General Tillandsia Care

Once you receive your Tillandsias they will benefit from a 2-3 hour soaking in water as their journey can be stressful. Lower leaves that have naturally died can be easily removed by pulling them down toward the base of the plant. 

Outdoor Care Instructions

Do Air Plants need a lot of sunlight?

Tillandsias grow best in bright indirect or filtered light from April through October. Early morning or later evening direct sun is OK in mild environments. They can typically handle more direct sun from November through March.

How often do I water an Air Plant?

When watering, completely drench your Tillandsias as misting alone can be insufficient. They like to be watered 2-3 times per week on average, however, in a dry, hot climate, they may want to be watered as much as 2 times a day. Conversely, in the moist cool environment, one watering per week or two will suffice. If your Tillandsias become too dry or desiccated, they will benefit from an occasional soaking in a bucket of water overnight (do not do this with Tillandsia xerographica, streptophylla, or magnusiana as we have found it can cause leaf damage). However, for routine watering they should be able to dry out in 4 hours or less to avoid rotting. We prefer to use reverse osmosis water with a dilute solution of fertilizer every time we water. 

Can Air Plants survive heat?

Tillandsias can be kept outdoors year round if protected from frost. Optimum temperature range is between 50 and 90 degrees F. 

Should I fertilize my Air Plants?

Tillandsias can survive without fertilizer, though a plant benefiting from a fertilizer regimen will grow, bloom, and produce offsets (pups) more vigorously. A Bromeliad or Tillandsia fertilizer should be used 2 times per month at ¼ strength. 

Indoor Care Instructions

Indoor care is similar to outdoor care. To get enough light, Tillandsias should be within 3 feet of a window. It is often dryer indoors so more water may be required. They should dry out within 4 hours of watering unless you are rehydrating them with an overnight soaking. It is easiest to water indoor plants by dunking them or running them under the faucet.