Air Plant Care Tips: How To Water, Feed & Display These Funky Plants

Intrigued by air plants? These low-maintenance plants don't require soil, meaning you can hang them from a string or pop them in a terrarium to add dimension and design to any room. We talked to three plant experts about air plant care for beginners.

Despite their name, these plants don't subsist only on air. When keeping them as houseplants, you'll need to water them too.

When given the right conditions, these low-maintenance houseplants will thrive. Here's what you need to know to keep your air plant happy and help it bloom.

Air plants also give off indicators when they're thirsty. "The best way to know is to check your plant's color and firmness," says Naomi Robinson, founder of Houseplant Authority. "If it's a lighter color than normal combined with it being softer than usual, it's time for a drink." 

If you're wondering how often you should mist your air plant, Robinson recommends once or twice a week during the warmer months and once a month in winter.

Paying attention to how much light your plant receives is important because too much or too little sun can cause issues. "Too much sun can cause unsightly sunburn, which appears as bleached areas of the leaves," Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms, explains. "If they don't get enough sun, they'll slowly decline and die because they don't have the energy to survive."

"Air plants prefer a humid environment with temperatures ranging from 60 to 80°F," says Pangborn. This makes them a suitable pick for indoor plants. The geographical region where you live will influence whether you can place your air plant outside. Some people may want to keep their air plant outside and bring it in during the cooler months, explains Robinson.

"You can use an orchid fertilizer, following the directions on the product packaging or dilute a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer at about 10% of the recommended strength," explains Hancock. Fertilize while watering your air plant. Pangborn adds, "It's best to fertilize regularly during active growth times, like during the spring and summer months."

Air plants produce flowers but will only bloom once during their lifetime. Flowers can last a few days or several months based on the variety. Once an air plant has bloomed, it should also start to produce pups.

The best way to propagate an air plant is to use those "pups," or offsets that the main plant produces, explains Robinson. Here's a step-by-step guide to propagating this plant:

You're almost ready to go! Just consider these final tips for ensuring your air plant thrives:

Ready to start sprucing up your home with fun and curious air plants? Follow these tips and you'll have plenty of vibrant additions to your indoor jungle in no time.