Background & Care Info

Airplants are so called because they grow naturally without soil or potting of any kind. They for a group, Tillandsia, within the Bromeliad family of plants. And are found principally in the deserts, forests and mountain regions of Central and South America. There, independent of any need of rooting themselves into the earth, they grow perched on rocks, trees and even telegraph wires. Such minimal root systems as they have are used only for support, for they live by taking all necessary moisture and nutrients from the air, trapping small quantities of rainfall or mist in the minute soft fur like scales which give a silver-grey colour to their leaves. Airplants are specially cultivated varieties which have been chosen for both their attractiveness and their tolerance of a wide range of household conditions. As such they make ideal, fuss-free houseplants whose exceptional, soiless existence provides unrivalled potential for display. Mounted on Coral, Sea-Shells, Minerals or Driftwood they have a magical air to which only the deep tropical hues their flowers can add.

Making your Airplant feel at home

It is important to remember that, like any other plant in its first days in your home, your Airplant is having to adjust to a whole new set of conditions. In all likelihood, the room in which it finds itself is drier, less airy and has lower light levels than the nursery conditions which it has just left. And a little care will help your plant smoothly over the change, enabling it to continue healthy growth, and ultimately to flower and reproduce by offsets. Please, do not however become impatient with your plant: foliage growth in Bromeliads is slow, and this is particularly so amongst Airplants: although once started, the speed of development of the floral stem can be quite astonishing.

General Care

Airplants benefit from any airy position with good indirect or diffused sunlight. Spray lightly from a distance of about a foot with a mister or atomiser filled with tap water, always making sure the plant dries out within a 4 hour period. Avoid letting the base of the plant to get soggy or remain damp as this could cause rot. Regulate spraying according to your plants' needs. A good guide for spring and summer is to spray once, preferably early, everyday. In cool conditions prevailing in autumn and winter, spray less frequently: once a week should be sufficient, two or three times if centrally heated.

Care during holidays or absences of a week or two can be handled by placing your Airplant in the coolest room in the house. Temperatures are not too critical, ranging from very hot (provided direct sunlight is avoided) down to 5 degrees celcious if kept dry. Quite simply, if you are comfortable, so is your Airplant.