Hola everyone! Lets talk air plants. I know most of you love these plants as much as I do, but don’t know how to care for them. Thankfully, they are really low maintenance and require very minimal effort on your part, however they are not maintenance free and can’t be neglected.
I currently own 12 air plants –with five different species and my collection is growing!
Xeragraphica: Curly leaves, round form, light green.
Novakii: Star-shaped form, purple.
Didisticha: Star-shaped form, medium green.
Fushsii: Silvery leaves that arc outward
Bulbosa: Swollen base that sprout number of tentacles
They require very little light and water similar to cacti and succulents. Here are my tips on how to care for your air plant.
Despite their name, these plants do require water! If you do not water them, they will die. Don’t worry, these plants are pretty flexible with their watering.
Watering
Mist every two weeks during average temperatures, every four weeks in winter months, and every week in hot summer months. My mister was thrifted at Shopclass LA.
Submerge in water once a month for 1 hour (for small plants) or 2-3 hours (for large air plants). Shake off any excess water and hang dry upside down for 24 hours — I typically submerge them in the evening and drip dry overnight.
Make sure you air plant is completely dry before putting it back in it’s container. If it is left in standing water it will die.
If you notice your air plant looking dry or dull, just give it a few mists to raise the humidity.
Placement
The ideal temperature of your air plants is 45 – 90 degrees Fahrenheit. With that said, you can play around with the placement of your air plant depending on the layout and natural sunlight of your dwelling. They do require light but not direct. You can have filtered light but nothing direct as it will burn your plant. I place mine near a windowsill with filtered light or hanging across from window, ensuring there is not direct sun beating down on it.
You can place your plants in numerous types of vases and hangers. Glass vases are very popular as well as brass geometric hangers.They can sit in a bowl with moss and rocks and be fine as long as moisture does not collect. I have some of my air plants just sitting on top of table or some are resting in brass hangers or glass vases. They look in good in almost anything — so get creative!
Make sure your glass vases are away from direct sunlight as it will get much hotter inside the glass vase and burn your plant.
That’s it! They are so beautifully weird and I love them! Enjoy your low maintenance air plants.
