Videos that show hands on demonstrations are the best. I think a lot of people who run these channels are not thinking from a beginner standpoint, and tend to forget the best way to teach a beginner. Thanks for the video. You got a subscriber or of me. Will also be sure to share!
I just got a xerographica and this is by far the best and most informative video I have seen! I have struggled with air plants in the past, but this gives me hope😊Thank you so much!!
Oh this is so cool! I never heard of these before. I actually searched plants that don’t need soil out of curiosity, because of a story I am writing. Now I need one of these. These are like having an apologetic roommate, “I’m so sorry, don’t mean to be needy, but could you get me some water every few days? Just stick me in some, I’ll soak it up myself. I’ll never ask for dirt, or a bigger pot, I promise.” 😍
This was the most helpful of the videos that I have seen so far on care of these, thank you. This actually helped me avoid buying the wrong type for my situation, I need the more desert type instead because it’s going in a metal orb decoration and soaking it won’t be the best option of watering. It will be difficult to get out, and metal even when sealed with clear coating shouldn’t soak long term in water. Also just wanted to add that for anyone who has fish aquariums-that water is chlorine treated, and full of natural fertilizer already-so you could pop an air plant in the aquarium for that day long soaking and have it probably be even better than rain water. I’ll probably soak my air plant in the bucket when I change my fish water weekly-at least for a few hours anyway. Probably better seal that orb with a few more coats of polyurethane before I try that though!
Dang!! That explains how my xero rotted out. 🤦🏻♀️ Never new there were “drier” air plants; I just assumed they were all from the tropics/jungle. Thanks for the great video!
Thank you noting the distinction between tropical origin and arid origin of the Tillandsias! Now I know why my xerographica isn't doing as well as I'd hope! Also, having them be out in the rain for a bit is a wonderful tip!
Not quite--most are from the tropics but some are from the moist tropics and some are from the seasonally dry tropics. Some are even from tropical deserts. Within a given country this can be just a matter of a few miles but a substantial elevation difference.
I have various air plants particularly a large Tillandsia Xerographica I live in a hard water area but have no real problems...I just dunk them in the bath for 3/4 hours every week and there blooming...as in I’ve had flowers too...as in this video it’s very important that you turn the plants upside down to drain any water inside otherwise this can rot your plant....after draining I spray with a Fertiliser...lovely sunny spot will help them flourish enjoy. Good Luck ❤️ Air Plants
I just got my first Xerographica, so this was the perfect video for me. Another plant youtuber said that chlorine in tap water will absolutely kill xerographicas. This caused me to panic, as I had just watered my new one with tap water for the first time. So far it looks perfectly happy though. Thanks
Thank you I actually soak my xerographica overnight a couple of times and in other times I let water sits in the middle of the plant every day. But to do that you need to make sure the middle of the plant is clean. Xerographica can do water-management by themselves.
I just got mine in the mail from Amazon and they look and feel healthy.... smaller than a quarter in size which is exactly what I wished for. At first I was told only to spray them. Now I am hearing everywhere to soak them. LOL I find this a bit scary because where in nature are they ever gonna get soaked????? Seems to me if you faithfully spray them they should be ok. I still need to learn so much though and soaking isn't a problem as long as they respond well. I'll bet it will take a very long time for them to grow into impressive size plants.... until then I am keeping them all together in a shallow box so they can get light and air. It is an air plant nursery. :) Thank you for this video... I would love to have them displayed on a piece of wood like yours are. WOW
You're welcome Linda! My best advice is to trial things and observe. But if you think about it, most airplants (not counting xerographica) are from tropical locations with lots of rainfall. They go through periods of being soaked, and then drying out in between. Soaking will do a great job of really watering the plant well. You just have to make sure that you shake them out to remove any water that's stuck (especially indoors where air circulation is poor).
Thanks for your video! I found the way you did your presentation really worked. You have a gentle voice that makes it nice to listen to the information, and it was interesting and informative to watch you because you demonstrated everything, holding and moving and watering your plants throughout.
Thanks for this video, I have killed air plants before because of no instructions attached to it. But now I want to start again. You give me hope I will succeed this time around. Thanks for sharing !!! :) :)
Great informative video! I am so glad I watched this video because I just bought an air plant that I had mistakenly soaked in distilled water---now I know not to do that anymore. Thank you for the heads up!😇♥
Thank you SO MUCH for all the great info! You kept me from using distilled water, and so helped me understand the watering process! I’m now a subscriber, and looking forward to learning more from you!
