If you are looking for a houseplant that is always a great conversation starter, look no further than the unique, dynamic, and completely soil-free Air Plant to turn some heads. Air Plants (Tillandsia) are both captivating and resilient plants that are ideal if you’re hoping for a plant that you can have endless fun styling in your home. And, despite its intimidating appearance, their care needs are simple enough even for beginners to follow.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to help your Air Plant thrive in your home, including light and watering needs, temperature and humidity requirements, soil requirements (or rather, their lack of soil requirements!), and pet safety.

The Natural History of Air Plants

The best way to care for Air Plants is to understand the conditions that help them thrive in their native habitat. In the wild, you might find Air Plants in the mountains, forests, and occasionally deserts in tropical Americas, including the Southeastern United States, Northern Mexico, and even the Caribbean. Air Plants are epiphytes, meaning they cling to trees and rocks and feed off filtered light from the overhead canopy of the forest. What makes Air Plants unique is that their leaves are covered in scales called trichomes. These trichomes can pull moisture and nutrients from the surrounding air, which means that they do not need nutrients from the soil to survive. Named after Swedish botanist Dr. Elias Tillandz, Tillandsia is a genus with over 600 species.

Generally, there are two different types of Air Plants. The first type, Mesic Air Plants, typically come from a more humid and tropical region. The leaves are a deeper green color and have a smoother texture. This helps them surface in moderate to lower light conditions. A great example of a Mesic Air Plant is the Tillandsia ionantha, a popular houseplant because it adapts well to household conditions. The other type, Xeric Air Plants, have wide, gray and fuzzy leaves. These leaves help them survive in more desert-like climates and help them hold more water in times of drought.

Light Needs for Air Plants

Most species of Air Plants are comfortable in medium light conditions, but they prefer bright indirect light. Plenty of indirect light is essential to help Air Plants with photosynthesis. They can tolerate a few hours of direct morning sunlight, but too much direct light or harsh afternoon sun can scald the leaves. Fortunately, they are also very adaptable to grow lights if you want to supplement your natural light.

Since Air Plants love fresh air and plenty of circulation, you can bring your Air Plants outdoors during the warm summer months. If you do, keep them in a shady location or an area with only dappled sunlight.

Watering Your Air Plants

It’s often a misconception that Air Plants need minimal water or only need to be misted sporadically. For most Air Plant species, misting is not enough, and they need a good soak in a water bath to rehydrate. In the wild, Air Plants pull moisture from the humid air, but typical households are much drier, so they need a good hydrating every 7-10 days. Submerge your Air Plant in room temperature water for at least an hour but ideally for several hours. You’ll be able to tell that they are thirsty by their leaves, which will start to curl more than they usually do. If your Air Plant starts developing brown tips, it isn’t getting enough water.

Just as important as hydrating your Air Plant is making sure that they are fully dry within 4 hours of getting wet. After their bath, give them a good shake to remove excess water and hang them upside down in an area with good air circulation, or place them on a towel to absorb excess moisture. You want to avoid stagnant water sitting on the leaves, which can cause rotting. Though difficult, try not to handle your Air Plant too much during this process to prevent clogging their trichomes.

No Soil Requirements (but Instead Air Requirements) for Your Air Plants

As their name suggests, Air Plants do not need soil. Soil can actually contribute to rotting since it will retain moisture. The great news is that you can style your Air Plants in very creative ways as long as you create an environment where they can thrive. You can use wire to affix them to pieces of driftwood or wooden planks, suspend them from the ceiling, or set them on hanging or floating shelves. What is important for Air Plants is air circulation. A fully enclosed terrarium isn’t a great choice for this reason. You can, however, use a shallow container or an open terrarium.

Temperature and Humidity for Air Plants

Air Plants are used to primarily tropical environments, though a few species prefer more desert-like conditions. When it comes to temperature, warmth is necessary. Keep them in temperatures between 60 to 80°F degrees (15 to 27°C).

With the exception of some Xeric Air Plant species, they love higher humidity as it replicates the more tropical environment they are used to in their native habitat. With that said, if you are going to add additional humidity like misting or humidifiers, you do need to be careful that there isn’t stagnant water sitting on your Air Plant or poor air circulation, as this can lead to rot.

Fertilizing Your Air Plant

Air Plants typically do not need a lot of fertilizer to thrive. They are used to drawing nutrients from the water and survive with very little in their natural habitat. With that said, you may find that your Air Plant will benefit from light fertilizing during the growing season. Fertilize sparingly, every 4 to 6 weeks, with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half or quarter strength. Add your fertilizer to the water before giving your Air Plant its bath.

Pet Safety and Air Plants

If you have pets, the great news is that Air Plants are considered non-toxic, making them safe to keep around your home. Air Plants tend to resemble popular cat or dog toys, which can become very tempting for pets. Even though they are not poisonous plants, avoid letting your pets eat your Air Plants as they can still get an upset stomach. You should also keep them out of reach as their long tendril-like leaves can become a choking hazard. If you notice your pet experiencing any discomfort or any difference in your pet’s behavior after you suspect they nibbled on your Air Plants, it’s best to reach out to your veterinarian for advice.

Conclusion

Here are a few key points to remember to help your charming Air Plants thrive in your home:

• Light: Give your Air Plants plenty of bright indirect light and avoid direct afternoon sun.
• Watering: Give these plants a thorough soaking every 7-10 days and allow them to fully dry within 4 hours to avoid rot.
• Soil: Skip the soil and give your Air Plants an area with good air circulation.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep temperatures between 60 to 80°F degrees (15 to 27°C). Though they prefer moderate to high humidity levels, make sure they have good ventilation and air circulation to prevent moisture from sitting on the leaves.
• Fertilizing: While they are often happy with minimal nutrients, you can add a diluted water-soluble fertilizer once per month to their bath during the growing season to boost your Air Plant’s growth.
• Pet safety: Air Plants are considered non-toxic to pets, but it’s best to keep them out of reach as they can be a choking hazard or cause an upset stomach.

With these tips, watch your Air Plant thrive and add vibrancy and playfulness to your space.

If you have any more questions about growing and caring for your Air Plants, check out my online plant care community and reach out for support!

I can’t wait to grow with you!