Air plants can also be called ‘Tillandsia’ and can be very tricky when watering them. It is a minor deal when it comes to maintaining air plants. They do not require soil to grow, proving where they derived their name. I use appropriate equipment to maintain my air plants and know the water level I should add to them. Air plants are grown chiefly indoors as they do not grow in soil but in water. Follow me to learn more about how often you should water your air plants.
How To Water Air Plant
Air plants grow without soil, but that does not mean that they don’t need water to survive. These plants have a means of survival where they absorb the moisture in their natural habitat. This is because mostly the rainforest where they are found is humid and can sustain them. It is different if you decide to grow them as a houseplant. You will have to fulfill their watering needs due to the dry environment indoors.
There are different methods of watering air plants. Examples are soaking and spritzing. A lot of people use the spritzing method to water air plants that are in a humid environment. They spray water on them using a misting bottle, usually twice a week. However, this method will only be sufficient if your air plant is grown in a dry environment.
More than spritzing your air plant is needed, especially in dry indoor environments. Therefore, we move to the following method, soaking. As the name implies, you must dunk them in water for some time to keep them fresh and growing.
When using the soaking method, leave your air plant in water for twenty to thirty minutes if it is in a cool climate. However, for a dry indoor environment, it is advisable to leave it for up to thirty minutes to one hour. During summer, be sure to give your air plant a long soak for a long duration. Watering an air plant needs tools like sinks, bowls, or buckets to submerge them in water and use room temperature.
How Often To Water Air Plant
There are hundreds of air plant species. What you should know and hold onto and what is very common among them is that they all need water to survive. There are air plants that require low maintenance. Therefore, the weather should be the first thing to pop into your head to know how to water your plants. Water an air plant once a week.
To make it thrive, you must check to know if the temperature in your house is dry. If it is dry, you can water the air plant more often, particularly every five days. If it is in a humid environment, you can water it every ten days. You should follow the instructions if you want a fresh air plant.
- Keep them in water for an extended period, and be sure that the water is enough to cover the entire plant in the container.
- After soaking, lift the plant upside-down and shake the leaves properly to eliminate excess water, as too much water can cause the stem to rot.
- Leave the plant on a paper towel to dry off the water on the leaves. When it is scorched, return it to its original position.
Signs of an Overwatered Air Plant
It can be challenging to detect whether or not an air plant is overwatered. However, there are some things you should know and be guided to look out for the possible signs to recognize and differentiate the problem your air plant is facing. Over-watering is one of the significant problems that a plant faces, especially if it is a plant that is planted indoors, like the air plant. Below are examples to identify whether your air plant is overwatered or not.
Once you notice that your air plant leaves are rapidly falling off or the base of your air plant is becoming brown and mushy, know that you must have over-watered your air plant. It will be quite unfortunate if you do not notice these signs on time and allow your air plant to die. Watering an air plant can be tricky. Therefore, it requires you to give in much care and conciseness.
Once your air plant is damaged, no reverse technique can help you revive it. This is why it is best to set aside your air plant for weeks to avoid too much soaking and dunking in water. This is because excess soaking of your Air plant will eventually make it soggy. This method also works when your air plant is overwatered early.
How To Fix an Overwatered Air Plant
See how you can fix overwatering problems in Air plants below:
- Remove any infected or rotten area of the air plant to avoid it spreading to other places.
- Dry your air plant as fast as you can. You can use a fan.
- Be sure to dry your air plant in an open area for proper ventilation and quick drying.
- Never leave your air plants submerged in water for too long.
- After soaking in water, shake off the excess water from the plant to reduce the amount of water absorbed.
- Let your air plant sit on a wet bed and keep it in a cool and dry place.
Signs of an Underwatered Air Plant
Although air plants need water to survive, it doesn’t mean they should drown in excess water for too long, as it will only be a disadvantage. It will be okay to give your air plant the right amount of water to keep it growing healthy. Inadequate water can cause dehydration.
The signs to identify a dry air plant are when the tip of the plant starts becoming dull. Also, note when it makes a U-shape and when the air plant looks droopy. In a scenario like this, where you find your air plant with the above signs, do not panic because there are easy ways to revive a dry air plant.
How To Fix an Underwatered Air Plant
Below, you will see some pointers on how to rectify the problem of underwatering Air plants. They are:
- Remove the dead parts of your plant.
- Submerge your air plant in water for 5 to 8 hours
- It is best to use rainwater or unchlorinated water when the tips of your air plant have turned brown.
- Air plants absorb water through their leaves and not their roots. Submerging them in water and ensuring the water covers the surface is advisable.