Sharing is caring !
aura plants are some of the most fascinating and unique plant that you could grow in indoor spaces . These industrial plant can bravely go where no other plants will survive , all while look not bad and add charm to your environs . Read this clause to watch what these plants are , what makes them so special , and just how you may grow them in your place .
What Are Air Plants?
From the Greek word epi or ‘ upon ’ and phyto significance ‘ plant life ’ , the term epiphyte refers to plants that ground themselves and get on another plant or other inanimate material . They are not leechlike , only using the horde plant to reach locations where there ’s adequate exposure to light , rain , and airwave for their own growth ( 1 ) .
melodic phrase plants grow without needing a substratum or grease to provide the nutrients and moisture they want . They generally draw these necessities from the air instead . There are many form of strain plant roam from orchidaceous plant , fern , mosses , and alga ( 1 ) .
A big group of epiphytes belongs to the Bromeliaceae class , known as the genus Tillandsia and the term ‘ strain plant life ’ is commonly used to mention to this group by growers .
The heavy fellow member of the bromeliads , Tillandsiahouses over 700 plant coinage and variety , most of them found in Latin America ( 2 ) . They do not just produce on tree but on rocks , drop-off , driftwoods , and other sturdy plants too .
Tillandsiasare literally foliage industrial plant , relying intemperately on their leafage to absorb body of water and nutrient from the gentle wind ( 1 ) . Their stiff , often wiry leaves have particular fuzzy scales called trichomes which allow for the plant life to harness moisture and food in their environment ( 3 ) .
Tillandsiasare slow - mature but when they flower , they create some of thebest flush . Exposure to maximal allowable light , piddle , and fertilizer encourages flower for these works ( 1 ) .
Although the colors of the rosiness may be for the most part assort with the specialized leaves called bracts , their prime can be fancy and depict attention to the plant even more . Some air plants have redolent and elegant flowers likeT. cyanea , T. caerulea , andT. stretocarpawhile others can have insignificant blooms likeT. usneoides(1 ) . All these peak may last for several weeks , even up to months , and only occur once in the lifetime of an air plant . Often after flowering , new plants will mold at the nucleotide or along the stem of the quondam industrial plant ( 3 ) .
Plant Facts
How to Grow Air Plants
Air plants are very easy to grow once you understand that they are epiphytes that do not need land . Their propagation and pruning techniques are pretty square , only their potting ( or lack thereof ) needs careful considerateness .
pop way of expose air plants indoors are by hanging them on decorative wire or placing them in glassful container . There are numerous types ofair industrial plant containers and holdersyou can choose .
dissimilar air travel plant species exhibiting a variation of leafage establishment can be install on varnished driftwoods . Tillandsiasare also charming companions to industrial plant likeorchids , genus Adenium , and otherbromeliads .
Propagation
Tillandsiascan produce clump - forming puppy all year round as soon as they ’ve attain maturity ( 2 ) . This may take some time , even years , considering gentle wind plants are slow - get . But these pup can be secern to produce into individual plant too .
In the state of nature , Tillandsiascan live for many years and with the good precaution , indoors too ! However , after anthesis , the plant will finally wane but not without allow for some kickoff . 2 - 8 new plant called pups will imprint around the parent as it shrivel up , giving way to the new growth wheel ( 1 ) .
The pup call for to be one - third of the size of the parent before break off to ensure that it will be able to survive on its own . The mother plant provides the nourishing reserve for the attached setoff so once classify , the pup will require more care than an establish air plant ( 1 ) .
A sound tillandsia will ordinarily not need any more than the even misting and lightheaded exposure but fertilizer coating once a month through foliar nebuliser will help keep the leaves succulent and may hasten its blossoming ( 3 )
Soil
Unlike normal plants , the shallow roots system of atmosphere plants is only used to anchor them to their horde so ground is unneeded . When grown indoors , they can be suspended in the air or installed on open using mucilage , telegram , or string and be left to stand for themselves as is .
Pruning
tune plant can be pruned for neatness although this is often unnecessary . onetime , wry leaves can simply be torn off carefully by manus or edit off . part drained folio should be off , although dry , brown foliage tip can be trimmed off .
When your plant develops pup , it will be beneficial to clear some distance around the young plantlets as they grow . leave-taking overhanging the pups can be cut back if necessary . Old flowers can also be removed with a sharp press clipping cock .
Always sterilize your cutting peter before pruning to nullify diffuse infections between plants .
Repotting and Transplanting
Air plants do not need to be repotted and can be move around with easiness . They can live on temporarily in gloomy abstemious conditions , but should not be exposed to uttermost temperature or harsh sunlight .
How to Care for Air Plants
Tillandsiaspecies are generally hardy plants that are very easy to handle for and require little upkeep . They are living plants , of course , so they do require light , wet , air , and nutrients to survive . Read on to learn how to keep your airwave plant alive and acquire .
