Dirt Free, Way to Be: Air Plant Care
By Maddy Hogan
To continue with this month’s theme of exquisite plants that have some neat features that are sure to impress, Riza Plants brings you air plants. These captivating and low-maintenance additions to your plant collection will spare you the mess that often comes with soil and have so many varieties, colors, shapes, and even blooms, you’ll be hard pressed to find an airplant that doesn’t speak to your home or office environment.
One of the most intriguing characteristics of airplants is their name itself, they do not require soil to survive, in fact they will NOT survive if you plant them in. Airplants obtain all the nutrients and moisture needed for their survival through their specialized trichomes, small scales covering their leaves that resemble peach fuzz. There are two methods that we recommend following to water your airplants. Once a week, submerge your airplant upside down in a bowl of room-temperature water for 15 minutes. After the submersion, make sure you lay the airplant upside down to dry for at least 2 hours and allow all water flow out from the crevices in the leaves. The second method is to spritz your airplant with a mister at least 2 times a week. We have these amazing gold misters available in-store for purchase and they are perfect for your weekly airplant mistings.
To mimic their natural habitat in tropical regions, airplants prefer bright, indirect light. A windowsill with filtered sunlight or an area near a lamp would be ideal. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, especially during the scorching afternoon hours, as airplants have sensitive leaves and this could lead to sunburn.
As for the environment, airplants are adaptable, but generally prefer a warm and humid setting. They thrive in humidity levels between 50-60%, which can be achieved by placing a tray of water nearby or using a humidifier. Air circulation is also crucial, so ensure they have adequate airflow by avoiding enclosed spaces and allowing them to dry out completely in between mistings or submersions.
Aside from living without soil, airplants have characteristics that differ from many other indoor houseplants. Airplants are epiphytes, meaning they attach themselves to other surfaces, such as trees or rocks, but airplants do not draw nutrients from the surfaces that they attach themselves to. Instead, they merely use these structures as a platform to grow and don't harm the host. Additionally, airplants have the ability to absorb and filter toxins from the air, contributing to improved indoor air quality. Airplants are also pet friendly and pose no significant toxicity threat to your furry friends. That said, depending on the breed and size of your pet, it is always recommended to keep plants safely out of reach of pets to avoid any accidents.
Airplants reproduce through the formation of offsets, commonly known as "pups." These baby plants emerge at the base of the parent plant and can be left to grow into new individuals. Once the pups have grown to about one-third the size of the parent, they can be carefully removed and will continue to grow separately as it’s own airplant that will eventually reproduce with a clone of the parent as well.
In addition to the reproduction of airplants via pups, airplants also have a blooming process that is truly magical. During their bloom cycle, which can last from a few days to several months, the plant produces a flower spike from the center. The spike bursts open, revealing a captivating and colorful flower. After the bloom, the plant may produce seeds, which can be collected and propagated to grow more airplants. It is important to note that when your airplant is actively blooming, you want to avoid submerging the bloom in a bowl of water and instead mist the airplant more frequently with your mister or spray bottle.
We carry so many different sizes, shapes, colors, and blooming varieties of airplants in our Downtown Napa location at 1300 1st Street, Suite 355. Pop in and pick out an airplant, a fun mister, and maybe even one of our handmade airplant holders from local artisan Muds Ceramics.