Use distilled water always! I don't know why this guy is sharing such wrong information distilled is if you can't get rain water! There's to much minerals and other toxic elements in tap water it will kill them
I'm beginners and I got my first xenographica and it's so pretty, I prefer the straight with little curl at the end. I've been using tap water (24-48 sitting period) for my plants. However, I use rainwater or once in a while bottled water for my air plants and orchid.
Kennis McTrillian not in parts of the world that have naturally soft water. I’m from Scotland and most of water leaves no residue and comes like that. It’s definitely better for epiphytes.
We have our own artesian well plus a water softener, I have no problem with the softener and all my indoor plants. I do however let the water sit overnight most time. The hot water is the only thing that is hooked up to the softener tho. Great video by the way will be subscribing. You have a lot of great info. thanks you.
Oh wow. During a heat wave in India, you probably don't need to water an airplant at all. (Unless you have it in direct sun) In Florida, these are a zero care plant. Any bromeliad grows with little to no care in tropical regions. The humidity is the perfect amount of water. Just check to see if you have a variety that prefers shade or sun. My pineapples love full sun. My cyanea likes to hide in the areca palms, where it gives a beautiful burst of color.
I have hundreds of tillies, all mounted on wood or cork or in purpose made baskets. They are hanging on lattice , or on pergolas or on trees , so they only get misting daily in summer and twice weekly in winter. They are thriving. Couldn’t possibly do the singular dunking. But good advice for new enthusiasts. I live in Perth West Australia, where it gets over 40 d Celsius in summer. So they need dappled shade.
I want one of those so bad!! I do have one and omg I’m so glad I watched bc I soaked it for like 10 min distilled water. I have one like the one on your grapevine. It’s just a small one. My first. Thanks for the video.
Thank you so much for the good info. I have about 10 little air plants. I bought 3 and fell in love! Anyway I've subscribed so I'll be seeing you. Thanks again
You're very welcome Vero! Don't forget to gently shake excess water out after you soak them so that they don't rot. Indoors, we don't have the air circulation that is present outdoors, so this is important :-)
I soak my Xeros for 30 mins once weekly and let them dry out for 4 hours upside down. They are doing amazing. The nursery I purchased them from said to do so.
Hey, thank you! Great information and perfectly explained. I come from Europe and we have not had any rain for a longer time. And our house drinking water runs through a softener as in our area we have a lot of lime which kills all the machines. So, what to do? I have a small pond with a few Goldfisches but there may be gems in it…., I don know…. . That’s it with water. So what you’ll you recommend? My plants are very young and small including the green and the grey ones…. I think we have acrylic climate here but at the moment with a lot of sunshine. I kept them in a shadier area for one week with only morning sun…, let’s say from 6 am to 12. now I changed the to a sunny place. When temperature fall I will bring them in the house, but also there…, no southern window…. Also your plant lamps are not available here and it’s really difficult to decide for one. (It should not be too expensive, unfortunatley. Thousand thanks for all your information in that video🙏. Maybe you can give me a tip regarding the water….?
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Why don't you try the pond water first and see how it goes? You can always get some filtered water and add some fertilizer in it too.
Wow this was great information to have. I just bought my first air plant at, ironically, an Orchid show. I bought a Curly Slim and I love its curly tendrils and I’m hoping I can keep it growing until it’s large. The sample plant at the show was huge and was the sellers first plant. One question: can I save rain water and put it in a misting bottle to use when I need to? Thanks so much!
This video is really helpful! I received healthy air plants about a month ago and theyre already starting to get browner at the tips and have the symptoms of being dry, as you showed... But I just can't fathom that I'm not giving enough water! I leave tap water in a basin overnight, the next morning, I let my air plants soak upside down, making sure the tips are also getting water. After 2 hours, I take them out and shake them gently, lay them by the window in gentle sun to dry all afternoon. I repeat this every 3 days, and I also spray my air plants with water every day to give them a refresh........ Can't fathom that they're STILL dry after this! :( Do you have any tips?
Hm, do you know what kind of tillandsia(s) you have? Where exactly do you keep them for their growing location? What are the conditions? (Light, temperature, etc.).
I use distilled water and mine are so happy. I must use it on my calatheas as anything else upsets them and the air plants like it also. Rain doesn't have much in it either...much like distilled, save for some dissolved gasses and air pollutants. At least that is just my experience thus far and I know that is just anecdotal evidence. Great video and good advice.
Thanks for the feedback! I think you're absolutely right. I just saw your comment below too about using the non-urea based fertilizer occasionally which I'm sure is helping.