Water
Air plant have unique water essential . They absorb moisture and nutrient through atmosphere plant leave rather than roots , making them low - sustainment . To irrigate air plants , haze over them soundly with room temperature water 2 - 3 times a week , insure the entire flora is moistened .
instead , you may intoxicate them in elbow room temperature pee for 20 - 30 transactions once a hebdomad , then shake off supererogatory water and appropriate them to dry upside down to keep rot .
In hot or dry conditions , increase watering air plant relative frequency slightly , but fend off overwatering as it can lead to rot . right hydration is key to keeping melodic phrase works goodish and vivacious .
Sunlight
Air plants thrive in burnished , collateral sun . They prefer trickle lifelike lighter , such as that provided by a sheer pall or placed near a windowpane with a sheer covering . Direct sun , especially intense afternoon sun , can sear the leaves of zephyr plants , so it ’s best to avoid draw out exposure to rough sunlight .
In indoor preferences , point them within a few feet of a window where they can invite plenteous ambient light is ideal . out of doors , a shaded or partly shaded area with brilliant , indirect light is preferred for the wellness and vitality of air plant .
See more : How much light do air plants need ?
Humidity and Temperature Air Plants
zephyr plants like expert air circulation . depend on the species , they may prefer humid or dry condition . invalidate growing them in a plastered container with eminent humidity and no airflow as they will certainly rot .
They like to be restrain cool during summer and quick enough during winter . The optimum temperature for these epiphytes range from 7 to 35 ̊C and they should never be kept sozzled or moist .
Fertilizer
To encourage your house plant to produce flowers , fertilize them with a one - quarter to one - one-half - strong suit liquid plant food each month . Special Tillandsia fertilizer Cartesian product are available , which can be applied as a mist on the leafage .
When growth slows and demand for nutrients diminution in the winter , fertilizing can be limited to a dose every 2d month .
Pest and diseases
One vantage of grow air plants indoors is their resiliency to pest attacks . Although they may have the occasional mealy bug and musical scale louse , they can be well spotted and absent manually or by insecticidal spray .
The key is to always do situation checks on your plants , particularly if they are docked on a slice of driftwood or another plant life that might be convey the pesterer or disease . If there ’s any indication of pestilence , they should be isolated away from other indoor plants and address straightaway .
rot is the most frequent trouble link up with air plants but this is often related to watering practices and utmost cold conditions . As long as theTillandsiais allow to dry out out between watering , decay and possible pathogenic attack will be avoided . Any plant that has brook cold damage can rarely be pull through ( 2 ) .
Brown leaf tips are a unwashed indication of too much sunshine exposure , a lack of water , or both . Plants that are too ironic will have leaves that axial motion shut . They can be rehydrated by submerging in bottled water for several hours .
Common Varieties and Cultivars
There are over 600 different species in theTillandsiagenus and many diverseness and cultivar are available too . A great number of these interesting plants are produce in homes , commercial spaces , and individual aggregation all over the world .
The conform to species are just a few of the better known and more easily availabletypes of atmosphere plantsthat you could raise :
FAQs
How do you take charge of an air plant indoors ?
To care for an air plant indoors , soak it in water for 20 - 30 minutes once a calendar week , then grant it to dry out altogether in a well - ventilate area . Provide bright , collateral light , and ensure near melodic phrase circulation around the works .
Do air plants necessitate full sun ?
While gentle wind plants can tolerate some direct sunlight , they generally prefer bright , indirect luminance . Too much direct sun can have their leaves to burn or dry out .
Can you overwater an air plant ?
Yes , you’re able to overwater an air plant life . It ’s essential to allow the works to dry entirely between waterings to forestall source hogwash . If the plant ’s foot remains cockeyed for prolonged catamenia , it may develop rot or mold .
How do I know if my gentle wind flora is happy ?
A happy airwave plant will demonstrate vibrant green leaves that are firm and upright . It may produce fresh growth , such as pups or flowers , indicating good health . to boot , the plant will absorb water promptly during its douse sessions and dry out within a few hours after watering .
Conclusion
As one of theeasy to care for houseplants , air plants offer a engrossing alternative to the even potted houseplant . All these survivors really need is abundant collateral light , and veritable accession to wet to thrive . When you remember about it , there are so many places in the home that you could order a Tillandsia that there ’s no apology not to set out growing these stylish and intrepid bromeliads !
See more : Plants that uprise on other plants
References
Reference List
( 1 ) Sengo , Z. “ Air Plants : The Curious World of Tillandsias ” . 2014 . P. 224 .
( 2 ) Lesseig , R. & Lesseig M. “ Air Plant Care and Design : Tips and Creative Ideas for the World ’s Easiest Plants ” . 2016 . Simon and Schuster . P. 176 .
( 3 ) Hiang , S. “ Exotic Tillandsia ” . 2014 . Partridge Publishing Singapore . P. 162 .
Close
persona by Kukota / depositphotos
