With air plants, sky’s the limit
Tillandsia, commonly known as air plants, are of the moment in the gardening scene. They add a foliage surprise to bridal bouquets, make for interesting wall art and add a touch of the exotic to vignettes in home décor.
In nature, Tillandsia species are epiphytes, which means they use their roots to attach to other plants or rocky substrate but not to absorb nutrients or water. Instead, they rely on moisture in the atmosphere to grow and thrive. Trichomes are specialized structures on the leaves that trap moisture and dust, providing the plant with water and nutrients.
Air plants are divided into two categories: mesic and xeric. Mesic air plants hail from
moderately humid regions such as South American rainforests. They thrive in a canopy of trees and prefer more filtered light than their xeric counterparts. The leaves of mesic types are deeper green, smoother and slightly cupped.
Xeric air plants are from desert-like climates and are often rock dwellers. Their leaves have larger numbers of trichomes, resulting in a gray or fuzzy appearance. Often their leaves are wider to allow a larger surface area to absorb water and light.
Tillandsias are forgiving indoor plants. They do best with bright, indirect light, preferably in an east- or west-facing window. In our region with many cloudy days, excessive sunlight is unlikely to be the demise of an air plant.
Misting, rinsing or soaking are three methods of watering these plants. Misting to the point of runoff may have to be done every other day with low household humidity. I have found rinsing to be the simplest technique. Twice a week, I gather my air plants, hold them under the faucet and rinse them thoroughly with tepid water. Lay them face down on a paper towel for a few seconds to drain off excess water.
Other sources report great success by submerging air plants weekly for 20 minutes to an hour, then draining them well.
Good air circulation is important. While air plants look great enclosed in glass, be sure to allow them to dry at least four hours after watering before placing them back in a terrarium.
Air plants bloom only once in their lifetime. The flowers come in many shapes and in a range of color from coral to pinks and purples. After Tillandsias flower, they produce “pups” or small offsets, new plants emerging from the base of the mother plant. Once pups are ⅓ the size of the mother plant, they can be gently separated and grown on their own, or they can be left in place to form a clump.
Tillandsias will benefit by a monthly application of fertilizer formulated for bromeliads. Fellow bromeliads include an array of colorful tropical plants, orchids, Spanish moss and pineapples. Clemson University Extension recommends diluting liquid fertilizer to ¼ the recommended rate and adding it monthly to the regular watering regime.
The fact that air plants thrive without the encumbrance of soil offers lots of options in decorating. Many displays take advantage of this by suspending the plants on wire, hanging them on walls, dangling their leaves from shells or simply plunking them into vases or anywhere they look interesting.
Most Tillandsia displays feature organic elements such as rocks, shells and driftwood. Try an updated spin on country by adding moss and air plants to a grapevine wreath. A vintage vase with a single Tillandsia xerographica tucked inside looks fun and fresh.
If you have a tall houseplant such as cactus or amaryllis, cover the potting soil with pebbles and place some tiny air plants at its feet for added foliage interest. It’s easy to gather them up once a week, rinse them and play with fresh placement without a speck of dirt to clean up afterward.