America, & Central America
If you are noticing some browning on your plant this could be a sign of underwatering but it could also be a sign it doesn't like the water. Air Plants can get picky about the type of water used. For the best results, allow your bowl of water to sit out overnight before soaking your plant.
These to no require soil for planting. You can place them anywhere in your house but it may be in your best interest to keep them around other plants and in an area that may have increased humidity.
In many sources, there are many conversations about the best way to display Air Plants. Many say to use wire or a small amount of glue which I would NOT recommend. I would simply place your Air Plant where you desire or create a place for the plant to sit. You need to be able to remove your plant easily to soak it.
These are mildly poisonous to pets. The ASPCA does not list it on their website at all so based on my other research, it should not be deadly but may cause irritation if consumed. If you are interested in learning about more pet friendly plants, check out Podcast Ep#31 for more info or the corresponding blog post!
Instagram Q&A
I always ask followers if they had any specific questions, opinions or hot-takes I can address in this podcast and blog. Here are what people told me and and my answers for this topic:
"How can I tell if they are even still alive"
There are a few ways to tell if your Air Plant is dead or going to die...
If the base is brown/black (rotting)
If you pull gently on the center leaves and they easily come out (could be rotting or too dry)
Spots, fungus spots on inside and outside of leaves
If you notice there are some try leaves at the base but overall heathy, you can pull those leaves off the plant.
"How do they grow on air?! How is that possible?!"
Air Plants in nature, rely on natural rainfall and humidity. The plant collects the water and nutrients through their hair-like texture which are called trichomes.
"They just die for me. Water, fertilize, ignore whatever. They still die"
Perhaps you aren't keeping it in enough light? Maybe not enough humidity? Is it consistently drying out or rotting? I would avoid fertilizer and focus on getting the light, humidity, & watering right.
"Curious as to how to make these guys thrive. I don't have any"
Proper watering and increased humidity are the MOST important and lighting is a close second.
"Is this the only type of plant like this in the world? That mostly grows without being planted in dirt?"
Air Plants are a type of Epiphyte and there are hundreds of them out there! Depending on the environment, there are some other plants that can grow without soil in their natural habitat. In your home, depending on your environment, it may not be sustainable for the plants. Air Plants can be the exception to that rule! Orchids are a great example of another plant that does not need soil. If you've ever ventured into a conservatory or tropical greenhouse, you will most likely find some Orchid with exposed roots growing happily!
"Ways to display"
There is an endless amount of way to display your Air Plants! You can simply place them on a shelf, use a driftwood log for added decoration, place them at the top of a decorative vase, create a little picture frame stand for it or hang them with some string! As long as you are able to remove them from your display for dunking or soaking in water AND you do not put them in soil, it works!
Your local garden center that sells Air Plants will most likely have some display options! But here are some I found looking online:
Air Plant Frame- Amazon (you could easily do this as a DIY project)
"How in the world do you keep these things alive?!?! LOL. I've tried twice & failed!"
1. Watering- Soaking and misting BUT also allowing them to dry out properly before placing them back in their display. I would highly suggest doing a little bit of a deep dive on your specific variety to understand best watering practices since it varies!
2. Humidity- increase it however you can, even if it's misting daily
3. Sunlight- Bright Indirect is best
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Always written with extreme plant passion!
Love, Holly (Owner & Creator of Houseplant Homebody LLC)
References & Shopping:
Air Plant Shop- GREAT YouTube Channel for learning details
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