Air plants are beautiful and incredibly easy to care for. They don’t need soil, so they’re perfect for people who want to grow something without much work.
But when you think about it, air plants are really just plants that don’t have roots. So why should they need to be watered? The answer is that they need to be watered, but you have to be careful with how you give them water. This is because air plants are very delicate. So, how to water air plants?
Before learning how to water air plants, learn more about these plants!
Air plants are odd little plants that don’t need soil to grow! They have unique features and are pretty easy to take care of.
Air plants are often referred to as tillandsia, but they’re not actually a type of tillandsia. They’re just called that because their appearance resembles other kinds of tillandsia. Air plants are technically epiphytes, which means they grow on another plant or object without harming it.
Air plants thrive in humid environments and absorb water through their leaves. They don’t need direct sunlight and can survive in low light conditions, making great plants for your office or home office!
They also love humidity, so keep them in a place where they won’t dry out too quickly.
How to water air plants properly?
Watering air plants is a little bit different than watering most other plants. Most plants are nourished by water and nutrients from the soil, but air plants get their nutrients from the air around them and don’t need any soil at all.
That’s not to say you don’t have to water them, though! Air plants need water just as much as any other plant does. They just need it differently.
The best way on how water air plants is through the Soaking Method.
The Soaking Method
Here’s how to water air plants using this method.
- You’ll need a bowl or container that’s large enough for your plant and its roots to fit comfortably.
- Fill the bowl with room-temperature water until it covers most of the roots but not so much that they’re submerged, then let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, remove your plant from the water and gently squeeze out or shake any excess liquid from its leaves. Then, place it in a spot where it will get indirect sunlight but not too much of it!
Air plants thrive in filtered light, so anything from a window with sheer curtains over them should be perfect.
The goal here is to dry your air plants. But if you don’t want to risk it under indirect sunlight, you can also dry them using a paper towel or a clean cloth. Just turn your air plants upside down until they’re fully dry.
You can also use a small fan to dry them, but make sure that the fan is in its lowest setting.
How often should you water air plants?
The answer is it depends. It really depends on the following.
- The type of air plant you have
- What kind of environment it’s in
- How much light and shade does it gets
In general, however, most air plants need to be watered once or twice a week when they’re healthy and more often if they’re not.
You can tell if an air plant needs watering by looking at its leaves. If they look droopy or dull, chances are good that it needs a drink of water.
What’s the best water for air plants?
The best water for air plants is actually rainwater, but tap water works, too, if you don’t have a rooftop to gather it from. But you must let tap water sit overnight before giving it to your air plants. This is to remove any chlorine present in the water.
It is important to ensure you don’t use contaminated water because it can contain chloramine, which can kill your plants if you use it in the watering process.
You can also use pond or aquarium water in watering air plants, not distilled water since it is too pure for your air plants.
Can you mist your air plants?
Yes, you can mist your air plants!
This is a great way to give them a little extra moisture when they need it. Remember that misting isn’t going to replace watering your plants. You still need to give them a good soak at least once a week.
Likewise, just be careful not to over-wet them.
Air plants are resilient and can handle getting a little water on them. If you want to give them extra moisture, you can mist your air plant with water.
Just be careful not to overdo it. Your plant will likely become soggy if you keep spritzing it with water. The best way to know how often to mist your air plant is just by looking at it. If the leaves start looking droopy or wilted, they probably need more moisture.
Tips when watering air plants
Here are other tips you might need when watering and taking care of your air plants.
- You don’t have to water an air plant every day. In fact, it’s best not to. Instead, give your plant a thorough soaking once a week, then let it dry out between waterings.
- If the leaves of your air plant are turning yellow and falling off, the plant is getting too much water.
- Air plants don’t need full sun. They can grow in partial shade.
- Air plants need to breathe and absorb moisture through their leaves, so ensure they’re not sitting in water for too long or in direct sunlight.
Water your air plants the right way!
We hope you’ve learned much about how to water air plants, care for them, and maintain them.
Remember, there are no hard and fast rules for how to water air plants. Just ensure you’re giving them the right amount of water, the right type of water, and you’ll get along just fine. Misting is fine. Just make sure not to drench them!
Now that you know how to properly water your air plants, it’s time to do it yourself!