Air plants only flower once in their life cycle when they reach ‘old age’, and after it flowers it will eventually die. How to Grow an Air Plant. I have updated it with additional information, photos and a video for you to enjoy. Air plant will also grow outdoors in partially shaded conditions in warmer climates. Easy To Grow Air Plants Care / My Air Plant Tillandsia Collection tips and tricks for happy Plants. This is a complete fertiliser that provides all types of orchids with potassium for beautiful blooms, plus manganese, iron and copper ideal for your pot grown orchids. https://www.aboutthegarden.com.au/epiphytic-plants-air-plants-no-soil-plants Air Plant Décor is an Melbourne-based online destination for obtaining air plants in Australia, and they recommend positioning your air plant in an east of west facing window as long as they won’t get overly hot. Pull the pup from the mother plant when the baby is 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the parent plant. Although they're easy to care for, a few rules should be followed when growing air plants: Good air circulation - very important for a healthy plant. Keep your air plants up to one metre from a nearby window. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at airplantstore@gmail.com. They are classified under the bromeliad family which covers a wide variety of 3,475 mainly tropical plant species — this means that air plants are related to pineapples! If your plant’s leaves appear to be a little dry, feel free to mist lightly to raise the humidity around it. Air plants should “receive bright, indirect sunlight” according to Melbourne-based business Air Plant Décor, so the best place for them is usually indoors, near an east- or west-facing window. It has long, narrow laves that absorb water and nutrients from their environment. Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. In nature air plants use roots to latch onto branches to draw nutrition from hosts. Of course, bend the rule based on the conditions in your own home. The higher the temperature, the more often your air plants will need water.Air plants need more than is readily available in the air. Air plants, or tillandsia, are a genus of over 500 species of evergreen plants from the bromeliad family.In the wild, they generally grow as epiphytes, anchoring themselves to other trees and plants for support. Air plants generally aren’t affected by pests or diseases and don’t require feeding. Air Plants - A Beginners Guide To Understanding Air Plants, Growing Air Plants and Air Plant Care Would you like to know how you can look after and grow Air Plants? While there are variations in species, in general, air plants grow very slowly. Air plants require minimal care and are highly adaptable, and although they do grow roots, they do so to anchor themselves to a particular location, such as branches. They should receive bright, indirect sunlight. Similarly, make sure the plants receive filtered sunlight – direct sunlight can harm them. Just before an air plant blooms, it will reproduce by sending out pups from its base. A member of the bromeliad plant family, these gorgeous little plants can survive off air alone and make for beautiful décor in your office, home or garden. Check out their detailed fact sheet for growing indoor plants successfully. An east or west facing window area is ideal but avoid very hot positions. You can also keep them on your desk at work or on a dish on your coffee table – tres chic! They have this nickname because they do not grow in soil and do not depend on their roots to absorb nutrients. Whether it’s a Snake Plant, String of Pearls, Cyclamen or Calathea you’re after BAAG has plenty of options and plenty of advice to go with it. They literally live off the air and can be grown indoors, hanging from tree branches or balancing decoratively on intriguing objects or garden ornaments. Mist spray at least once a week depending on location. Heaters and fireplaces can dry the air out in your environment. Get new air plants by harvesting their pups, the name for baby air plants. In Australia air plants thrive in filtered outdoor light. Before, during or after flowering the air plant will reproduce by sending out two to eight baby air plants. Air plants generally prefer outdoor or breezy environments, but will grow well indoors provided they’re in a well-lit spot. Air plants are highly adaptable and can be grown well throughout Australia. People often misunderstand their growth and care due to their nickname (they do need more than just air to survive, and they won’t always stay as those cute little decor objects).. Think you have a black thumb? 