Tillandsia (Airplant)

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Tillandsia is a genus of around 650 species of evergreen, perennial flowering plants in the family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains, and deserts of northern Mexico and south-eastern United States, Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to mid-Argentina.

SOIL REQUIREMENT

• Does not require soil.

FEEDING/FERTILIZER REQUIREMENT

• Use a bromeliad mix (air plants are in the bromeliad family).
• Don’t overdo it—plants can burn from too much fertilizer.

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

• Bright filtered or indirect light is ideal for indoor air plants.
• Some direct sun works, too (morning is better), but they shouldn’t be baking all day.
• Think “rainforest” and do your best to reproduce those conditions in a small space.

WATER REQUIREMENT

• Every one to two weeks, soak your air plant in room temperature tap water (or rain/pond water if you can find it) for 5-10 minutes.
• After soaking gently shake excess water from your plant.
• Turn it upside down and place it on a towel in a bright space.
• Air plants will quickly rot if they are allowed to stand in excess water.
• From the time soaking ends, the plant should be able to dry fully in no more than 3 hours.
• If your plant stays wet longer than this, it may rot.
• Try placing it in a brighter place with more air circulation to facilitate faster drying.
• 1-3 hours is the optimal drying time for your air plant after soaking.
• Once a week, mist your plant thoroughly so that the entire surface of the plant is moistened (but not so much that there is water dripping down into the plant).
• The hotter and dryer the air (summer, early fall) the more you need to water.
• The cooler and more humid the air (winter and spring) the less water your air plant will need.
• Do all watering in the morning.
• Evening soaking or misting disrupts the plant's ability to respire overnight and extends drying time.