How Do You Take Care of Airplants?

by Emily Vogler | May 25, 2023

Welcome to the enchanting world of airplants! These plants, commonly called Tillandsia, are a fascinating group of epiphytes that have evolved to thrive without soil, drawing sustenance from the air around them. At our garden center at the Nashville Farmers’ Market, we frequently get questions like, “how do I care for my airplant?” or “how do I keep my airplant alive?”. We’re here to help! In this article we’ll cover their unique characteristics and care requirements. Caring for a Tillandsia is relatively simple. Here are five essential steps to ensure the well-being of your Tillandsia:

1. Proper watering:

Air plants have a remarkable ability to absorb moisture directly through their specialized leaves, eliminating the need for traditional soil-based watering. Instead, these resilient plants utilize trichomes, small scale-like structures on their leaves, to extract moisture from the surrounding environment. To provide adequate hydration, it is recommended to give your Tillandsia a thorough soak in room temperature, distilled water. Submerge the plant in water for approximately 30 minutes, allowing it to absorb the moisture it needs to thrive. This weekly watering routine ensures that your air plant receives sufficient hydration while preventing overwatering, which can be detrimental to its health. After the soaking, it’s crucial to allow the plant to drip dry completely. Excess water trapped within the leaves can lead to rotting and other issues. Gently shake off any remaining water to facilitate proper drying. By adhering to this careful watering regimen, you’ll ensure the optimal health and vitality of your Tillandsia, allowing it to flourish in its unique, water-absorbing habitat.

2. Adequate lighting:

When it comes to light requirements, Tillandsias thrive in bright, indirect light, making them ideal candidates for placement near windows that provide ample filtered sunlight. By positioning your Tillandsias in a spot where they can bask in bright but diffused light, you are offering them the optimal light conditions to fuel their growth and vibrant appearance. While Tillandsias do require light for photosynthesis, it’s important to shield them from direct sunlight for extended periods. Intense, direct sunlight can lead to leaf burn, which shows itself as brown or yellow spots on the foliage. Consider using sheer curtains or blinds to filter the sunlight reaching the plants. It’s worth noting that the specific light requirements may vary slightly depending on the species of Tillandsia you have. Some varieties can tolerate more sunlight than others. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to research the specific needs of your particular Tillandsia to provide it with the most suitable light conditions.

3. Air circulation:

Proper airflow is essential for the health and longevity of air plants, as it helps prevent moisture buildup and the potential onset of rot. Tillandsias naturally absorb moisture from the air, and stagnant or humid conditions can create an environment that is conducive to fungal growth and other detrimental issues. To ensure adequate ventilation and airflow, it’s important to consider the placement of your Tillandsias. First and foremost, choose a location with adequate air circulation. Avoid placing your air plants in enclosed spaces or areas with limited airflow, such as closed terrariums. Instead, opt for open spaces where air can freely move around the plants. This could include placing them on open shelves, near open windows, or in rooms with good ventilation. Taking advantage of gentle breezes can also benefit your air plants. If the weather permits, opening windows or doors can introduce a natural airflow that helps to prevent stagnant conditions. Additionally, using a fan set to a low or gentle setting can simulate a breeze and improve air circulation around your Tillandsias.

4. Temperature and humidity:

Maintaining the right temperature and humidity levels is crucial for the well-being of Tillandsias. These resilient air plants prefer moderate temperatures that range between 50°F (10°C) and 90°F (32°C). While they can tolerate occasional drops in temperature, it is advisable to avoid exposing them to extreme fluctuations, as it can stress the plants and hinder their growth. To provide optimal conditions for your Tillandsias, it is important to keep track of the temperature in their surroundings. Avoid placing them in areas prone to drafts, such as near air conditioning units or heating vents, as sudden temperature changes can be detrimental. Instead, choose a location where the temperature remains relatively stable, such as a room with consistent heating and cooling.

Maintaining an appropriate humidity level is equally crucial for Tillandsias. Ideally, the humidity should be kept between 50% and 60% to mimic their natural habitat. If the air in your home is particularly dry, especially during winter or in arid climates, you can provide supplemental humidity by misting your Tillandsias occasionally. Use a spray bottle filled with room temperature, filtered water to mist the plants, ensuring that the water droplets lightly coat the leaves. Be cautious not to oversaturate them, as excessive moisture can lead to rot.

