I don't follow a strict regimen when caring for air plants. These lovely wee bits of planty goodness have lived all over my house, in all sorts of light, temperatures and levels of humidity. I did lose a few types that did not care for this casual treatment over the years. The collection has reached a plateau that hopefully will continue for sometime.
🥬Definition from The Air Plant Supply Company -
Air plants are actually called Tillandsias, which happens to be part of the Bromeliaceae or Bromeliad species. They have also been labelled as Epiphytes, as they do not need to have soil to grow. The air plant is often found in the jungles, mountain tops, and deserts, of Central and South America, and Mexico and the the southern United States in North America.
Air plants are a variety of Epiphytes, meaning they need no soil to develop. They actually do call for a platform to commence growing. These plants are not parasitic and use their host for a method of support. The plant receives its nutrition within the moisture and dirt fibers drifting in the air. The roots are mainly implemented as a means of attaching itself to the supporting subject.
A routine that works for me is to give the plants a 3 hour soak, in water that has set out, with the plants upside down. Perhaps every few months spray air plant food on the soaking water.
Shake them off gently to release excess water and lay them upside down to dry. You do not want the water to rest in the base of the leaves causing rot.
They will attach themselves to terracotta pots, stones, branches and here, shells that are in a shallow dish.
Tillandsia Bulbosa was one of the first in the collection
The largest, longest living (20 years of more) and sturdiest of the species, Tillandsia Xerographica, growing 3' wide by 24" tall.
These Medusa type plants develop off shoots often. These shoots will then be independent from the mother once they grow into a decent size plantlet. I have broken them off, with great success, in the past.
Set out to dry last evening upside down.
This Winter you can find them in our spare bedroom enjoying a southern exposure and supplemented with grow lights. I have not been misting which is recommended weekly. In the Summer this pedestal and shallow dish set-up will go back on the front porch once temperatures stay at 55 degrees at night.
Have you ever tried to grow air plants? They do remind me of Tribbles from the Star Trek episode, Trouble with Tribbles :)
I think that houseplants multiply just as fast!
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