Caring for Air Plants, Easy as Walking on Air

My plant-loving relative who spent Thanksgiving at my home mentioned that she does not feel like making room for decorations for the next holiday. Trees, lights, and more require space, and for her, this means taking time relocating many nice houseplants that she has carefully tended all year. So that got me thinking about Tillandsia, the Air Plants, and how there is always space and time for them.

Tillandsia is a genus of plants with many species that have very different looks. Nevertheless, despite their differences, all are quite fascinating. Remember the Bromeliads, so popular in residential and commercial houseplant displays of the past? Well, Tillandsia, or the Air Plants, are part of their same family, Bromeliaceae. But Tillandsia is unlike anything we have known. Air Plants seem very new to the plant lovers I know.

Most Air Plants remind me of ocean flora or fauna. For fauna, picture an octopus with its wonderful arms and you might get a mental picture of Tillandsia xerographica. In addition to these little “octopi”, stylized versions of Aloe and certain Cacti seem similar in looks to some of the other Air Plants I have seen. And guess what? Tillandsia usneoides is Spanish Moss, the beautiful draping epiphyte that can look like a tree garland that has been put in place by Nature. No matter the styling, Air Plants are interesting.

The true beauty of Air Plants for this time of year when homes fill with light, added greenery, and gifts is that Tillandsia can fit just about anywhere, from a nice windowsill, to a shelf, and even to a temporary home on an evergreen tree that has been brought indoors for decorating. Air Plants do not sit in soil or water. They need hydration, but they take their hydration differently. Air Plants can fit in with no issues. 

Picture a centerpiece that will not drip on your table. Picture a special something to inspect on a nice bookshelf that does not get the brightest light. Picture a plant that can be temporarily, very briefly, boxed and gifted as though it is a special ornament. Tillandsia fits into all these pictures with ease.

Tillandsia xerographica is especially full and interesting if you like the octopus-style Air Plants, as I do. This little guy, like the other Air Plants, gets watered by way of a good soak… upside-down submersion in water only once every couple of weeks. With gentle misting once a week between the times it takes its special hydrating plunge, Tillandsia xerographica will do well while being no bother at all.

Now, bi-weekly watering, you say…. That is a dreamy requirement for people who are low on time, forgetful, or have so many other plants to tend that they need one easy-going addition to the mix. Personally, I think this makes it a real dream for those who intend to gift a plant. If you are unsure whether a gift recipient is a green thumb or all thumbs, you can give Tillandsia without worry. And again, for a somewhat brief period, you can even package it up in a gift box for when you present it to the lucky person you choose. Air Plants. Caring for them is as easy as walking on air.