5. Fertilization:

While Tillandsias are capable of surviving without regular fertilization, providing them with a balanced and diluted fertilizer can indeed enhance their growth and overall health. Although they extract nutrients from the air and surrounding environment, a supplemental fertilizer can provide them with a boost of essential elements for optimal development. To fertilize your Tillandsias, opt for a water-soluble fertilizer specifically formulated for orchids or bromeliads. These fertilizers are often suitable for air plants as well, as they contain the necessary nutrients in a balanced ratio. It’s important to dilute the fertilizer to half the recommended strength to prevent the risk of burning or damaging the delicate leaves of your Tillandsias. Following the instructions provided with the fertilizer, mix it with water in the appropriate ratio. During the growing season, which typically spans from spring to fall, apply the diluted fertilizer once or twice a month. Take care not to exceed the recommended frequency, as excessive fertilization can lead to salt buildup and damage the plants. Ensure that the foliage is thoroughly moistened with the diluted fertilizer solution, but avoid drenching the plant excessively.

How to Mount a Staghorn Fern

by Emily Vogler | Apr 19, 2023

A staghorn fern is quite the sight to behold! Found in tropical areas near the equator, these guys can get quite big and live in trees. Spores from the plant float in the air and land in the crooks of trees, soaking up the moisture and nutrients from the bark. They look incredible when mounted on a wall, and here at Gardens of Babylon, we even have our very first staghorn fern that was donated back to us and is still thriving in our greenhouses!

Supplies you’ll need

• a staghorn fern
• fishing line
• sphagnum moss
• a board to mount your fern onto (a piece of wood will look the most natural)
• a hanging device – hook, wire, etc.
• something to make holes in your mounting board to thread the fishing line through
• water
• epiphyte fertilizer

Step 1: Prep your plant

Start by removing some of the soil from the root ball. But be careful, you want to be a little gentle because you want to try to keep as many of these roots as possible. Remove 70% of the dirt – as an example, the plant we chose went from about 5 inches of soil to about 2 inches of soil. You only want your plant to stick off the board a couple of inches.

Step 2: Prep your board

For this hanging method, we recommend making 4 holes that go straight through your board to secure your plant with fishing line. Don’t do less than three holes! You don’t want your plant to fall off its board! We chose a piece of beautiful cork wood, which looks very natural! Then we created the holes with a small drill bit.

Step 3: Choose a potting medium + feeding

So let’s talk about what medium is going to be the best for supporting our fern. We’re huge fans of sphagnum moss. It holds moisture the best and looks the most natural. You’ll want to take a good chunk of moss and soak it completely in water. Get in there and smash it around just to make sure that everything is completely saturated!  At this step, you can also add a bit of fertilizer. Staghorn ferns are epiphytes, so we’re going to use orchid food. Next, you’re going to take a handful of moss and squeeze out a lot of that water. Then, you’ll take that moss and apply a thin layer in the center of your board – this is going to be the initial rooting area for this plant until the roots can dig into the cork. Place your plant, root side down, onto the moss.

Step 4: Securing your plant

Now that it’s centered and ready to go, get out your fishing line! Hold your fern onto the board, and feed the fishing line through the back to the front side of your board! Then the other side of the fishing line then goes into a different hole. This is the initial tie off, which is what keeps your plant on this board. Try your best to go through a separation in the shields when you tie off your fishing line. We don’t want to hurt these shields because they protect the fronds! For a more in-depth breakdown of this step, check out the full video on our Youtube channel! 

Step 5: Add more moss and make the final ties

Now that we made the first initial tie, it’s time to add a bit more moss to the root ball. Thin some out apply it to the plant on the soil and base. You don’t have to make this perfect. Next, take your fishing line and go all the way around the moss and root ball. Keep wrapping the line around until you have the moss completely adhered and secured to the plant. Find the end of your fishing line and tie it off! Make the knot several times to really secure your plant! Very carefully turn your plant over and find the next hole. Thread your line through another hole and do one more good tie off. If you went from top to bottom before, go left to right! Finally, double check everything, and it’s ready to go!