Tillandsia Plant Care Guide

Tillandsia, better known as air plants, are a genus of plants in the Bromeliad family that have captured the wonder of many plant enthusiasts. Remarkable for being a soilless plant with varied and vibrant varieties and ease of care. Tillandsias are a plant that appeals to casual and experts alike. This guide will run through the most pertinent aspects of plant care.

Table of Content -Origin -Sunlight requirements  -Watering  -Fertilizing  -Propagation -Temperature and Humidity  -FAQ

Origin:

Tillandsia is native to the Neotropics region that includes part of the southeastern US, Mexico, Central and South America.

Sunlight: 

Air plants do best in bright filtered light and even thrive in artificial light. They are prone to burning so you’ll want to avoid direct sunlight. In that same vein for optimal color and growth, it’s not advisable to leave your air plants in heavy shade.

Watering: 

When watering traditional plants and other epiphytes(like orchids) most are top watered by pouring water directly into the growing medium. But air plants do not require soil. So how does one water them? We recommend soaking

Once or twice a week you’ll want to gather all your air plants and fill a bucket deep enough to house your air plants with water. You’ll want to completely submerge your air plants for a few minutes and then take them out and shake off any excess water. If you opt to spray them instead, just make sure plants are thoroughly wetted. You’ll want to shake off any excess water as well.

Tips:

- In hot and arid environments and during the summer you’ll want to soak twice a week to be sure your air plants don’t dry out. The same would apply for misting and make sure they are dripping wet. Shaking off excess water and placing your air plant in a container that does not retain water is important, the plant can rot if it is not able to dry between waterings.

-Assign a day in your week for watering, having a schedule makes it harder to forget to water

Fertilization and flowering:

Air plants all flower, at varying times and on different cycles but all are capable of producing flowers. The inflorescence comes in many different colors and lasts from a couple of weeks to many months and a select few varieties are even fragrant. Once a month you can add a liquid-based orchid fertilizer to the water they’ll be soaked in.  Generally, any balanced water soluble fertilizer mixed at ½ strength should suffice.  This will help the air plants bloom a bit faster and keep a healthy color. The flowering season varies and can be between a few weeks to a few months but eventually, the flowers and the stalks will wither and brown. At this stage, you want to clip the dead material to keep your air plant clean and presentable. 

Pups and propagation.

With proper care and time, you’ll notice your air plant will start producing pups. They’ll appear as small protrusions, generally  originating from the base of the plant, and they will look like mini versions of the parent plant. If you want to propagate your air plant you can wait until these pups are about one-third the size of the parent. You can then break the plant off it by prying it off at where the bases meet. The care for the pups is the same as the parent plants and they too will eventually propagate. You can also choose to leave the pups on the parent and they’ll grow into clumps that can reach impressive sizes.

Temperature and humidity: 

These plants do best when kept between 45F and 85F and optimal humidity ranges of 50-70%.  However, if they are kept dry they can generally withstand light frost and if well hydrated they can survive much lower humidity levels and temperatures over 100F. 

FAQ

Q: My plant has begun to fall apart and the center is mushy

A: This is likely caused by rot due to trapped water in the leaves and core. To prevent this make sure to thoroughly shake off any excess water after soaking 

Q: Are these toxic to pets

A: No, air plants are completely pet safe.

Q: Do these plants have a dormancy stage?
A: No they do not

Q: How long does an air plant live? 

A: Air plants are perennials that live longer than 2 years and are self-propagating, so, in theory, they can be self-sustaining as long as you care for them!

Q: What if I need more help with my plant?
A: Message us on our Instagram @barsch_tropicals