Air Plant – Tillandsia Care

WATERING: 

Air plants are epiphytes, which mean they grow without soil and only take up water through 

the leaves. Thoroughly wet your air plant once per week by submerging just the plant in water; more often in a hot, dry environment; less often in a cool, humid one. Plants should be given enough light and air circulation to dry in 4 hours of watering. Spray misting is insufficient as the sole means of watering but is beneficial between regular

watering especially in dry climates to increase the humidity. Always use tap water or natural rain water, never use mineral enhanced water. Air plants will not survive in standing water or on wet moss. Under -watering is evidenced by wrinkled or rolled leaves.

LIGHTING: 

Adequate light is an important factor in growing a strong healthy plant. Give your plant as much bright indirect light as possible, but always avoid direct sunlight. In offices, fluorescent light is great for plant growth. All air plants only flower once and start flushing pink or red colors during this stage. If your plant loses its color after blooming, this is natural; all its energy is now going into producing pups. Pups are the babies that grow around the

base of the mother plant, usually after the mother has flowered. After the babies have grown the mother will eventually die many years later. Optimum temperature range for air plants is 50-90 degrees F.

FLOWERING: 

As mentioned each plant will only flower once. Once the flower has dried up we suggest you removethe old petals and cut off the flower stalk, as this promotes pupping. Most (but not all) pups are produced one to two months AFTER flowering, when this starts to happen you may notice the bottom leaves of your plant starting

to hang loose, and they may look dried out, as if they are dying. DO NOT be tempted to pull these leaves off (trim them if they look too unsightly) this is where your pup is starting, and if you pull the leaves off, you may pull the pup off by mistake, initially they as so small just like little nubs and you may not be able to see them for several weeks or months depending on the species.