Looking after your Tilly's!

Basic information

Name: Air Plant

Location and Habitat: humid rainforests, high cloud forests, deserts, coasts, and mountain sides

Scientific name: Tillandsia

Air plants are found in northern Mexico and south-eastern United States, Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to mid Argentina. They are a tropical plant that usually live high up in the trees but can be found clinging to rocks in deserts. They hold onto the branches of the trees by their roots. Even though Air plants attach themselves to the tree, they are completely independant, they gain their own nutrients from the air and collect their own water when it rains and collects upon their leaves.

 

Here are some tips for your plants ongoing care.

Air Plants love the light, they like it bright! However, your plant will not do well in direct sunlight, so it is best to place it either under a fluorescent light or in a place where it can receive indirect sunlight. Air Plants are individual and will enjoy varying amounts of light but as a rough guide, greener plants prefer less light whereas silvery plants prefer more light. These little sun worshipers like to be warm too. They really do well and flourish in temperatures between 50-90F (10-32C).

Air Plants can survive for extended periods without watering, however, to keep your plant happy and healthy they will require a light misting at least once or twice a week. The hotter the weather, the greater the need for a mist and your plant will let you know if it is thirsty. Look for wrinkled or rolled leaves as an indicator that your plant is dehydrated. If your plant is blooming, it is best to give it a light mist but avoid dampening the flowers. Rain water is best!

Air Plants will greatly benefit from a good soak every 2-3 weeks. (Do not submerge blooming plants.) 15-20 minutes is ample unless your plant is severely dehydrated. If your plant shows definite signs of dehydration you can soak it for longer, 1 hour for slightly dehydrated plants to a good 4 hour soak for severe dehydration.

A liquid fertiliser will help your plant to grow and bloom and will also encourage reproduction. Plants produce offshoots or 'pups' after flowering and these pups can be removed from the mother plant once they reach a third of the size of the main plant. Alternatively you can leave the pup with the mother plant to form a clump. 'Pups' will follow the same growth cycle and eventually 'pup' themselves. You can purchase our Organic Tillandsia Feed &Conditioner in our shop.

Giving your growing plant a little grooming as it grows will help it to stay healthy. With a pair of sharp scissors, gently snip any dried out tips. You can also remove any lower leaves that have dried out, this happens as part of the plants growth cycle and is not detrimental to the plant.

There are over 600 species of Tillandsia that originate from varied habitats. Please research your individual plant to find out how to best care for their needs. We love Air Plants and community, please get in touch if you have any queries.

We hope you enjoy exploring the world of Air Plants!