Believe It or Not, These Plants Are Living on Air
Welcome to the wonderful world of Tillandsias, the amazing plants that can live just about anywhere
Tillandsias, also known as air plants, are members of the bromeliad family and are unique in that they don’t require soil to grow – they can live where few other plants can. Find out below how to introduce them to your indoor environment with ease.
Architectural variety
Air plants are incredibly versatile and, with an amazing variety of colour, texture and sizes to choose from, incorporating them into your home or garden is easy. They make ideal indoor plants, especially for those who don’t have much space for a garden, and they don’t need much attention so are perfect if you have a busy lifestyle or travel often.
TIP: If you’re going away on holiday, make sure you soak your air plants for at least an hour before your departure. They will survive for weeks and sometimes months without any additional water in hibernation mode. On your return, soak overnight before draining well. Resume your regular watering routine.
Air plants are incredibly versatile and, with an amazing variety of colour, texture and sizes to choose from, incorporating them into your home or garden is easy. They make ideal indoor plants, especially for those who don’t have much space for a garden, and they don’t need much attention so are perfect if you have a busy lifestyle or travel often.
TIP: If you’re going away on holiday, make sure you soak your air plants for at least an hour before your departure. They will survive for weeks and sometimes months without any additional water in hibernation mode. On your return, soak overnight before draining well. Resume your regular watering routine.
Tender loving care
Caring for you air plants is relatively easy. They take water and nutrients from the air so the relative humidity in your environment directly relates to how much watering is required. Those living in dry climates will have to water their air plants more than those living in a humid environment. The rule of thumb is to give your air babies a bath once or twice a week for about 10 minutes; they may need supplemental spraying depending on your conditions.
TIP: After their weekly dunk, turn them upside down to make sure the water drains from their base. Be particularly careful with bulbous air plants such as Tillandsia caput-medusae because they have a tendency to rot when waterlogged.
Caring for you air plants is relatively easy. They take water and nutrients from the air so the relative humidity in your environment directly relates to how much watering is required. Those living in dry climates will have to water their air plants more than those living in a humid environment. The rule of thumb is to give your air babies a bath once or twice a week for about 10 minutes; they may need supplemental spraying depending on your conditions.
TIP: After their weekly dunk, turn them upside down to make sure the water drains from their base. Be particularly careful with bulbous air plants such as Tillandsia caput-medusae because they have a tendency to rot when waterlogged.
In the home
Tillandsias are great house plants and they don’t make a mess like other plants in pots and planters can. They work best where you can see them daily – a bathroom is perfect because of the humidity. An added bonus is that bathrooms are typically small rooms so the plant’s delicate size and texture can be admired, and doesn’t get lost. Wherever you choose to place air plants in your home, ensure they receive lots of bright filtered sunlight.
TIP: Air-borne poisons such as fly spray and air freshener will have an adverse effect on your Tillandsias. They absorb everything through their leaves.
Tillandsias are great house plants and they don’t make a mess like other plants in pots and planters can. They work best where you can see them daily – a bathroom is perfect because of the humidity. An added bonus is that bathrooms are typically small rooms so the plant’s delicate size and texture can be admired, and doesn’t get lost. Wherever you choose to place air plants in your home, ensure they receive lots of bright filtered sunlight.
TIP: Air-borne poisons such as fly spray and air freshener will have an adverse effect on your Tillandsias. They absorb everything through their leaves.
In the garden
Air plants are naturally suited to growing on trees. In nature they grow under the canopy and attach themselves to branches. They enjoy warm, humid weather but ensure they have protection from direct sunlight, ample moisture and good airflow.
TIP: Tillandsias in the garden enjoy the same conditions as orchids and would make a stunning display if paired together.
More: 8 Ways House Plants Can Improve Your Health
Air plants are naturally suited to growing on trees. In nature they grow under the canopy and attach themselves to branches. They enjoy warm, humid weather but ensure they have protection from direct sunlight, ample moisture and good airflow.
TIP: Tillandsias in the garden enjoy the same conditions as orchids and would make a stunning display if paired together.
