Air Plants - Tillandsia

Care for air plants is different from your average house plant. They do not need to be planted in soil to survive, and many people remove the root systems altogether. In nature, the air plant typically grows on another plant using its roots to anchor to tree bark or a branch. Air plants are not parasitic as they do not take any nutrients from the plants they attach to. Instead, air plants use the tiny white hairs on their leaves to take in nutrients and water from the air. This method of survival is how they earned their nickname Air Plants. The fuzzier the air plant, the drier the area they originate from. The best way to care for these plants in your home is to fully soak them in a bowl of water for about 20 minutes every other week. They like bright, indirect light. Many people have success with misting their air plants between waterings. Air plants do have a set life cycle, which varies depending on the strain of the air plant. At maturity, the plant will produce a flower, and then an offset. This offset will then develop into a new air plant.