FAQ

Can I 'Spritz' my air plants?

The short answer is NO! The best way to successfully water tillandsia/air plants is to soak them under water overnight once per week. When air plants get dry they lockup their leaves to reduce evaporation. Once they do this they need a lot of water to trigger the cells to unlock plus they need to stay wet long enough to be able to absorb the maximum amount of moisture. So 'spritz' your plants if it makes you feel good but it does little to benefit the plant. 

When will my air plant flower?

Most air plants flower within the first year usually in the Spring and Summer but if conditions are not ideal they will sit in a dormant state and wait for conditions to improve.  It is difficult to say when they will actually flower because they only do it when they are ready. Even though tillandsias like mostly shady conditions they still need very bright indirect light to thrive. Morning sun can be very beneficial but protect them from the hot burning afternoon sun and water well by soaking them under water overnight once per week.

Will they grow in artificial lighting? 

Again the short answer is NO.  A lot of people want a plant on their desk at work but unless your office has a window your plant is going to have a tough time. It can't grow without natural UV light.  It is still possible but you will need to put a grow-light bulb in your desk lamp and leave it on for 8 hours every work day. The other way is to have 2 plants and swap them out every week. One week at work, one week at home in a bright window. Artificial and fluorescent lighting are of no benefit to live air plants.   

How do I keep my air plant alive? 

Don't overthink tillandsias. Basically they only need 3 things. Bright light, ample water and good air movement. A little morning sun and bright indirect light for the rest of the day is ideal but be sure to protect them from the strong hot burning afternoon sun. They also need a lot of water. Spritzing or misting is definitely not good enough.  Rather soak them under water overnight once per week. Their leaves need to stay wet long enough to be able to absorb the maximum amount of moisture which it can do in about 4 hours. They also will not survive being wet all the time which brings us to the importance of having good air circulation. In fact, air plants get nutrients and moisture through good air movement. So put them 'on' things not 'in' things in a bright window and be consistent with your watering. Please be kind to your plants and don't put them in the popular glass balls everyone is selling these days. With only one hole the air circulation is not good enough and your plant will eventually die.

How do I know if my air plant is dying? 

Hopefully you will never need to ask this question but if the base of the leaves are black (except for Tricolor this is natural for them) this is a sign of trouble.  If you gently pull on the inside leaves and they come out in your hand unfortunately your plant is probably dead. This can occur from overwatering without proper air circulation, but insufficient or lack of light is usually the culprit.  Placing them "on" something rather than "in" something, giving them bright morning sun, and soaking them overnight once a week will help keep your air plant at its best.

How do I separate the pups?

Don't be too quick to separate the pups from the parent plant. Until they have enough leave/surface area to support themselves they still get moisture and nutrients through the mother plant. A good gauge is to wait until the pups are at least half the size of the parent plant. Once they are big enough the separation  between the plants becomes quite obvious and they usually come apart with a twist.

Do air plants need roots to grow and thrive?

No, roots are not necessary for happy healthy plants. Air plants take all their moisture and nutrients in through their leaves.  The roots are only there to anchor the plant up in the trees.  You can cut them off with no damage to the plant.