Air plants! Yes, I think that along with succulents and marimos, I have an unhealthy obsession with these plants. So, I've decided to blog about them! There will probably be a succulents post and a marimo post some time after this one, too.
For those of you who don't know, air plants, also known as Tillandsia, are a type of epiphyte (meaning plants that grow on other plants) related to bromeliads.
So. I think I shall start this post with some pictures of my plants, and then a bit of info on how I care for them and where I get them from.
For those of you who don't know, air plants, also known as Tillandsia, are a type of epiphyte (meaning plants that grow on other plants) related to bromeliads.
So. I think I shall start this post with some pictures of my plants, and then a bit of info on how I care for them and where I get them from.
These three are all Tillandsia bulbosa, my favorite type of air plant. They're special because they've got that "bulbous" bottom, hence the name. I put these in little glass beakers that I got from my mom's laboratory, and then they grew a bunch of roots inside the beaker, which looks pretty dang cool.
I have no idea what this one is called. It's kinda... longish? I've got this shelf for my desk, and put it in one of the compartments.
These two air plants are on the shelf too, and these two are actually mommy and baby. If you look closely at the larger plant, you might be able to see three baby air plants growing out from it. I bought the big one with four baby plants growing out of it, then detached one of them and put it in that shell you see there. That big air plant is in the process of dying right now, because air plants are supposed to die after flowering and producing babies. I'll be left with four little air plants, though!
This one is called Tillandsia ionantha. I bought it during Halloween season at ShopRight, and it was attached to a little clay pumpkin as the "leaf" part of the pumpkin. But then Halloween passed, and the pumpkin got stupid, so I ripped the plant off and put in that hanging glass bubble thingy.
How I care for air plants, and where I get them from.
First, a quick disclaimer: The following information is only how I care for my air plants, and where I get them from. They are in no way meant to be the best or easiest way to do it; it's only how I do it. I do get along pretty well with my methods though, so deal with it. :3
Air plants are pretty easy to care for; their maintenance pretty much consists of waterings, once to twice a week. In summer when it's really hot, I usually water them twice. Sometimes I take a spray bottle and spray them a bit between waterings, too.
I use a big tub of water for watering, which I usually get the night before from the tap, so the chlorine evaporates a bit. When it rains, I might use rainwater, because that's supposed to be the most nutritious. I dump all the plants into the tub, and leave them there for 2-4 hours, then put them on a tray to dry out overnight so they don't rot. The next day, I put them back into the usual display places.
My air plants are all grown on my desk, which is next to a window and receives bright, filtered sunlight. That's supposedly the type of light air plants need.
I get most of my air plants (the ionantha being the exception) from this Chinese greenhouse in Highland Park, which is kinda far away. I go there about once a year to get new air plants. There are lots of websites to by air plants from online too, which also offer a much bigger variety. I think I'd like to order some of the more exotic air plants from online someday....
Welp, that is basically it on the subject of air plants. I hope you enjoyed checking this out, and maybe got interested in these, too!
Air plants are pretty easy to care for; their maintenance pretty much consists of waterings, once to twice a week. In summer when it's really hot, I usually water them twice. Sometimes I take a spray bottle and spray them a bit between waterings, too.
I use a big tub of water for watering, which I usually get the night before from the tap, so the chlorine evaporates a bit. When it rains, I might use rainwater, because that's supposed to be the most nutritious. I dump all the plants into the tub, and leave them there for 2-4 hours, then put them on a tray to dry out overnight so they don't rot. The next day, I put them back into the usual display places.
My air plants are all grown on my desk, which is next to a window and receives bright, filtered sunlight. That's supposedly the type of light air plants need.
I get most of my air plants (the ionantha being the exception) from this Chinese greenhouse in Highland Park, which is kinda far away. I go there about once a year to get new air plants. There are lots of websites to by air plants from online too, which also offer a much bigger variety. I think I'd like to order some of the more exotic air plants from online someday....
Welp, that is basically it on the subject of air plants. I hope you enjoyed checking this out, and maybe got interested in these, too!