What is an air plant? These flowering house and garden plants are virtually maintenance free options for homeowners.
Bringing plants into your home can do wonders for your mood and the purity of your air. But unlike a piece of art or any other decor, plants need to be cared for in order for them to survive. Plants need TLC, but your busy schedule might cause consistent waterings to slip your mind. After enough weeks without a drop of water, your precious plants will start to turn brown before your eyes.
Sound familiar? Allow us to suggest something needing a bit lower maintenance: the air plant.
What is an air plant?
Air plants, or Tillandsia, are a type of flowering house and garden plant native to the southern U.S., Mexico, and Central and South America. This variety of tropical plants in the pineapple family is nicknamed air plants because they absorb water and nutrients from the air through their leaves and don’t require any planting or soil at all.
They grow mounted to an object for support and can thrive as part of a wreath, vertical garden, or terrarium. No, they’re not a completely hands-off landscaping element. But air plants do make lovely home decorations that demand very little space, time, or talent to maintain. And it’s really tough to kill them.
How to care for an air plant
Just give them sunlight, air, and exposure to water or humidity, and air plants are all set. A general rule of thumb, according to Gardenista, is to water your air plant once a week if you live in an area with average humidity, around 40% to 50%. If you live in a dry climate, water your plant every five days; for humid climates, stick to every 10 days.
To water your air plant, simply fill a bowl or your sink with room-temperature water and dunk it in. After 10 minutes, lay the plant on a towel to dry before inserting it back into its planter. You can also mist it with a spray bottle.
Keep an eye out for signs of dehydration or overwatering. The air plant’s leaves will start to curl or roll if it’s dehydrated. If the leaves turn gray or brown and fall off, you’re probably watering the plant too much.
What’s the best air plant for your home?
Horticulturists tally more than 650 varieties of air plants. Consider the shape, color, and texture of these household favorites.
- Ionantha: This variety is hardy and colorful with spiky leaves in bright green and red hues. Ionantha Guatemala even features a purple spike tapering into dainty yellow flowers.
- Velutina: This plant features soft, light-green leaves that seem to grow stacked on top of one another. It can bloom bright pink or red leaves that turn pinky peach in color with age.
- Streptophylla: Nicknamed the “Shirley Temple” for its curly cues (if it gets dehydrated, its leaves will twist into tight ringlets instead of curling up at the edges), this particular air plant is a hybrid, and it’s leaves can grow nearly a foot long.
To display air plants in your home, consider hanging them in a glass orb, perching them on some on driftwood, or planting them in a cavernous crystal.
