9 Facts About Air Plants Nobody Tells You

Air plants have an undeniable appeal. While all plants are wonderful, air plants seem to have an extra dose of personality. They almost feel like pets now that they're free of the confines of roots and dirt, a comparison bolstered by their peculiar look, which is half plant, part creature.

There's an air plant for every houseplant collector out there, with approximately 600 known kinds of these low-maintenance houseplants that thrive in tropical regions. Tillandsias, on the other hand, can be challenging. They have a couple of their own secrets.

Air plants are a wonderful alternative to potted houseplants because of their small size and low maintenance requirements.

Here are Facts About Air Plants no one tells you about air plants that you should know:

1.Air plants have a long and illustrious history.

Nobody knows exactly when the first Air Plants appeared. They have most likely existed for as long as any other plant that thrives naturally in humid and warm conditions. It's also possible that there were more of them before man started turning forests into cities!

Air Plants live in the shade of the forest's "ceiling" to get the light they need to thrive. Their roots bind them to trees, and their funnel-shaped leaves help to collect and retain rainwater.

2.Air plants don't eat their hosts.

An air plant is an epiphyte, which means it attaches itself to things like trees, rocks, fences, and other structures rather than being stuck in the soil, but it does not rely on the host for survival. They appear to attach themselves to sea shells and driftwood in modern homes and seek refuge within terraria.

3. Air plants cannot survive only on Air.

Air plants absorb water through their leaves to obtain nutrients. Once a week is a reasonable rule of thumb for watering an air plant. Of course, you can deviate from the guideline depending on your personal circumstances. If your home's air is exceptionally dry, water an air plant more frequently (every five days), and water tillandsias every ten days if you live in a humid environment.

4.They Do Not Enjoy Distilled Drinks.

Because most homes don't replicate the natural circumstances in which Tillandsia thrive, the plants require misting and dipping on a regular basis. And they adore dirty water brimming with goodies. Water from lakes, ponds, aquaria, rain barrels, and even birdbaths are among their favourites. They don't like distilled water, and tap water should be kept out overnight to let any chlorine or other contaminants evaporate.

5.Air plants can flower, but only once.

Air plant flowers can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the species, and can come in a variety of brilliant colours like as pink, red, and purple. Flowering is the highest point in an air plant's life cycle, but it also signals the start of the plant's old age – after flowering, the plant will die.

6.Air Plants Have Their Own Babies

Depending on the species, your air plant will reproduce by sending out two to eight ‘pups' just before, during, or after blossoming. These tiny baby air plants will eventually grow into their own mother plants, according to Pistils Nursery. When the pups are around 1 to 2 inches in size, they can be securely detached from the mother plant, which will eventually result in a cluster.

7.Air plants are slow-growing plants.

If you want to beautify your home with giant Air Plants, I'll save you time and frustration by telling you to buy large ones instead of waiting for small ones to get large.

The most popular and best-selling Air Plants can grow up to three times their original size in their lifetime, but they will always fit in the palm of your hand. Air Plants that are considered "big" by industry standards are rarely more than 10 inches in diameter.

8.Air Plants Have the Ability to Change Colors

The leaves of most Air plants start out green, but as they get closer to flowering, they can start to change colours! Colors such as yellow, red, magenta, purple, or orange can be seen not only on the blossoms, but also on the leaves, depending on the Air plant species. The colours are also very rich and bright!

9.There are no air plant varieties that are toxic to pets or children.

You take an additional cautious with which plants you exhibit in your home if your pet, or even your kid, is a plant nibbler, as you should. I know since my cat chews on all live plants to see how much fun they are! I'm sure you'll be relieved to read that NO AIR PLANT IS TOXIC TO LIVING THINGS. If a living thing chews on the Air plant, it is the Air plant that will suffer, not the live thing that chewed.

You'll also be relieved to discover that no human or animal has ever reported being allergic to Air Plants.

With their unique beauty and variety of shapes and hues, air plants provide life to my home and patio. The more you discover about them, the more you fall in love with each of them! So, when are you going to carry these joy-filled bundles home?