This is just a simple guide to Tillandsia (Air-plant) care. If you've recently received a gift of one of our products featuring air-plants, or purchased one for yourself, there's no need to panic. These plants are easy to care for and very low maintenance.
A quick search on -line will provide you with a wealth of resources on Tillandsia care. I encourage you to read up on these wonderful plants to further your education.
WATERING
Water as needed. (" Gee thanks, that helps."). Okay, I know that says a lot without any general direction but here are the specifics. Air plants love water. But they love to dry out quickly. Simply spritzing your plants with a mister is probably not enough water to maintain your plants. Spritzing your plants periodically may be helpful if used in between watering periods. The best method to watering your tillandsia is to submerge the entire plant in a bucket of cool water for a few minutes. (Some people suggest soaking your plants for up to one hour, but I find that 5 minutes is plenty.) After soaking your plants, remove them from the water and invert them to drain any excess water. Place your plants in area with enough light and air circulation to have the plants completely dry in 4 hours. Plants kept damp for an extended period of time or left with water to sit in their centers will rot and die. Here are some other factors to consider when watering:
size - a large plant will require less watering than a small one simply because the small plant will dry out faster than the large one. small air-plants (like those abut 1 inch in size, will require watering on a daily basis to keep them living.
environment - hot and humid environments will require more watering than cooler environments. Adjust your watering to your specific living condition, region or lifestyle.
warning signs - believe it or not, your plant will signal you when it needs to be watered. If the ends of the leaves seem to shrivel and curl up, chances are you need to water it more often.
FERTILIZING
There is no need to fertilize your air-plants. If you want to fertilize your plants, use a water-soluble orchid fertilizer at 1/3 strength once every three months. Avoid using Miracle-grow as a fetilizer
GROOMING
Keep your plants healthy by removing the dead under-growth of leaves on the plant. The tips of the leaves can be fragile and can break very easily. If this is the case, remove the broken leaves with a scissors or knife.
LIGHTING
All plants need sunlight. (Try to tell as many people as you know.) Keep your plants in a bright room with filtered light. Do not place in direct sunlight. These plants can also adapt to artificial light as a light source.
PLACEMENT
Do not place your plants on top of electrical equipment or in front of (direct line) heating or air-conditioning vents.
