Air plant care guide
Tillandsia
Air plants (tillandsia) grow without soil. In the wild they cling to trees and rocks, taking in water and nutrients through tiny scales on their leaves. That makes them perfect for globes, frames and modern displays, but despite the name, they can't live on air alone.
This guide covers soaking, drying, light, common problems and pups, plus how to care for the most popular types.
Printable Air Plant care sheet (PDF)
Medium light · Bright, indirect light
About once a week
Easy
Pet-safe
Where to water it
Submerge the whole plant in water for 20 to 30 minutes, then shake it gently and dry it upside down so no water sits at the base.
When: Once a week, or when the leaves curl inward and look dull.
Where to put it
Bright, indirect light, on a stand, in a glass globe or mounted on a frame.
Common mistakes
- Never watering because of the name
- Putting it away wet, which rots the base
- Planting it in soil
Air plant care at a glance
Easy, printable air plant care instructions.
| Need | What to do |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light, or 12 hours under full-spectrum lights. |
| Water | Soak 20 to 30 minutes once a week. |
| Dry | Upside down for 1 to 4 hours, until fully dry. |
| Temperature | 50°F to 90°F. |
| Air flow | Good air flow. Never sealed in a closed container. |
| Soil | None. Never plant in soil. |
| Fertilizer | Air plant or bromeliad fertilizer in the soak water once a month. |
| Pets | Non-toxic to cats and dogs. |
How to water air plants
Once a week, submerge your air plants in a bowl of room-temperature rain, pond, bottled or filtered water for 20 to 30 minutes. Tap water is fine if you let it sit out overnight, but avoid softened or distilled water.
After soaking, gently shake them and set them upside down on a towel in a spot with good air flow for 1 to 4 hours, until completely dry. Water trapped at the base causes rot, the most common way air plants die.
In very dry homes or hot weather, add a light misting between soaks. Leaves that curl inward or look dull and gray mean the plant is thirsty.
How much light do air plants need?
Air plants need bright, indirect light, like within a few feet of an east, west or south window. Silvery, fuzzy types like xerographica and tectorum can handle some direct sun. Green, smooth types prefer softer light.
In offices and rooms without windows, full-spectrum LED lights for about 12 hours a day work well. Glass globes magnify sun and can cook the plant, so keep globes out of direct sun.
Displays, globes and cleaning
Air plants can sit on stands, driftwood, shells, frames or open glass globes. Avoid closed terrariums and anything that holds water around the base. Never glue the base with super glue or set it in soil or moss that stays wet.
Remove plants from globes and displays to soak them, and let them dry before putting them back. Wipe dust from globes and frames when you do.
Air plant walls, frames and globes are a low-maintenance favorite for reception desks and shelves. Leafstruck designs the displays and handles the weekly soak.
Planters and displaysCommon air plant problems
How to read an unhappy air plant.
- Brown, crispy tips: underwatering or very dry air. Trim the tips and soak more often.
- Brown, mushy base and falling leaves: rot from not drying fully. Usually fatal.
- Curling, dull leaves: thirsty. Give it a longer soak.
- Pale or bleached: too much direct sun.
- Soft, dark green and stretching: not enough light.
Blooms and pups
Most air plants bloom once in their life, often turning pink, red or purple first. After blooming, the mother plant grows pups at its base, then slowly declines over months or years.
Separate pups once they're about a third the size of the mother by gently twisting them off, or leave them attached to grow into a clump.
Popular air plants and how their care differs
Silver, fuzzy types need more light and less water. Green, smooth types need more water.
Tillandsia ionantha
Also sold as Guatemala, Mexican, Rubra, Fuego
Small, spiky rosettes that blush red before blooming.
Care: The easiest. Standard weekly soak and bright light.
Tillandsia xerographica
Large, silvery, curling rosette up to 12 inches.
Care: Very bright light. Mist or dunk briefly instead of long soaks, and dry it well.
Tillandsia tectorum
Fuzzy, silver-white snowball of leaves.
Care: Bright light, some sun. Mist instead of soaking; never soak it.
Medusa
Also sold as Tillandsia caput-medusae
A bulb base with snaking, twisted leaves.
Care: Bright light. Dry upside down so water doesn't sit in the bulb.
Blushing Bride
Also sold as Tillandsia ionantha x, Tillandsia Kolbii
Soft green rosette whose center blushes pink.
Care: Standard care, bright light.
Butzii, seleriana and bulbosa
Bulb-based types with thin or swollen leaves.
Care: Dry carefully upside down. Seleriana prefers misting.
Spanish moss
Also sold as Tillandsia usneoides
Long, gray hanging strands.
Care: Frequent misting and humidity.
Your Air Plant watering schedule
Every 7 days · about once a week
Dunk the whole plant
Submerge the whole plant in water for 20 to 30 minutes, then shake it gently and dry it upside down so no water sits at the base.
Check first: Once a week, or when the leaves curl inward and look dull.
Schedules are a starting point. Always check the soil before you water. Full Air Plant care guide
Too many plants to keep track of? We water them for you.
Air Plant questions
How do you take care of air plants?
Soak them for 20 to 30 minutes once a week, dry them upside down until fully dry, and give them bright, indirect light.
How often should I water air plants?
About once a week, with an extra misting in very dry or hot conditions.
Why are my air plant's tips turning brown?
Usually underwatering or very dry air. Soak it more often, and trim the brown tips.
Do air plants need sunlight?
They need bright, indirect light, or 12 hours under full-spectrum LED lights.
Can air plants live in a closed terrarium?
No. They need air flow to dry out. Use an open globe or a stand.
Are air plants hard to take care of?
No. A weekly soak, a thorough dry and good light are all they need.
Are air plants safe for pets?
Yes. Air plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Air plant displays, maintained
Leafstruck designs air plant walls and displays for offices and homes and handles every soak, so they stay healthy.
Plants that like the same light
Test what you know
Water It Right game
Ten plants, two questions each: how often, and where does the water go?
GameFind the Right Spot game
Place each plant in the room where it will thrive, from sunny windows to windowless hallways.
QuizPlant matcher quiz
Answer five questions about your light, space and style to get three plants that will thrive.