Caring for Air Plants
Written and photographed by Lauren Ibach for The Homebody Society. This post may contain affiliate links.
Caring for Air Plants
Are you a plant mom or a serial plant killer? I’ve killed even the easiest plants to take care of - snake plants, succulents, even cacti, but some of the few plants I’ve had long-term success with are tillandsias - AKA air plants. These little plants have transformed me from a plant killer to a loving plant mama with a small collection of thriving plants under my home office window sill.
What Are Air Plants?
Air plants have risen in popularity over the past few years and even though many garden shops sell them now, there are a lot of misconceptions about them, even in the gardening community.
Tillandsias (air plants) belong to the bromeliad family of plants and there are a variety of different kinds. Some grow in tropical climates (mesic tillandsias) others grow in desert climates (xeric tillandsias). As you can see from the pictures, they don’t need dirt, because, in the wild, they typically attach themselves to trees and cliffs with their roots.
Tillandsias are unique in that their roots are only used for stability, not for drinking water. There is a common misconception that tillandsias don’t need water, but without water, they will die, just like any other plant. They take in water differently than most plants - through what are called trichomes. Trichomes look different from tillandsia to tillandsia - the xeric (desert) plants typically have a more silvery look and the mesic (tropical) ones have greener leaves. The xeric, tillandsia tectorum has big, fuzzy trichomes to keep it dry in the desert, and the mesic, tillandsia ionantha has very small trichomes. I have found for me personally, the xeric tillandsias are easiest to keep alive since they don’t need as much water as the mesic ones.
Caring for Air Plants
Tillandsias are very low maintenance plants. They are pet safe, slow growing, and I love that you don’t have to worry about the mess of dirt and repotting. Xeric and mesic tillandsias have slightly different needs, but they all have the same general needs: air, sun, and water.
Air
Tillandsias do best with air circulation. I keep most of my plants in small shallow bowls. If you want to place yours in a terrarium, I recommend keeping the greener, mesic plants in terrariums since this can actually be helpful with watering (which I’ll mention in just a bit). However, you do not want to keep any plant in an entirely enclosed container.
*To keep it simple: Avoid putting your air plants in an enclosed container
Sun
Air plants love indirect or filtered direct sunlight. I keep mine on a shelf directly in front of a southwest-facing window. The sun filters through the trees outside and the glass through the window, which makes for ideal sun exposure for my little plant babies.
You do not have to keep them directly under a window, but avoid putting them in areas that don’t get much sunlight. I used to have some hanging behind my dining room table, but they didn’t get enough direct sunlight through the window, so they died and I resorted to displaying some nice fake ones from Pottery Barn. Not as fun as the real thing, but I really loved the look of air plants in this space.
*To keep it simple: air plants need sunlight and the closer they are to a window, the happier they will be!
Water
Contrary to common belief, air plants need water! Mesic tillandsias love a good mist regularly, but most air plants cannot live on misting alone. I’ve had the most success by having my plants soak in water once a week or once every other week. They are very forgiving, so if you miss a week of watering, they won’t mind too much. You can even get away with soaking xeric tillandsias once a month, which is another reason I tend to gravitate more towards those types of air plants.
It’s very important after soaking, to give your plants a good shake upside down and let them dry upside down on a towel or drying rack so all the water drains out. Any standing water in your plants can cause rot, which is deadly. Just make sure your plants have good airflow as they dry and they should be just fine!
Type of water you use can be very important. I used to use tap water to soak my plants, but when I moved to a city with poor water quality, my plants suffered. If you have good tap water, you can go ahead and use it, but I recommend letting the water sit out for 24 hours so the chlorine evaporates. If you’re like me and have questionable tap water, you can collect rain water, use spring water or drinking water. Never use distilled water - this will kill your plants.
* To keep it simple: Soak your plant in water 1-4 times a month. Don’t be super concerned about overwatering. As long as your plants are draining as they dry after a good soak, your plants will stay happy and healthy!
Have Fun Displaying Your Air Plants
Part of the fun in having air plants is getting creative with the ways you display them. They can be hung, you can perch them on objects, place them on little plates and bowls, and even glue them to things! I display some of my plants in empty bowls and others with rocks for stability. Really, anything goes! Just skip the dirt, moss, and anything that holds water. Tillandsias love a good watering, but they like staying dry most of the time, especially at their base.
Best Plants For Beginners
My number one air plant recommendation for beginners is the tillandsia xerographica. These are hearty, xeric plants and only need to be soaked once a month. Mine got damaged from too many soakings in our bad tap water, but I’ve had this one for years and haven’t had to give it much attention at all.
If you want to give air plants a try, but aren’t ready to make the investment. The tillandsia ionantha is very inexpensive and easy to take care of! They like to be soaked 3-4 times per month and misted occasionally between soakings.
Shopping Tips
When shopping in-person, avoid buying plants with leaves curled in, have lots of brown or yellow, have any creepy crawlies, or have been hanging out in the back of a store with no windows. Keep your eyes peeled for plants that are green or silver (depending on the plant type), have a clean look, and are placed near a window.
Shopping online can be tricky because the plants shown in the pictures usually aren’t the exact plant you’ll receive. I have had a great experience with the seller HelloTilly on Etsy and a couple bad experiences with the seller Spyloh on Etsy. I’ve had good experiences with some sellers on Amazon, but HelloTilly is my top recommendation! Once your plants are delivered, make sure you take your plants out of the box, give them a good soak, and some sunshine as soon as possible!
Happy Home-Gardening!
I hope this post has inspired you to start exploring air plants - especially those of you who feel like a hopeless cause when it comes to keeping plants alive. Their care is simple and when cared for properly, they can live for years and years… and some even decades! I love the life these little plants bring into my home and I hope they’ll bring life you your homes as well!
Resources to learn more:
Book: Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias by Zenaida Sengo
Website/Videos: Rainforest Flora