I've used a floral glue in the past and it has worked well. There are also special Tillandsia glues out there to that may work even better. One is called Tilly Tacker :-)
Just found your channel! ..... I now know why I've killed ALL my air plants in the past! I used distilled water for MONTHS.... made for a LONG, SAD, DRAWN OUT death. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong! And didn't want to try them again for fear I'd have the same outcome. Thanks for the great information!! I've acquired a new air plant..... Spanish moss...... I have a few questions.... How often would you recommend soaking this particular one, being so thin? And I'm assuming I don't have to worry about turning upside down but should still gently shake? Also would any house plant fertilizer cut in half (like I do for my houseplants) work? Or should I specifically pick up one for tillandsias? Thank you in advance! Great informative video also! I've subscribed!
Glad you enjoyed the video Christy! I've never grown Spanish moss personally, but you can start by either soaking it 2-3 times a week, or you can even mist it daily. I wouldn't worry as much about shaking it out. Just gently shake it a bit if you are soaking. Any houseplant fertilizer should work fine, but I would definitely dilute it to a quarter or half strength like you indicated. Good luck with your plants!
Thank you! I just bought 3 and now know the differnce: cause it is not like I looked this all up before. But if I mount them on a piece of driftwood...I soak the whole driftwood piece with the plants? Then shake and leave to dry? I can't turn them upside down if they are mounted, but I can have them angled sideways....no one explains how to do this when they are mounted on the wood.
If you can't physically turn them upside down because of your set up, you'll just have to make sure that the water doesn't sit in the plant for a long time somehow. Increasing air circulation will help, but if there is a lot of water stuck, you might want to blow it out of the center of the leaves or blot it out with something absorbent. Good air circulation will also help!
Thank you for such an informative video. Query: Xerograhica does not grow upside down in the wild, so how does it not rot after a rain? I presume the natural arid environment takes care of evaporating pooled water between the leaves. I plan to place a few Xerographica upright or sideways in an arid vivarium - can I get away with only spraying them and not remove them from the vivarium to shake them out? I would saturate them less than you did in your video, as to not have too much runoff into the vivarium. They would go under JungleDawn full spectrum LED grow lights in a 75-90 degree farenheight vivarium, less than 30% RH.
That's a great questions Bradley! In nature, these grow in a very arid environment like you mentioned and they mostly get their water from morning dew. And any water that collects will evaporate pretty quickly. I actually have a bunch of these now in my greenhouse and I mist them every morning and they're doing great! That would be a good approach for your vivarium. Just try not to let any water pool and you should be ok. Hope this helps a bit.
What if it's starting to bloom?! How would you water & dry the graphicas "big ones" (sorry for butchering the name!)? A few started to bloom, but quickly wilted. BUT there's a few purple "stems" (?) Coming up from the center still. I REALLY don't want to kill & miss the chance to see a bloom! Thank you SO very much! I've REALLY appreciated all your information & help!
You should still water the plant, but just avoid submerging the flower stalk :-). Keep in mind that once a tillandsia blooms, it will slowly die, but hopefully not before it produces more pups for you!
Hello! In regards to watering the xerographica, would you say using well water from under the ground is fine too? I live in California so we don't get too much rainfall here, but I do have a well access on my property
on the topic of distilled or RO theyre bad due to the l;ack of menerals if you use them on normal plants aswell it basically leeches nutrients from the soil (not all but leeching does happen)
Now I find your video after tillandsia death #2! Uhg.. i guess 3rd times a charm? I did the spray method then they looked crispy, soaked just the leaves for a few hours.. then.. molded.. again! Uhg.. and yes I have a water softener! Now that I know! Both times I soaked them, dead! Never again. I should have kept ignoring it! Uhg. Thanks, great video !
We all need a reminder sometimes! There are no such things really has "house" plants, right? Houseplants evolved outdoors :-). Spring water will work just fine :-)
Ok, I have a water softener. 😔 When it rains here, it’s never enough of a rain to collect. I can run them out if it rains, but I live at the beach, so humidity is never really an issue. I’m curious about fertilizing air plants. I collect orchids and use RO water or distilled water when I feed them. So can I use RO water? Do they need calcium and magnesium once in awhile or a 20-20-20 fertilizer at any point? Thank you Rafael. Excellent video! I’m dying to see the mounting video as I often mount my orchids.
Hi Barb! Many airplant growers don't advise using distilled or filtered water because they are largely devoid of nutrients. If you do use it, I would add some fertilizer to it. There are special fertilizers for tillandsias and bromeliads that you can use. This will also encourage more pups to form after the Tillandsias flower :-) Hope this helps.
