Caring for Air Plants

CARE SUMMARY

  • Light: Bright, indirect
  • Watering: Soak method, weekly
  • Natural Container Recommended: Wood, stone, cork, or glass

Meet the air plants we have in store.


 

All About Tillandsias

Tillandsia, the Latin name for air plants, are fascinating plants. Out in the wild, you find them living on other plants, nestled in crevasses, or hanging off tree bark. Unlike most plants, air plants are epiphytes which means they get most of their nutrients from the air and aren’t planted in soil. 

Taking care of air plants is a little different from regular indoor plants, but not at all difficult. The hardest part is setting a watering schedule and sticking with it!


Watering Air Plants

Air plants like humidity and it's important to keep them watered regularly. Our preferred watering is the “soak” method, especially for larger air plants. 

  • Allow a bowl or bucket of water to come to room temperature (roughly 15 minutes). This is important: if the water is too cold, it can shock the plant. 
  • Submerge your plants in the bowl and leave them there for 20-30 minutes.
  • Afterwards, gently shake the plants to get rid of all of the extra moisture. Leaving too much water in its leaves can cause rot.
Air plants or squids?

 

If your plant is still too wet after shaking, leave it on a paper towel to soak up the remaining drops. If it's going into an enclosed container (like a glass terrarium), we recommend letting it dry out completely before putting it back in. If the plant is resting in open air, then you can place it back to finish drying there.


Watering Frequency 

Air plants love humidity and can draw in moisture from the air. Usually in the summer it’s humid, so you only need to soak your plants every two weeks. In the winter when it's dry, watering should happen every week.

You can tell if your air plant needs water if the ends start to curl in slightly.


Where to Keep Air Plants

Air plants love to live in or on natural surfaces. They especially like wood, cork, stone, and can live in glass. Avoid unnatural or unbreathable materials like plastic or metal as these can keep in too much moisture and minimize airflow.


Lighting

Most air plants prefer indirect sun. If you decide to hang your air plant in a glass vase, make sure that it’s not in direct sunlight or else it can fry.

Air plants come in all shapes and sizes. They even bloom occasionally! We hope your air plants thrive where ever you are keeping them. Meet the air plants at Bel Fiore.