The Tillandsia or better known as the air plant or the air plant is a tropical plant that lives without roots in the earth. The gray or green leaves of the plant have special cells that can purify water and nutrients from the air in order to survive without roots in the soil. In areas such as Mexico and America, the plants grow against rocks or trees. The plant is becoming more popular as a houseplant and is not very difficult to care for. The plant can even get a beautiful flower with the right care.
Water the airplant
Where it usually goes wrong with the air plant is that people think that the plant does not need any water at all because the plant purifies everything from the air. The plant does indeed obtain nutrients from the air, but the plant still needs water from time to time. In the areas where the air plant originally grows, the plant also gets a lot of nutrients from the rain that falls. It is best to provide rainwater, because it contains more nutrients than tap water. About once a week, the plant can be sprayed wet with a plant sprayer or submerged in a bath of lukewarm water. Let the plant dry upside down so that the water does not remain in the leaves and the plant does not rot. Make sure the plant is completely dry before you put it back upright.
Location for the airplants
The air plants like a light spot so that the nutrients can be converted into energy for the plant. Never place wet plants in full sun to avoid burning. Furthermore, the plant is fond of movement in the air and especially fresh air. However, watch out for drafts and cold air, because the plant can handle that less well. In the summer the plants can possibly be placed outside, but the Dutch winters are really too cold for the air plants. It is therefore best to find a place in the house. Because the plants have no soil and are therefore not in a pot, the plants can be placed almost anywhere. You can hang them up, but you can also put them somewhere.
Types of air plants
There are more than six hundred different types of air plants. The appearance can mean a lot for the care. The lighter the leaves of the plant, the more light the plant needs. The gray varieties of the airplant grow in desert-like areas and can therefore withstand full sun. The light varieties of the air plant also need less water than the green varieties of the air plant. So also consider what is better for you when buying an air plant. If you have a spot with a lot of sun in mind, a light version is a good option. However, if your spot in front of the airplant is not very sunny, the green varieties are better suited. The amount of care you want to provide can also be taken into account when purchasing. The green varieties need a little more care than the gray varieties, because they need more water.