I had my sprinkler system and hoses attached to my water softening system, we did it because my ex didn't want hard water stains on his car. Our garden thrived. Grass was fine and my garden was so healthy and happy. We lived in the mojave so the soft water was all my yard got. Roses, honey suckle, rosemary, veggies and herbs all did great. While sodium my be toxic to plants, water softening systems are not heavy enough in sodium to be as dangerous as he makes it sound. Don't use ocean water for sure. But your water softener will not kill your plants :)
I really don’t know why tap water is an option but in our area it is very very hard and once I used it and caused the leaves to burn. I use RO water and add magnesium and calcium plus little orchid fertiliser and have good result. I noticed that hard water is more dangerous for Spanish moss than on other tillandsia
Great video! I recently got a Tillandsia Hybrid "curly slim" - Intermedia x Steptophylla. What watering method would you recommend, soaking or spraying? Also, when I bought it, it came in soil but I've removed it, since I noticed some bugs in there, and now the plant is just sitting on the shelf. Does this type of Tillandsia need to be in soil or is it gonna be okay without it?
These should not be growing in soil so you did the right thing! I would start off by soaking it once a week or so, and see how it responds. The leaves will get curlier and curlier as it get drier, so this can also be an indication of when to water!
That is very interesting. One thing I am missing is while is very important to shake off the excess water from the plant, in nature there is noone to do that. May be natural inviroment is more windy so the plant dry out faster....???
That's a great question! The main reasons are that there is air circulation outdoors (wind) and usually warmer temperatures, so these contribute to the plants drying out without it being a concern.
Hi there! So each plant will only bloom once and then start a slow process of dying which can take many months if not longer. But your plant should start to produce pups at the base, and then you can raise those and get them to blooming size, and repeat the cycle all over again :-)
I tried shaking my plant softly after watching this video. Unfortunately, the stem broke even through gentle shaking. Your other advice regarding water types was helpful but the shaking killed my plant. I will never use this method again and will stick to spraying.
I feel terrible. I've been soaking my 30+ air plants once weekly for 30 mins in well water with a water softener. I've had them for almost a month now, 3 being Queens. They seem to look ok, and feel strong. Think they'll be ok? Going to use spring water now after your video.
Is it safe to increase humidity around them by standing them on some gravel in a dish and putting a small amount of water in which doesn't come to the surface of the gravel so the plants are not in contact with it? Our house is quite dark but have an east facing window where they get nice indirect light but there's a radiator below it which can make it a bit warm and dry.
@@OhioTropics Thanks. I lost the smallest one....it literally just fell to pieces so must have rotted at the base. I ordered them thinking they were artificial ones and ended up with real ones lol....
I soak my plants in aquaponics water. I read that when you use pond or aquarium (or in my case, aquaponics) you don’t have to fertilize. Is this the case?
I'm not familiar with aquaponics, but I know that aquarium water is amazing for plants and you would not need to fertilize if you are regularly using it!
Just got my first air plant. It was SO dry when I got it, sprayed it at first and let it sit for a while but still looked a bit...blah so I now soaked it. Thing is in the winter my house humidity drops below 40% frequently so I'm thinking I might have to mist daily if not 2x a day and soak every 2 or 3 days. Any advice on that?
Hi Mariah! You can maybe try to soak once a week, and then mist 2 or 3 times a week in between and see if that helps. Just make sure to shake the plant out after each soaking and/or misting to make sure water isn't lodged and causes it to rot.
Hi I am watching your video because I have two Air plants and 6 on the way. Hydra, Teddy Bear, I forgot the name of the 6 coming. But they are Blue and spikey. Anyway I wanted to use the White sand from my Saltwater tank that has sat in a box for 30 years. but ?? No sodium. Will that hurt them ? I see a lot of ocean displays.
I am using sand and pebbles from the ocean as the substrate to sit/tuck in the air plants, in a conch shell. Do you think the sand/pebbles need to be rinsed first?
I got this information from an airplant grower actually. The thought is that the plants will be deprived of nutrients that they need. Rainwater is definitely best. I just use tap water most of the time and it works perfectly fine for me.
Does it only appear after you water? The plant will definitely change color when it's wet, but should return back to the normal color when it has dried. I wouldn't say I've seen mine turn pink though. It may be due to brighter light perhaps?
I'm new to tillandsias this is so helpful thank you for the tips! One problem I've encountered is my cats love them a little too much 😒 Glad to see they're nontoxic however a few of my poor air plants look like pathetic little nubs with short uneven chewed leaves. With proper trimming, light and watering is there any chance they may recover somewhat over time? Or will these just slowly die thanks to my indoor hunters?
