Air plants

When it comes to indoor plant care, air plants are supposed to be some of the easiest. For starters, they don’t even need soil, absorbing water and nutrients through scales on their leaves—in the wild they survive just hanging onto the bark of trees, catching whatever bit of rain comes their way. But just like succulents and orchids, some people have trouble keeping them alive. I know because you all tell me. I also know because I see a lot of parched, browning air plants that are clearly dying of thirst. I also see far too many holed up in closed terrariums—not a match for the circulation-loving plants.

 

To water, place them in the sink with enough water to submerge your plants. Let them soak for about half an hour, then turn them upside down on a towel to let them drain. Once they are dry, return them to their designated spot. You can also mist them every other day between baths to keep them looking fresh, especially in winter when humidity in our homes tends to be lower.

 

As a general rule, keep your air plants out of direct sunlight. Remember, in the wild, many air plant species like to grow up in the sheltered, shady canopy of trees. They will do best if you can put them in a brightly lit spot out of the sun’s rays.

 

Air plants love warm weather so it’s the other end of thermometer you need to watch. Protect your plants from anything colder than 45 degrees; they will die at those temperatures. If you live in Zone 9 or warmer, you can grow an air plant outdoors all year if you keep it dry during the winter