A nice filtered water provides just the right balance, and I would even run my own PH tests to ensure was nicely balanced between acidic and alkaline. Tillandsia are used to PH balanced rainwater with just the right mix of nutrients. I'll admit that for many years my air plants drank fancier water than me. I would tirelessly haul jugs of filtered water for my growing collection to enjoy while I drank from the tap. Take note of how your plant looks right after a good soak-How does that compare to now? Each plant is different so pay attention to what yours is telling your now. Brown leaf tips and a general shriveled appearance are other clues you are under-watering. Tip: Watch your plants' leaves for clues on whether they are thirsty or not. Curly leaves are drier and a healthy white fuzz actually means your plant is healthy, not necessarily drying out. All Airplantman designs keep this in mind so that it is easy to give your Tillandsia the water it needs without touching it directly! Besides our clumsy hands snapping the occasional leaf, the oils in our fingers actually clog the air plant’s sensitive leaves. Tip: Tillandsia don’t love to be handled. Indoors wherever there is heat, air conditioning, and generally dry conditions means regular watering is a must. Lots of sun means they will appreciate more water. The two most important factors to determine when and how much to water are whether your plant inside or outside and what kind of light it receives. If you live in Arizona this will be more, if you live in Hawaii less. HOW MUCH Spray until dripping wet 2-3 times per week. While spraying your air plant is an effective way to water it, the frequency will need to be much greater than the deeper re-hydration that comes from soaking. The key thing to remember is this isn’t a light misting.Your plant should be completely drenched to be watered properly. Spraying your air plant until dripping wet is another option for watering. We are working on the Airplantman soaking tub, coming soon! Small residue left behind can damage your plants. Tip: Ensure your soaking container is clean and not used for soaps or other cleaners. Be careful with a few of the xeric species like tectorum and xerographica. These are more sensitive and prefer spraying. We've even forgotten about them a few times without losing too many. Our rule of thumb is soak once a week for 6-12 hours. We soak ours for around 12 hours typically. HOW MUCH While even a short bath of thirty minutes can work miracles on a dry tillandsia, they can hold their breath for up to 12-24 hours. Curly leaves will often straighten and, while not having fleshy leaves like succulents, there is a fullness to your Tillandsia after soaking that is quite noticeable. The entire leaf surface opens up to allow water to enter the base of the plant leading the way for a remarkable transformation. People are often surprised that you can place an airborne plant completely underwater, but they love it! This is the surefire way to completely re-hydrate your air plant. Submerging your air plant is the best way to keep them happy, particularly indoors. Prepare for success and failure as you grow your relationship with these miraculous plants. While your exact species and environment will require some refinement, below we share the general rules of air plant care we've developed at Airplantman Studios over the years. While air plants in their natural habitat can survive in surprisingly harsh conditions (I’ve seen them living in the thorns of cacti!) the challenges of apartment and home living require some intervention to ensure success. I’m amazed at the frequent misnomer that Tillandsia receive everything they need from the air. or not so much.Īir plants, like all plants, definitely need light and water. Do they need light and water? How should I display it? Maybe in this dark room somewhere out of reach? Perfect. What do I need to do to keep this thing alive again? Definitely should have paid more attention at the store, but couldn’t stop looking at how cool my new plant friends are. Home with a newly acquired bunch of Tillandsia, reality begins to set in. The question became: How many could I afford and hoard into a collection? How I was going to keep this plant collection alive as I traveled between a variety of inhospitable environments was simply a concern for another day. Learning that this charismatic alien-like plant grew floating in air (and had over 600 species relatives in all shapes and sizes) got me hooked. The first time I saw an air plant, the waving arms of Tillandsia caput-medsae are what caught my eye. When you first lay eyes on an air plant you might be intrigued or confused, and then definitely need to have one… or maybe ten. THE BEGINNING- The First Air plant Sighting
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