Air Plant Care
Air plants are unique and special in the plant world.
Air plants are unique and special in the plant world. They can be found growing on trees, rocks, or even other larger plants. While most air plants are epiphytes (meaning they grow in the environment), some of them can also be parasites if they find a host plant to grow on. This makes them a little more difficult to care for than regular house plants because they don't need soil to thrive like other houseplants do—instead of needing water that drains into their roots, these succulents absorb water through their leaves and stems directly from the atmosphere around them! With proper care however (which we'll get into below), these amazing little plants will flourish in your home or office as well as any other indoor garden would.
Soil
Air plants do not need soil to survive. This means that you can display them without any additional accessories at all, or you can root them in moss if you'd like. Air plants can also be placed in a decorative container or left bare, hung from the ceiling of your home or suspended in air on fishing line.
Some people prefer to leave their air plants completely exposed so that they don't interrupt the visual flow of their design scheme. If you choose this route, then we recommend using only natural materials like repurposed driftwood, bamboo sticks and rocks as supports for your air plants.
Water
Water is essential for all plants and will help them grow. Water is one of the main components of plant cells, which makes up about 90 percent of a plant's tissues.
Water helps plants grow by transporting mineral ions from the roots to the rest of the plant and by carrying out photosynthesis.
Water helps produce food through photosynthesis, which happens when carbon dioxide combines with water in sunlight to make sugar. The sugar can then be used as food and stored in leaves or other parts of the plant's body until it’s needed later on.
Temperature
Air plants are native to tropical regions, meaning they like warm temperatures. However, if you live in a cooler climate, don't worry—air plants can tolerate both hot and cold weather. It's their water supply that matters more than air temperature. Temperatures from 21˚C–33˚C are ideal for keeping your plant healthy (but don't worry about getting out the thermometer). Air plants can also survive in slightly cooler or warmer temperatures depending on how much water it receives. If you're interested in having your plant outdoors during the summer months, keep it near a window with plenty of natural light; this will help keep its leaves healthy by preventing them from turning brown as quickly as they would if left outside unattended for long periods of time without any light at all (not recommended).
Light
Air plants do best in bright, indirect light. You can put them near a window but be careful not to put them in direct sunlight; they will sunburn and die. If your air plant isn't getting enough light it will grow slower and become pale. Turn your air plant occasionally to ensure even growth.
Propagation
Propagating air plants is easy, and you can do it in one of two ways: by separating offsets from the parent plant, or by planting seeds.
OFFSETS: When an air plant produces an offset—a new “branch” that grows from its base—it means you have a chance to propagate your own little plants. The best time to remove an offset is when it has reached about 2 years old, but before the roots have completely covered their base. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut off each offset at its base (do not pull them away). Each section should have at least one leaf on it and should be planted immediately after removing. Don't worry if there are no leaves; they'll grow back quickly!
SEEDS: To grow more air plants from seed, simply collect some fallen flowers and store them in a sealed container until they dry out completely (about two weeks). Then chop the dried flowers into small pieces with scissors or snip them into smaller sections with wire cutters. You can also use this process with any section of an existing plant that has rooted itself onto something else (such as moss) and then transplanted somewhere else--just make sure that every part has some roots attached so there won't be any issues later on down the road!
Potting
- Air plants have no natural roots and do not require soil in order to thrive. However, if you are interested in potting your air plant, it is possible to do so using an air-plant-friendly growing medium. Air plants will grow better with more space for their roots to spread out and develop; therefore, it is important that the potting medium be well drained so that excess water does not remain around the root system.
- You may choose to use rocks or gravel as a decorative element when displaying your potted air plants outdoors (some people choose to do this indoors as well). Another option is using moss as an alternative growing medium; however, moss tends to be very absorbent and may rot if kept too wet for too long.
- The most important thing when choosing a pot for your air plant is making sure there is adequate drainage—this helps ensure that excess water does not build up around its roots or base of its leaves (which could lead them to get mouldy).
- Propagation Tubes are a neat way to display your Air Plants
Dusting
Dusting your air plant with a soft brush or your fingers will help remove any dust that has accumulated on the leaves. This is not only good for the appearance of your air plant, but also contributes to its health. If you notice leaves turning brown or losing their colour or shape, dusting may be the answer. Dusting helps ensure that all surfaces of your leaf are clear of debris and grime so that when you water it again, it can absorb water more efficiently.
Soak air plants in a bath of water for 20 minutes to 1 hour once a week.
Once a week, soak your air plant in water for 20 minutes to 1 hour. If you live in a humid climate, soaking once a month is sufficient.
Air plants prefer warm water (about 21°C) and should never be submerged in cold water; this can cause their leaves to wilt or fall off.
Set your air plant outdoors in indirect light at least once per month, but be sure to bring it back indoors before it gets cold outside!
When you're bringing your air plant outdoors, the rule of thumb is to leave it out for only as long as you can put your hand on it comfortably. This means that an hour is probably plenty of time, but two or three hours would be okay too. You can even leave them outside overnight if they are in a sheltered location and kept away from wind, rain, and other harsh conditions.
When bringing your air plant back inside after being outside for a day or more—especially if there was any rain—be sure to let it dry slowly before putting it into its pot again. If possible, set up an area where you can keep the plant out of direct sun and near a fan to allow gradual drying over several hours (or even days).
Enjoy your Air Plants!
Air plants are a great way to add some green to your home. They don't need soil or water, so they're easy to care for and maintain.
You may be wondering which type of air plant is best for indoors or outdoors. The answer is simple: all of them!
Indoor air plants are perfect for people who live in apartments or homes without enough light. Outdoor air plants thrive in sunny areas and can withstand cold weather if they're kept dry. Whichever you choose, keep reading our section on Air Plant Care below so that your new friend thrives in its new home!