Air plants are a little out of this world—in the best way possible! Their quirky, enchanting appearance is fit for a storybook, and they don’t need soil to survive.
Weird, right? Without the constraint of being bound to a pot, the number of creative ways you can display air plants is endless. Here’s why we think air plants are a great addition to your plant collection.
Where Do Air Plants Come From?
Air plants are native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. They also grow in southern states like California, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. They are part of the bromeliad family, making them a close cousin to the pineapple!
How Do Air Plants Work?
More commonly referred to as air plants, Tillandsia absorb water and nutrients through their leaves rather than a root system. Like orchids, they are epiphytes, which means that rather than growing in the ground, they grow on other trees and plants, but they aren’t parasitic. Air plants only use their roots to anchor themselves, not for nutrient uptake.
If you look closely at an air plant, you will notice a layer of tiny white hairs covering its leaves. These ‘hairs’ are called trichomes. Trichomes are essential to the health and well-being of an air plant. They trap, absorb and retain moisture and minerals, and they even help lower the plant’s temperature.
How Do You Care For Air Plants?
Watering air plants is often a main cause of confusion when caring for these bizarre little creatures, but there are a few easy ways to water them! The first is by misting them regularly with a spray bottle. Second, you can hold them under the faucet for a minute or two—just be sure to use room temperature water. Lastly, you can soak them for 10 to 20 minutes in a cup of water.
So, how do you know when to ‘water’ an air plant? You should soak your air plants every week to ten days as a rule of thumb. Air plant leaves tend to feel a little stiffer after you water them, and one of the most telltale signs that your air plant is dehydrated is if its leaves are wrinkled or starting to curl a lot more than they usually do.
Air plants prefer bright, indirect sunlight, and their ideal temperature is anywhere between 60 to 80°F. Anything below or above that will stress them out.
Fun Ways To Display Air Plants
One of the biggest reasons air plants are so popular is that you don’t have to keep them in containers. If you’re unsure what to do with this newfound freedom, check out these ideas!
Mini Macrame Hanger
Perfect for the lover of all things boho, creating a custom macrame hanger is a fun DIY project and a gorgeous way to display your air plants. Simply nestle them into the hanger, and that’s it!
Hanging Terrarium
We love terrariums because they are easy to customize and change based on the season or your vibe. You can place your air plant in a small glass terrarium and add whatever additional decorations you see fit. Terrariums don’t always have the greatest airflow, so just be sure to thoroughly dry out your air plant by hanging it upside down after watering before placing them back in their terrarium.
Create A Custom Wall Hanger
Join our fun workshop at Plant Perfect to create your very own unique, custom air plant wall hanging! Using bark, moss, and air plants, we will take a group through a fun workshop at the garden center, where you will create a one-of-a-kind design to display your air plants!
To learn more about this workshop and other fun events happening at Plant Perfect this year, check out our events page!