Hi Kristen! I think it depends on where they are in their lifecycle. If they haven't bloomed yet, they will continue to grow leaves from the center. But the damaged leaves will not recover. Also remember that tillandsias will start to die after they bloom, but they should produce pups to keep things going. So regardless, with proper care, your plant will recover little by little, or just wait for the pups and you will have new plants!
What is your advice on watering the medusa air plant ? I've seen some say do NOT soak just dunk ,or mist only. Then others say soaking the medusa is fine. All I know is I don't want to kill mine! Thanks in advance ☺️
Hey there! I recently got myself some baby air plants, and I have attached them to a piece of wood that is hanging outside (I have very limited space for them to lie around). How do I drain them from the water? I am concerned that if I have put them on surface, the weight of the wood will crush them. Will just holding them upside down for a minute or 2 do the trick?
Yes that should do the trick, and also remember that there is air circulation outside so that will help them dry out faster than if they were indoors. Good luck!
What is the hardness of tap water in your area? If the tap water is too hard and contains high calcium and magnesium salts, can I use tannin acid to remove them?
We have pretty hard water, but I don't treat it with anything and the plants are just fine. If you can harvest rainwater, it's probably the best thing!
@@OhioTropics Thank you very much for your reply. I am hesitating whether to invest in a water softener, but I am afraid that the treated water will contain too much sodium. With your experience, I don’t have to buy soft water equipment anymore.
What about fertilicing air plants? I got a sptay fertilicer, specially made for tillandsias, is it not needed? I am a new subscriber from the nort of Europe, by the way.
From my experience growing bromeliads over the years once the mama plant blooms it slowly dies but pups come out to continue the line. Same with all Tillandsias?
OMG i forgot to water my beautiful little fern, and now it looks like its dying. 😪AfterWatching your video I immediately put it in a bowl filled with water. I hope it will be ok.
Thank you for this video and I guess I'll ditch the distilled water !! I have a question... I have several of the green tillandsias (like on your grapevine but mine are loose). I have them inside but do not know how much light they need to thrive and if it's morning east window light, south or west window? I live inland in southern CA (sunny, hot, dry) so I just haven't figured out where they'll be happiest.
Thank you for this video. New subscriber here🙋🏻♀️. I just bought my very first tillandsias and I got a xerographica and a blooming ionantha(I didn't know they die after blooming). I spray them with rain water but I live in a VERY hot and dry part of California and I noticed my xerographica gets brown crispy tips and thats with daily spraying. Should I spray more often? Or maybe another method? Thanks again.
@@OhioTropics I keep them indoors close to a west facing window so they get bright indirect light. Thank you for the tip. I was actually afraid of soaking my xerographica cause I was told it doesn't like that but spraying is just not working in my environment so 🤷🏻♀️
Videos that show hands on demonstrations are the best. I think a lot of people who run these channels are not thinking from a beginner standpoint, and tend to forget the best way to teach a beginner. Thanks for the video. You got a subscriber or of me. Will also be sure to share!
Glad you enjoyed the video!
I just got a xerographica and this is by far the best and most informative video I have seen! I have struggled with air plants in the past, but this gives me hope😊Thank you so much!!
So happy that you enjoyed the video!
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Oh this is so cool! I never heard of these before. I actually searched plants that don’t need soil out of curiosity, because of a story I am writing. Now I need one of these.
These are like having an apologetic roommate, “I’m so sorry, don’t mean to be needy, but could you get me some water every few days? Just stick me in some, I’ll soak it up myself. I’ll never ask for dirt, or a bigger pot, I promise.” 😍
They're fun plants for sure!
This was the most helpful of the videos that I have seen so far on care of these, thank you. This actually helped me avoid buying the wrong type for my situation, I need the more desert type instead because it’s going in a metal orb decoration and soaking it won’t be the best option of watering. It will be difficult to get out, and metal even when sealed with clear coating shouldn’t soak long term in water. Also just wanted to add that for anyone who has fish aquariums-that water is chlorine treated, and full of natural fertilizer already-so you could pop an air plant in the aquarium for that day long soaking and have it probably be even better than rain water. I’ll probably soak my air plant in the bucket when I change my fish water weekly-at least for a few hours anyway. Probably better seal that orb with a few more coats of polyurethane before I try that though!
Glad you enjoyed the video! And great tip on the aquarium water! If I had an aquarium still, I would definitely use that water :-)
Dang!! That explains how my xero rotted out. 🤦🏻♀️ Never new there were “drier” air plants; I just assumed they were all from the tropics/jungle. Thanks for the great video!
Glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful Jenn! :-)
Thank you noting the distinction between tropical origin and arid origin of the Tillandsias! Now I know why my xerographica isn't doing as well as I'd hope! Also, having them be out in the rain for a bit is a wonderful tip!
