How to Care for an Air Plant

A small air plant grows at the base of a wooden wall hanging.

The air plant (Tillandsia) belongs to the epiphytic bromeliad family. It's a plant that lives by clinging to a support such as a rock or tree. The plant absorbs water and nutrients from the air. Air plant isn't a parasite and does no harm to its host. Most air plants have stiff, wiry, silvery-green foliage and can be mounted on a slab of wood. Other varieties have soft green leaves and do well in containers. Many varieties produce bright blooms in shades of purple, blue, orange, red or white.

Things You'll Need

• Mister
• Liquid houseplant fertilizer

Instructions

1. Place your air plant where it will be exposed to moist air. These plants do well in a warm bathroom or kitchen.

2. Locate your air plant in the brightest light the plant can tolerate without scorching the foliage. Avoid placing the plant too close to a hot, sunny window, although the plant can be placed closer to the window during the winter months. You can also place the plant in direct sunlight during the morning and evening, but it should be protected during the hot part of the afternoon. Air plants also do well under grow lights or fluorescent lights.

3. Mist the top and bottom of your air plant's foliage generously every two to three days, until water begins to drip off the leaves. Dip the entire air plant in a bowl of lukewarm water for 30 minutes every two weeks. Don't immerse the blooms. Water your air plant with regular tap water. Avoid distilled water, which won't contain the necessary nutrients to sustain the plant.

4. Mist your air plant with a liquid houseplant fertilizer every month. Dilute the fertilizer solution to one-quarter of the mixture recommended on the fertilizer label.

5. Place your air plant in temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and temperatures approximately 10 degrees cooler during the night.

Tips & Warnings

• If you've neglected your air plant and it looks dead, it can be revived as long as there is a tiny green spot somewhere on the plant. Soak the plant in lukewarm water for up to 12 hours. Wait two or three days, then soak the plant again, this time for four hours. Thereafter, resume normal care. Chances are good that the plant will recover.

References

• Clemson University Extension: Bromeliads
• Plants.web-indexes: Air Plants--Tillandsia