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Light is essential for your air plant’s health. Without enough light, the plant’s leaves won’t be able to absorb water or nutrients properly, which can cause the plant to fade and eventually die.
Indoors:
Tillandsias do well indoors, but they need bright, indirect light. Place your plant near a window with plenty of morning or late afternoon sun but which is not exposed to direct midday sunlight. Fluorescent lighting will be fine for a while, but will not be enough to sustain the plants, so a bright window is recommended.
Outdoors:
If you keep your plant outside, it can handle more sunlight because of the better air circulation, but still be mindful of too much harsh afternoon sun, which can burn and kill your plant. Growing under the roof of a verandah, under a tree where it gets dappled light all day or in a greenhouse under 40 to 50% shade cloth is ideal, and the plant will thrive. Just make sure it gets plenty air movement.
When you receive your plant, it is advised to dip it in a bucket of water for a few seconds, shaking it around under water, to ensure it is properly hydrated after its journey. Ensure the plant is thoroughly dry before moving it to its new location.
When in their new home, you may notice the death of the lower leaves. This is perfectly normal, and they can simply be cut off with scissors.
I always spray new plants with Novion, to give them that extra boost. Spray all over the plant, including the undersides of the leaves.
One of the MOST common mistakes made is over-watering!
Watering your air plant properly is key to keeping it healthy.
Where possible try to use pure water. Filtered or rain water works well. Aquarium or pond water works well too and the plants will appreciate the added nutrients. Avoid water that is artificially softened such as RO or distilled water. If using tap water, allow the water to sit at room temperature for a few hours to ensure that the chlorine dissipates before watering your plants.
Grey, stiff-leaved Tillandsias usually need less water than the softer, green, or thin-leaved varieties, but most plants do well with weekly watering.
If growing indoors: it is recommended that you soak the plants in a bucket of water for 10 to 15 minutes every week. Daily misting does not give the plant adequate water, however, it will help during periods of low humidity or very hot days. DAILY MISTING IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR WEEKLY WATERING!
Be sure to shake off all excess water after soaking, as any water left in your plant leaves can cause rot. (Drying them upside down helps greatly with this.) Ensure the plant has dried thoroughly before returning it to its display.
If growing outdoors: The best way to water is to use a hose sprinkler and spray the plants as you would normal garden watering. Alternatively, depending on how many you have, you could use a watering can, and liberally pour the water over the plants. Either way, be sure that a nice gentle spray of water is used. Again, ensure that no water is left in the crown / leaf growth section of certain plants like the Xerographicas, as this can cause rot.
I water twice a week in winter due to low humidity and dryness of the air up here in the Midlands, and weekly in Summer due to high humidity levels and rainfall.
I would like to point out that this is a guideline only and must be tweaked based on your own climate. If it’s hot and dry, water more often. If it’s wet and rainy, cut back.
Tillandsias are remarkable and hold such an attraction because they are just that, Air Plants. The roots are only used to anchor the plant. They do not absorb water or nutrients through the roots, as this is done solely through the leaves.
You can attach them to pretty much anything such as an ornament, or piece of wood, or just hang them in the air on string. If attaching to something use thin flexible plastic-coated garden wire or stretch cotton. Do not use normal wire or copper as these leach toxins and will kill your plant. Wood glue works well if attached to rocks or any similar substrate. (Remember that rocks get VERY hot, so ensure they stay in the shade.) Do NOT use silicone or Cable glue.
Check out my Blog on the many creative ways one can display your plants.
A great way to display larger plants is to cut the bottom of a plastic plant pot out, invert the pot, and place the plant therein. This also keeps the hanging leaves off the ground showcasing those magnificent curls that plants like Xerographica and Streptophylla are known for. :-)
Certain species such as the Wallisia, Flaballata and Kirchoffiana can be grown in the air, but they full out, and look better when planted in small pots. Fulling these pots with Orchid Back mix is suitable, just be carefull of over-watering as the bark stays moist for quite a while.
Since Tillandsia absorb all their nutrients through their leaves, they will really benefit from a mild foliar spray like Novion, and a standard high-nitrogen liquid plant fertilizer, which can be sprayed directly onto the leaves. Spray weekly with Novion and twice a month with fertilizer during the active growing periods, and reduce this to once a month during winter..
Novion or Air Plant Fertilizer can be purchased from the Accessories page.
Air plants are commonly infected by Mealybugs and Scale insects. They are usually found around the stems and leaves, and mostly get attracted to an air plant that is dying.
To avoid your air plant being infected by disease or pest infestation, it is best to give a through inspection when watering. If an infected plant is found, isolate it to prevent infecting others and spray with a mild Insecticide.
I recommend Rosecare 3 by Efekcto as this utilizes both a systemic and contact insecticide and is mild enough not to “hurt” the plant.
This needs to be sprayed on the plant every week for 3 weeks if the infestation is really bad.
While some varieties can withstand lower temperatures, it is better to be safe than sorry. Most air plants are tropical, so prefer temperatures between 10 to 30 degrees Celsius.
If your winter temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius and your plants are growing outdoors, bring them indoors and keep them in a bright sunny, warm window. If you are growing in a greenhouse, ensure it is tightly closed up at night to retain heat.
Most will die if exposed to extreme cold.
Don’t underestimate the importance of air movement. This is the second biggest mistake people make, next to over-watering.
They are called Air plants for a reason. They need Air movement just as much as you and I need air to breathe.
Air circulation is one of the most important aspects of an air plant’s care. Air plants have Trichomes (like the hair on your arms) which assist them in absorbing moisture and nutrients from the air. Airflow is also important as it helps the plant dry out after watering, thus preventing rot.
Keeping your plant near an open window will have a significant benefit.
Tillandsia air plants do not go through a traditional winter dormancy period like some other plants (such as temperate perennials or deciduous trees). However, they do experience a seasonal slowdown in colder months, especially if temperatures drop significantly.
Here’s what typically happens in winter:
Tips for Winter Care:
So while they don’t go fully dormant, they do benefit from a resting period. Following the tips above will ensure a comfy resting period for your babies.
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