You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Not quite--most are from the tropics but some are from the moist tropics and some are from the seasonally dry tropics. Some are even from tropical deserts. Within a given country this can be just a matter of a few miles but a substantial elevation difference.
One of the best videos for airplant watering.. thank you!
You're very welcome! :-)
I have various air plants particularly a large Tillandsia Xerographica I live in a hard water area but have no real problems...I just dunk them in the bath for 3/4 hours every week and there blooming...as in I’ve had flowers too...as in this video it’s very important that you turn the plants upside down to drain any water inside otherwise this can rot your plant....after draining I spray with a Fertiliser...lovely sunny spot will help them flourish enjoy.
Good Luck ❤️ Air Plants
Absolutely Anna! Sounds like you're doing a great job with yours!
I just got my first Xerographica, so this was the perfect video for me. Another plant youtuber said that chlorine in tap water will absolutely kill xerographicas. This caused me to panic, as I had just watered my new one with tap water for the first time. So far it looks perfectly happy though. Thanks
I've been using tap water since I got it and I've had it for a couple years. You will be fine!
I just got 6 this last week I am so thankful for you to video you now have a new viewer ‼️👍🏾👏🏿
Glad you enjoyed!
Amazing video full of knowledge! As a starter, I now feel more confident with my lil buddy!
Glad you enjoyed it Andrea! :-)
Thank you
I actually soak my xerographica overnight a couple of times and in other times I let water sits in the middle of the plant every day. But to do that you need to make sure the middle of the plant is clean. Xerographica can do water-management by themselves.
You're very welcome! If it's working for you, keep doing it :-)
I just got mine in the mail from Amazon and they look and feel healthy.... smaller than a quarter in size which is exactly what I wished for. At first I was told only to spray them. Now I am hearing everywhere to soak them. LOL I find this a bit scary because where in nature are they ever gonna get soaked????? Seems to me if you faithfully spray them they should be ok. I still need to learn so much though and soaking isn't a problem as long as they respond well. I'll bet it will take a very long time for them to grow into impressive size plants.... until then I am keeping them all together in a shallow box so they can get light and air. It is an air plant nursery. :) Thank you for this video... I would love to have them displayed on a piece of wood like yours are. WOW
You're welcome Linda! My best advice is to trial things and observe. But if you think about it, most airplants (not counting xerographica) are from tropical locations with lots of rainfall. They go through periods of being soaked, and then drying out in between. Soaking will do a great job of really watering the plant well. You just have to make sure that you shake them out to remove any water that's stuck (especially indoors where air circulation is poor).
How many times a week youwill soak the tillandsia , thank you for response .. from the Philippines
Thanks for your video! I found the way you did your presentation really worked. You have a gentle voice that makes it nice to listen to the information, and it was interesting and informative to watch you because you demonstrated everything, holding and moving and watering your plants throughout.
Well thank you so much! I'm so happy that you enjoyed the video :-)
Thanks for this video, I have killed air plants before because of no instructions attached to it. But now I want to start again. You give me hope I will succeed this time around. Thanks for sharing !!! :) :)
You're so welcome! Once you get the hang of them, they're easy :-)
I learned the proper way to care for airplants with your video, thanks👍
Glad to help John!
Great informative video! I am so glad I watched this video because I just bought an air plant that I had mistakenly soaked in distilled water---now I know not to do that anymore. Thank you for the heads up!😇♥
You're very welcome!
Thank you SO MUCH for all the great info! You kept me from using distilled water, and so helped me understand the watering process! I’m now a subscriber, and looking forward to learning more from you!
Glad you enjoyed the video Lynn!
Use distilled water always! I don't know why this guy is sharing such wrong information distilled is if you can't get rain water! There's to much minerals and other toxic elements in tap water it will kill them
I'm beginners and I got my first xenographica and it's so pretty, I prefer the straight with little curl at the end.
I've been using tap water (24-48 sitting period) for my plants. However, I use rainwater or once in a while bottled water for my air plants and orchid.
This all sounds good to me Tes!
Thanks for the soft water tip....this explains why I’ve killed so many of my air plants!
Well that clears that up! :-)
I did not know that soft water was really bad for plants. Thank you so much!
You are very welcome Kennis!
Kennis McTrillian not in parts of the world that have naturally soft water. I’m from Scotland and most of water leaves no residue and comes like that. It’s definitely better for epiphytes.
