What happens to Tillandsia after flowering?
After blooming, air plants [depending on the species] would produce 1 to 3 offsets or pups on average. Once the offsets reach about 1/3 the size of the adult plant, you can snip them off or leave them [they would form a clump]. Many air plants, like other members of the Bromeliaceae family, flower only once in their lifetime, then wither and die. Air plants have a life span of 2-5 years but before the parent plant dies, will develop offshoots (called pups). These are the new plants that will continue to grow.
How do you take care of Tillandsia flowers?
A 20-30 minute weekly soak is recommended for most air plant species with supplemental misting as needed. After watering, make sure the air plants have enough light and air circulation to dry within a few hours. Although air plants thrive in containers, it’s advisable not to showcase them in enclosed ones. This plant grows best indoors, so be creative with how you want to display it. Remember that air plants take in water through their leaves and not their roots, so a good way to ensure it stays healthy is to soak the entire plant in water for 30 minutes once or twice a week.For optimal results, you should water or mist your air plants once a week. Place them near an open window where they can get plenty of indirect sunlight for at least 4 hours a day. Try not to place them too close to any heat sources, as this can cause their leaves to dry out and curl.Air plants do not require soil to grow and can be displayed in various substrates such as moss, sand, or decorative rocks. Planting them in soil can lead to root rot and should be avoided.The best option for you to use is rainwater or filtered water. If none of the above is available, you may use tap water, but make sure to allow your air plants to sit out in a bowl for at least 24 hours. This would evaporate the chlorine that can turn the tips of your plant’s leaves to brown.
How do I get my Tillandsia to bloom again?
Provide Bright Light If your climate is warm, try placing your mature plant outdoors with filtered light and adequate moisture and it should jump-start the blooming cycle. Avoid placing air plants in windowless rooms or bathrooms as they will not receive enough sunlight to produce the energy needed to bloom! Unlike plants, freshly cut flowers don’t need sunlight! So make sure to keep your floral arrangement away from any windows as the sun and heat will make the flowers “mature” faster. We also recommend keeping them away from any drafts, cooling vents and other sources of heating too, as these will dry out your flowers.
How quickly do Tillandsia grow?
While there are some faster growing species, as a whole, Tillandsia grow very slowly, which makes it that much more special when you have a large specimen plant to display. The growth rate of an air plant will also depend on if the plant is an offset from propagation or a seedling grown from tillandsia seed. Tip: Tillandsia don’t love to be handled. Besides our clumsy hands snapping the occasional leaf, the oils in our fingers actually clog the air plant’s sensitive leaves. All Airplantman designs keep this in mind so that it is easy to give your Tillandsia the water it needs without touching it directly!