Tillandsia Bromeliad (Air Plants) Care Guide
Tillandsia Bromeliad’s have over 500 different species in their family, although these plants vary in size and different ideal conditions they do share many common characteristics. These plants are native to South America, Central America, and Southern North America, the most common variety of Tillandsia bromeliad is spanish moss.
Tillandsia Bromeliad’s are also known as air plants because of their unique root structures and ways in which they collect water. Unlike most other plants where their roots dig down into soil and soak up water and nutrients, Tillandsia Bromeliads that have roots only use them as anchors to hold onto trees and other surfaces while they drink water through the humid air of their natural environment and water and dew that rushes past them along the trees they are anchored to. Some varieties of Tillandsia Bromeliads do grow in soil but these are the exception not the rule.
Growing Tillandsia Bromeliad’s in the home can be tricky as these plants prefer high humidty, you can achieve this by keeping your air plant in a glass bowl or terrarium. Start with a layer of rocks about a few inches deep then simply fill the bottom of the terrarium with an inch of water and place the air plant onto the rocks, make sure that the plant does not sit in water as this will kill them rather quickly. Make sure to mist the terrarium often to achieve higher humidity. It is a common misconception that air plants can survive with mist alone, watering your air plant is very important for it’s overall health.
To water your air plant take it out of its humid terrarium and get it full wet in your sink, you can even submerge the plant into water. Leave your plant like that for a half and hour then thoroughly shake off any water left on it before returning it to its terrarium. typically air plants need to be watered every 4-7 days with green leaved varieties requiring more frequent watering than grey leaved ones. The best time to water your air plant is in the early morning so they have plenty of time to dry out before night time.
Fertilize your air plant very infrequently, once every 3 months is plenty. You should use an air plant or bromeliad specific fertilizer or you can use a water soluble indoor plant fertilizer at 1/4 strength. Simply water your air plants with the diluted fertilizer as normal. Do not over fertilize your air plant, you will do more harm than good, these plants require very light nutrients to thrive.
Tillandsia prefer bright indirect sunlight, choose a room with plenty of natural light to help your air plant thrive.
Tillandsia are of the bromeliad family which are non toxic to dogs, cats, and humans!