Ty just started collecting air plants about 7 months ago. Still learning
They're very fun! I hope you're enjoying them :-)
We have our own artesian well plus a water softener, I have no problem with the softener and all my indoor plants. I do however let the water sit overnight most time. The hot water is the only thing that is hooked up to the softener tho. Great video by the way will be subscribing. You have a lot of great info. thanks you.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
THANK YOU. I LOST TILLANSDIA TO OVER WATERING DURING A RECENT HEATWAVE IN INDIA. YOUR TIPS WILL HELP ME SAVE THE OTHERS.
Glad to help and good luck!
Oh wow. During a heat wave in India, you probably don't need to water an airplant at all. (Unless you have it in direct sun) In Florida, these are a zero care plant. Any bromeliad grows with little to no care in tropical regions. The humidity is the perfect amount of water. Just check to see if you have a variety that prefers shade or sun. My pineapples love full sun. My cyanea likes to hide in the areca palms, where it gives a beautiful burst of color.
I have hundreds of tillies, all mounted on wood or cork or in purpose made baskets. They are hanging on lattice , or on pergolas or on trees , so they only get misting daily in summer and twice weekly in winter. They are thriving. Couldn’t possibly do the singular dunking. But good advice for new enthusiasts. I live in Perth West Australia, where it gets over 40 d Celsius in summer. So they need dappled shade.
Ahhh that's wonderful! I'm sure it's quite a sight outdoors! Thanks for the note :-)
I want one of those so bad!! I do have one and omg I’m so glad I watched bc I soaked it for like 10 min distilled water. I have one like the one on your grapevine. It’s just a small one. My first. Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed the video Rosie!
I am an big plant nerd and haven’t got a tillandsia yet. But I will in the next couple of days and I can’t wait for my baby’s to arrive 😍🤗❤️
You will have lots of fun with them! Good luck! :-)
Is there anything I should really think about?
Thank you so much for the good info. I have about 10 little air plants. I bought 3 and fell in love! Anyway I've subscribed so I'll be seeing you.
Thanks again
You're very welcome Mary, and I wish you great success with your airplants! They're delightful! :-)
So looking forward to purchasing these this spring. Will look great with my newly remodel 3 seasons porch
They're such fun plants! Good luck!
Thanks so much! This by far was the most informative video I have found.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video I’m very new to air plants I have a green thumb for most plants but these look like I have a lot to learn thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for the info! Going to soak my new air plant for the first time now!!
You're very welcome Vero! Don't forget to gently shake excess water out after you soak them so that they don't rot. Indoors, we don't have the air circulation that is present outdoors, so this is important :-)
Great video. Thank you for the info. My plant is outside right now enjoying the storms passing through here in NE Ohio.
Danielle Sharp You're welcome! Your plants will love it!
I soak my Xeros for 30 mins once weekly and let them dry out for 4 hours upside down. They are doing amazing. The nursery I purchased them from said to do so.
Same, with tap water, for over a year now. All have new growth and are healthy.
Hey, thank you! Great information and perfectly explained. I come from Europe and we have not had any rain for a longer time. And our house drinking water runs through a softener as in our area we have a lot of lime which kills all the machines. So, what to do?
I have a small pond with a few Goldfisches but there may be gems in it…., I don know…. .
That’s it with water. So what you’ll you recommend? My plants are very young and small including the green and the grey ones….
I think we have acrylic climate here but at the moment with a lot of sunshine. I kept them in a shadier area for one week with only morning sun…, let’s say from 6 am to 12. now I changed the to a sunny place. When temperature fall I will bring them in the house, but also there…, no southern window….
Also your plant lamps are not available here and it’s really difficult to decide for one. (It should not be too expensive, unfortunatley.
Thousand thanks for all your information in that video🙏. Maybe you can give me a tip regarding the water….?
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Why don't you try the pond water first and see how it goes? You can always get some filtered water and add some fertilizer in it too.
The best video on watering air plants. Caput Medusa? Soak or spray? In just starting, live in Vermont so they are inside.
Glad you enjoyed it! I actually soak all of mine and they’re been fine. Just shake out excess water right after you soak them and it should be fine!
Great vid! Will go back to Home Depot & get a fairly large xerographica now after watching your vid! Much appreciated!
Glad you enjoyed! :-)
Great video. Very educational. I am a first timer. Thank you.
Wow this was great information to have. I just bought my first air plant at, ironically, an Orchid show. I bought a Curly Slim and I love its curly tendrils and I’m hoping I can keep it growing until it’s large. The sample plant at the show was huge and was the sellers first plant. One question: can I save rain water and put it in a misting bottle to use when I need to? Thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed the video! And yes, that would work with the rainwater!
I just got 4 air plants and gave them a good soak for 30 minutes since they were in shipping. I use tap water as well.
