How To Care For Air Plants At Home

Air plants also known as Tillandsia are plants that don't need soil/ water to anchor for their growth. They are ephiphytes from bromeliad family, they anchor on a tree branch with their roots and absorb water and nutrients required for their growth from air. Due to this nature of survival they are naturally found in forest areas on tree branches.

Air plants | How to care for air plants | Why is Air plant so unique | How to display Air plants | How to water Air plants | Things that can damage Air plants

How To Grow And Care For Air Plants At Home

Why is Air Plant so unique

3 reason that makes air plants so unique

• No Soil Required- Air plants don't need to be potted in soil or water
• No daily watering required - The tiny hair like structures ton the outer side of the leaves known as trichomes absorb water and nutrients from the air that helps in their growth
• Epihiphyte in nature- They use their thin and strong roots to anchor to the branches of trees in nature

How to care for Air plants at home

1. Light

• Bright but indirect sunlight for healthy plant growth, less the light, slower will be the growth.
• If natural indirect sunlight is not possible then, artificial grow light can be used, and do remember to turn it off after maximum of 12 hrs
• Direct sunlight like that of summer season will absorb the moisture from the leaves and the plant will turn brown and dead.

2.  Watering

• Take a clean bowl and add some water which is room temperature (neither warm nor cold)
• Once a week in summers and rest of the year once in 15 days soak the plants in water for maximum 30 minutes (you may wanna a time it, less than 30 minutes is just fine)
• Avoid heavily chlorinated water or use filter water or best is to use rain water
• Alternatively, if you have time and if you love, then lightly mist the plants with water every day

3. Drying

• Once done, remove the plants and shake off excess water from the plant
• Place the plant on a absorbent like a towel or tissue paper
• Keep it under light and make sure the water is evaporated, the trichomes will turn grey once again.

4. Temperature 

• For air plants the suitable temperature would be around 15–30°C (60–85°F)
• Freezing temperature or way too hot weather could damage the plant 

5. Fertilizer

• If you give sufficient light, then fertilizer will not be required
• If you still need, then use light and organic fertilizer like sea weed fertilizer in diluted form

Things to avoid with Air plants

• Never keep Air plants on a copper based bottom
• Do not over water Air plants
• Avoid chemical fertilizers
• Never keep it enclosed in a container like terrarium

How to display Air plants

How To Display Air Plants At Home

• Mount it on a drift wood
• Hang it on a rope
• place it on a shell
• Use a coconut shell as a planter
• Tie it to a drift wood
• Keep it on a glass bowl with few stones or sand or glass decorative pieces