How to Care for Air Plants?
There are ample varieties of plants that grow in soil and water but did you know that some plants can even thrive in the air without the need of being planted in soil? Yes, these plant varieties can grow just with air and not soil but of course, they still need water and sunlight to dwell. The air plants are excellent indoor plants since they require just weekly watering and 4-6 hours of indirect light per day. Since air plants don’t require soil to thrive, you may use them to make a variety of eye-catching displays! This article is about how to care for these plants and nurture them well.
Watering Frequency
For air plants to grow indoors, constant watering is necessary. However, because these plants don’t require soil to flourish, watering air plants differs slightly from watering regular houseplants. All you need to do is, take a bowl filled with water, place the plants in it and let them soak for a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 minutes but not too long. Then, carefully brush out any excess water from the base of the plants since standing water can trigger root rot which can harm or kill the plant. It is recommended to water the plants in the morning or use the dunk-in method once a week. Using water from a pond, aquarium, or rain is preferable if feasible. Never use distilled or chemically softened water, however, it’s fine to use bottled water and spring water.
Light Preference
Air plants are adapted to bright or medium indirect light because they are frequently seen growing on trees and other big plants beneath the forest canopy. Avoid exposing the fragile leaves for too long to direct sunlight, as direct sunlight will quickly burn the leaves.
You should place your air plants next to a suitable light source that is not too bright nor too low if you wish to maintain a healthy plant. You may keep the plant 3-5 feet away from a window or next to a source of artificial light.
Temperature and Humidity
If you want your air plant to grow healthy and thrive well, make sure that indoor air plants have appropriate moisture and humidity by providing them with the right care. In order to prevent them from drying out, air plants prefer warm, humid environments. Air plants can tolerate normal indoor temperatures as long as they aren’t exposed to any chilly drafts or temperatures during the winter. Avoid placing your air plants in areas with excessively dry air or close to heating/cooling vents when it comes to humidity. Your plant will thrive with a humidifier placed nearby, or you can grow them in humid rooms in your home such as the bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen. You can also try spraying water occasionally, as doing so can increase the level of humidity in the area.
Feed them with Fertiliser:
To promote the plant’s growth, add a bromeliad fertiliser once a month or you can use any diluted water-soluble houseplant fertiliser if you don’t have access to bromeliad fertiliser. Before a weekly watering session, add the fertiliser to the watering basin and immerse the plants in it for 30 minutes as usual. Use the fertiliser as directed on the container, but if it’s a regular houseplant fertiliser, be sure you dilute it to 1/4 strength.
Some Common Problems of Air Plants:
Browning Tips
Don’t be worried if you find the tip of your browning, as this happens quite often in air plants. Browning of the tips indicates that the plant is not getting enough moisture that it needs. To avoid this from happening, try increasing the humidity by placing a humidifier or spraying water before increasing the watering schedule.
Mushy Stems
If your air plant’s stems are dark and mushy, it has likely been overwatered. Unfortunately, unless you notice an overwatered air plant in time, it is typically difficult to rescue them from dying. To assist the plant dry out a bit, remove the mushy stems from it and skip at least one watering.
Air plants are moderately easy to grow and they can be used widely in decorating your home or office space. Click here to visit our website www.dharmikgardens.com and order some exclusive plants online.