11. Having plants growing indoors is an easy and attractive way of cleaning up this pollution. Temperature directly affects how often air plants need water. Tillandsias are very popular for use in vertical gardens and these ‘Air Plants‘ are best grown when protected from direct sunlight. Grow indoors, outdoor areas with filtered light. Choose a glazed or unglazed terracotta pipe, wooden pole or tree branch. These plants are epiphytes which naturally attach themselves to a tree, branch or rock. A group of ephiphytic plants, Tillandsias are originally from Central and South America. (It actually contains 5 plants, which you could divide up further yourself if … Daily misting - from late spring to mid-autumn. ● You can grow air plants by mounting them on a wooden board, a decorative tile, a mirror or other interesting backing material using waterproof glue (use just enough to hold the plant where you want it). A class of chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are the main indoor air pollutants. Make sure the plants are in an open area with room to soak up the nutrients in the air. One that is easy to care for & comes in a variety of colour shades? Misting them once a month is usually enough Scientifically called Rhapis Excelsa, the Broadleaf Lady Palm is a plant that many will recognise from its prevalence in indoor growing environments like offices and shopping centres. Looking for a plant with style? Let’s talk about 3 ways air affects air plants: temperature, humidity, and air circulation. To begin growing an air plant… VOCs are present in many common office and indoor items including carpets, paints, wall panels, wood products (especially particle board) and furnishings, and can be pretty bad news. Air plants, or tillandsias, are a tropical American plant that usually grows on trees. Most importantly, plants need their namesake: air. Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price! The hotter and drier the conditions, the more you need to water them. 5. They start out very small and can be removed from the mother air plant when the reach one-third to half the size of the original plant. Well, we’ve got the perfect plants for you! If the air in your home is particularly dry, water an air plant more often (every five days) and in a humid environment, water tillandsias every ten days. Type Tropical epiphyte Lifespan Perennial USDA Zones 10-11 Light Filtered or full sun Water Submerge and spray Where to Plant Terrariums The plant that's almost impossible to kill. They are easy to care for, beautiful to look at, and tend to do well no matter what your level of experience is with plant growing. Fascinating air plants. They are slow growing. Keep them in a well lit room indoors but not direct sunlight. If your air plant has been over watering and is showing signs such as the base turning brown or black, or leaves falling off, then it is most likely too late to save it. Mist in between soakings. Position in a well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight and thoroughly mist the foliage to water. Here are some product ideas to get started growing air plants: To find a greater selection, we suggest you order a variety pack like this one: 5 Pack Assorted Tillandsia Air Plants. Happy growing from everyone at Air Plant Decor! If the leaves curl or wrinkle then your air plant is probably dehydrated. Tillandsia 'Air Plants' by Fitzroy Nursery September 18, 2016. They come in … Air plant is a common name for a variety of tillandsia tropical and subtropical flowering plants. The professionals at garden supply store Hoselink say that air plants generally require good air circulation, a misting of water from spring to autumn every couple of days, and once a week in winter. Air plants absorb water and nutrients through their leaves and commonly grow on other plants or on rock surfaces. If the answer is yes, then the Syngonium. © 2020 Yates, a division of DuluxGroup (Australia) Pty Ltd. Air plant or Tillandsia spp. Immersion in rainwater is the best method of providing your air plants with the moisture they need. There are more than 650 types of air plants that can grow and thrive without soil. Call Support 1300 799 109 As a houseplant Tillandsia needs to absorb moisture through its leaves; submerge it weekly. In the August issue Professor Tim Entwisle gives you the low down on the myriad of gorgeous plants found in this genus, and the many ways to enjoy them, from hanging on a fridge magnet or sitting on your desk to seeing them draped over trees. Never leave a tillandsia standing in water. Tillandsias, or air plants, have the unique ability to draw all the water and nutrients they need from tiny scales on their leaves. Air Plant Care: Air. An air plants leaves feel stiffer when they are full of water, but softer and lighter in colour when they are thirsty. The Gardening Australia Vegie Guide for web is being updated, however you can use our temporary vegie guide to find out what to plant in the vegie garden in your climate zone. You’ve gotten yourself a few no-hassle air plants, and now you’re curious about how fast they grow. There's an exciting newcomer on the indoor plant scene - a very hardy and attractive- looking plant called ZZ plant. Lovely pot of snake plants, in the top 10 of air purifying plants for your house. During hot and drier periods, mist a couple of times a week to help keep them happy. If you’re looking for a unique and easy to care for houseplant, this could be exactly what you’ve been looking for. For warm regions of Australia, they can be kept in a shaded position outdoors but for colder regions, indoors is best. When I started out gardening, Air Plants were the first plant suggested to me to try and grow. We recommend fertilising your Air Plants once a fortnight in the warmer months and once a month through winter. Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla 'Amate Soleil') is a cultivar that can be grown indoors in a pot. Air plants do best with at least a few hours of bright, indirect sun daily. Rooms with north-facing window will work as well. Using a hot glue gun, add a small amount of glue to the base of a plant and glue onto the structure. If you wish to use a terracotta pipe or wooden pole to create an indoor plant art, read on. In australia there is so much bright light outside that air plants can grow happily indoors. If you keep them well watered, they can have hotter, more … Placement within 1 to 3 feet of an east- or west-facing window, or within a foot or two of an artificial light source is ideal. Pot is in GC, the bottom attached saucer however is missing most of it's edges. Misting them once a month is usually enough. Air Plant Décor is an Melbourne-based online destination for obtaining air plants in Australia, and they recommend positioning your air plant in an The group recommends soaking your air plant in water in a bowl or the sink for two hours every couple of weeks, then gentlly shake them to remove excess water and leave them to dry in a well circulated area for around four hours. Smaller air plants work well in a terrarium or in a grouping. Tillandsia International says to maintain air plants correctly they need the good light, water and air circulation. Don’t overlook air flow when it comes to air plants. During winter, they will survive well without much watering. They're generally not affected by pests or diseases. There are air plants ranging in size from six to ten inches or larger that can be ordered, as well. They need a well-ventilated position to stay healthy. They can be placed outside, but will need a little extra care to ensure they’re flourishing. If you would like a reminder of this post for growing air plants, just pin this image to one of your Pinterest Gardening Boards. Growing Air Plants: Tips at a Glance. We sell Fertiliser on our website and this can be diluted to create 1L of fertiliser. Air plants will happily grow indoors or outside making them very versatile. Broadleaf Lady Palm. For indoor use, you can string or place them on ornaments. Do water regularly. A good rule of thumb is to water an air plant once a week. Become one of My Awesome subscribers! Air plants require a tad more care when they’re transformed into a houseplant, but they are still simple to raise. Air plants get nutrition by absorbing water through their leaves. Repeat for all plants. Air plants make a wonderful addition to any home or outdoor landscape (as long as you have the proper climate for keeping an air plant outdoors constantly). Position them away from air conditioning units and heaters and be conscious that they adsorb everything through their leaves so keep clear of cleaning products and sprays that can be toxic to the plants. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores. Don’t let water gather at the base of your air plant as this can be detrimental to its health. The plant is known to be effective at filtering trichloroethylene, xylene and benzene. Still looks great, especially when displayed amongst other pot plants. Air plants can be hung from trees or any supporting structure, such as terracotta pipes or an old tree stump. For example, under a pergola, in a courtyard or under translucent polycarbonate roofing. Air plants also require dappled sunlight and temperatures of more than eight degrees Celsius. The plant filters formaldehyde, xylene and ammonia. Because they are easy to grow and small, I have seen them attached to magnets, driftwood and, of course, in terrariums. In winter mist once or twice a week. The higher humidity in your space, the more light your air plant can tolerate. Air purifying plants: 20 of the best for your home. they will survive well without much watering. If you don’t have a glue gun, you can also use an old stocking or rubber band to secure the plants to structures. Admin note: This post for growing air plants first appeared on the blog in July of 2015. Perfect plants for beginner indoor gardeners as they’re super tough, have large glossy leaves and grow quickly into an impressive indoor specimen. Skip to content . Where to buy indoor plants in Brisbane / QLD: Oasis Plant Nursery – 65 Herston Road, Kelvin Grove QLD 4059 Air plants may flower, but they bloom just once in their lifetime and then die. Air plants (Tillandsia) are incredibly unique and come in 450 different varieties. Mist spray or immerse in water every couple of weeks, Suitable for all climate zones, except frost or extreme cold. Share on Social Media. Air plants are having a moment. Where should an air plant be positioned? Becoming more popular in Australia, they are easy to grow and long lived, some wonderful flowering varieties are now available from specilaist growers. Imports of Tillandsia, also known as air plants, are being severely restricted in Australia due to a bacterium called xylella.