Caring For Air Plants (Tillandsia)

Air plants are an easy houseplant to grow. With just a few simple tips for caring for them you'll soon fall in love with them and want to buy them by the truckload.

Seriously, I've just recently gotten into the air plant craze (it's a THING, you know), but I LOVE the carefree nature of these crazy little guys.

And I love that you can just toss them different places.

They're FUN and that's what gardening is all about!

I've got a little growth on my back. Is it noticeable?

Caring For Air Plants

• As the name implies, they like their air. Circulation around the plant is key, so don't cram them in a super tight or enclosed space.
• They are unique in that they do not need dirt. In fact if you plant them in dirt, the root area will rot.
• They do need water though. Submerge them in a bowl of water for 20-30 minutes once a week, remove the plant and let dry butt end up. When dry, you can return your plant to where it normally lives in your house.
• Do not use tap water (they don't like the chlorine). Filtered water or rain water is best. Distilled water is a no-no, there are not enough nutrients left in it.
• Protect them from full direct sunlight, they prefer a bright indirect light.

• They are hardy in zones 9 or higher (meaning they can live outside year long in those areas). They are normally grown as house plants in other areas or outside just during the warmer months (50 degrees or higher).
• If you keep them outside, watch out for birds who think they're nifty and want to drag them off to build nests with them. Ask me how I know.
• You can buy them online in different sizes and varieties from Amazon, Air Plant Supply Company or Plant Oddities and they should be available at your local garden center also (because they're a THING, I tell you).

How To Display Air Plants

Holy moly, where CAN'T you display them!

You can buy the hanging glass terrariums if you want that look. But I like to just casually toss them into odd places around the house.

In my Farmhouse Garden Planter Ideas I showed you my little red dump truck toting around an air plant.

You can toss them in a typewriter.

Place them in a vintage planter.

Plop them on a wooden spool.

Wedge them in a vintage magazine rack.

I think I would need quite a few more air plants for this look. Twenty more of them and I'd start a trend!

Other Ideas For Displaying Your Air Plants:

• vintage bed springs
• shells
• wooden logs
• top of candlesticks
• stuck in chicken wire
• mounted to a craft store wood slice
• seriously, just about anywhere will work

The skies the limit . . . have fun . . . be creative!

Have you gotten the air plant fever? Where do you display yours?

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