More: 8 Ways House Plants Can Improve Your Health
Design ideas
Air plants can add a fun bit of whimsy in a home or garden. They look lovely alone as an architectural element or placed in a glass vessel with found elements such as moss, shells and seed pods, to create an aerium. They can also be attached to walls, hung with string and mounted on driftwood. The possible ways to display Tillandsias are endless.
TIP: Aeriums (a terrarium without the soil) are a great way to show off air plants. Hanging baubles and fish bowls (sans fish) also helps to maintain a humid environment.
Air plants can add a fun bit of whimsy in a home or garden. They look lovely alone as an architectural element or placed in a glass vessel with found elements such as moss, shells and seed pods, to create an aerium. They can also be attached to walls, hung with string and mounted on driftwood. The possible ways to display Tillandsias are endless.
TIP: Aeriums (a terrarium without the soil) are a great way to show off air plants. Hanging baubles and fish bowls (sans fish) also helps to maintain a humid environment.
Mounting and attaching
Air plants are wonderful to use for creating compositions because they can be rearranged so easily. You can attach air plants to almost anything. They can be tied with fishing line or coated wire (not copper, as it can be toxic), or glue such as woodwork or craft glue.
TIP: When mounting, angle the plant sideways to ensure water run-off.
Air plants are wonderful to use for creating compositions because they can be rearranged so easily. You can attach air plants to almost anything. They can be tied with fishing line or coated wire (not copper, as it can be toxic), or glue such as woodwork or craft glue.
TIP: When mounting, angle the plant sideways to ensure water run-off.
Flowering and propagating
All Tillandsias will flower, but some are more prolific than others. The flowers are as varied as the plant forms themselves. Flower spikes tend to last a few weeks and can be removed once flowering has finished. Air plants propagate by generating ‘pups’ around the base of the plant. Once they are large enough they can be removed or left to form clumps, which looks quite striking.
TIP: Air plants require minimal fertiliser, but a quarter strength of a liquid fertiliser a couple of times a year will assist flowering and speed up the production of pups.
All Tillandsias will flower, but some are more prolific than others. The flowers are as varied as the plant forms themselves. Flower spikes tend to last a few weeks and can be removed once flowering has finished. Air plants propagate by generating ‘pups’ around the base of the plant. Once they are large enough they can be removed or left to form clumps, which looks quite striking.
TIP: Air plants require minimal fertiliser, but a quarter strength of a liquid fertiliser a couple of times a year will assist flowering and speed up the production of pups.
Designer favourite
There are over 600 varieties of Tillandsias found worldwide but the Queen of the Tillys is the surreally beautiful Tillandsia xerographica. It is a stunning and versatile plant. T. xerographica is more sun hardy than some other varieties because of its lovely grey-blue, tough leathery leaves. Although slow growing, it can reach a metre in diameter.
JUST FOR FUN: ‘Tilly’ is the affectionate nickname used for Tillandsias in the plant industry
There are over 600 varieties of Tillandsias found worldwide but the Queen of the Tillys is the surreally beautiful Tillandsia xerographica. It is a stunning and versatile plant. T. xerographica is more sun hardy than some other varieties because of its lovely grey-blue, tough leathery leaves. Although slow growing, it can reach a metre in diameter.
JUST FOR FUN: ‘Tilly’ is the affectionate nickname used for Tillandsias in the plant industry
Highly addictive!
Get creative and have fun, but I must warn you that Tillandsias are like Tim Tams – one is never enough.
YOUR SAY
Have you tried growing air plants? Tell us how much you love them in the comments section.
MORE
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
Well-Hung Greenery: 14 Ways to Take Your Plants Off the Ground
Get creative and have fun, but I must warn you that Tillandsias are like Tim Tams – one is never enough.
YOUR SAY
Have you tried growing air plants? Tell us how much you love them in the comments section.
MORE
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
Well-Hung Greenery: 14 Ways to Take Your Plants Off the Ground
Tillandsias are epiphytes and can thrive perched on branches and rocks in their natural environment as long as they receive bright filtered sunlight and moisture. They are mostly found naturally in Central America … and at your house, if you want them to be.
TIP: If your local nursery doesn’t carry a good selection of air plants, you can purchase them online. They are small, lightweight and easily posted.