Air plants available in many sizes and varieties
Light Requirements for Tillandsia
While air plants can be happy in a wide range of settings, they do need good lighting. Your tillandsia should received bright, indirect sunlight or indoor lighting (like from fluorescent bulbs). They can tolerate a couple hours of direct sun, but this is very drying, so plan to supplement their water if they do get direct sun. While air plants can handle short periods of darkness, like when they are shipped, or if they are temporarily displayed in a dark corner, they do need good lighting to grow their best. Indoors or out, tillandsia are very versatile.
Watering Tillandsia
Plan to water your tillandsia with a couple of methods used in concert. Although rain water is best, tap water is usually fine for air plants, as is well water. Do not use distilled water or softened water. If you are using tap water, set a bowl of water on the counter for a few hours prior to using it for your plants. This way, the chlorine can evaporate before you add the air plants. Submerge your air plants in the water, and leave them soaking for an hour. After their bath, gently shake the excess water from the plants and set them out in good air circulation to air dry upside down, to let all the trapped water run out and dry. Check the plants after four hours. If they are fully dry, return them to their display. It is important not to let the plants remain wet, or they will rot.
- Light: Moderate fluorescent/bright indirect
- Water: Soak in dish/bowl of water for 20-60 minutes (depending on size) and then flip upside down with bulb up to dry out fully before returning
- Child/pet safe: Yes