That's great!
thank you!
i learned a lot :)
especially about the curling! going to water my new tillandsias because its super curly
You're so welcome!
keep doing and sharing videos of shat you do best!!! happy to see passionate people 🙏
Thanks for the encouragement :-)
This video is really helpful! I received healthy air plants about a month ago and theyre already starting to get browner at the tips and have the symptoms of being dry, as you showed... But I just can't fathom that I'm not giving enough water! I leave tap water in a basin overnight, the next morning, I let my air plants soak upside down, making sure the tips are also getting water. After 2 hours, I take them out and shake them gently, lay them by the window in gentle sun to dry all afternoon. I repeat this every 3 days, and I also spray my air plants with water every day to give them a refresh........ Can't fathom that they're STILL dry after this! :( Do you have any tips?
Hm, do you know what kind of tillandsia(s) you have? Where exactly do you keep them for their growing location? What are the conditions? (Light, temperature, etc.).
I use distilled water and mine are so happy. I must use it on my calatheas as anything else upsets them and the air plants like it also. Rain doesn't have much in it either...much like distilled, save for some dissolved gasses and air pollutants. At least that is just my experience thus far and I know that is just anecdotal evidence.
Great video and good advice.
I will add that in occasion, I do use a non urea based fertilizer so maybe that puts back in, what distilled may take out.
Thanks for the feedback! I think you're absolutely right. I just saw your comment below too about using the non-urea based fertilizer occasionally which I'm sure is helping.
@@carmaela2689 what fertilizer do you use? Thanking you in advance...I also want to continue using distilled y.
Thanks so much!! Super helpful and no-nonsense vid, really appreciate it
I'm so happy you enjoyed it! :-).
Great video.. Learned so much.
How do you attach upur air plants to the piece of wood?
Thank you!
I've used a floral glue in the past and it has worked well. There are also special Tillandsia glues out there to that may work even better. One is called Tilly Tacker :-)
Just found your channel! ..... I now know why I've killed ALL my air plants in the past! I used distilled water for MONTHS.... made for a LONG, SAD, DRAWN OUT death. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong! And didn't want to try them again for fear I'd have the same outcome. Thanks for the great information!! I've acquired a new air plant..... Spanish moss...... I have a few questions.... How often would you recommend soaking this particular one, being so thin? And I'm assuming I don't have to worry about turning upside down but should still gently shake? Also would any house plant fertilizer cut in half (like I do for my houseplants) work? Or should I specifically pick up one for tillandsias?
Thank you in advance! Great informative video also! I've subscribed!
Glad you enjoyed the video Christy! I've never grown Spanish moss personally, but you can start by either soaking it 2-3 times a week, or you can even mist it daily. I wouldn't worry as much about shaking it out. Just gently shake it a bit if you are soaking. Any houseplant fertilizer should work fine, but I would definitely dilute it to a quarter or half strength like you indicated. Good luck with your plants!
Thank you! I just bought 3 and now know the differnce: cause it is not like I looked this all up before. But if I mount them on a piece of driftwood...I soak the whole driftwood piece with the plants? Then shake and leave to dry? I can't turn them upside down if they are mounted, but I can have them angled sideways....no one explains how to do this when they are mounted on the wood.
If you can't physically turn them upside down because of your set up, you'll just have to make sure that the water doesn't sit in the plant for a long time somehow. Increasing air circulation will help, but if there is a lot of water stuck, you might want to blow it out of the center of the leaves or blot it out with something absorbent. Good air circulation will also help!
I am new starter, and your video is so helpful
Glad you enjoyed the video :-)
Thank you for such an informative video. Query: Xerograhica does not grow upside down in the wild, so how does it not rot after a rain? I presume the natural arid environment takes care of evaporating pooled water between the leaves. I plan to place a few Xerographica upright or sideways in an arid vivarium - can I get away with only spraying them and not remove them from the vivarium to shake them out? I would saturate them less than you did in your video, as to not have too much runoff into the vivarium. They would go under JungleDawn full spectrum LED grow lights in a 75-90 degree farenheight vivarium, less than 30% RH.
That's a great questions Bradley! In nature, these grow in a very arid environment like you mentioned and they mostly get their water from morning dew. And any water that collects will evaporate pretty quickly. I actually have a bunch of these now in my greenhouse and I mist them every morning and they're doing great! That would be a good approach for your vivarium. Just try not to let any water pool and you should be ok. Hope this helps a bit.
I am so glad I found you!!! I plan to watch more videos, visit you on Instagram and read your blog!!
Awww, so glad you enjoy my content!
I was about to run out and buy distilled 😳 thank you for this video
You're very welcome!!! :-)
I was about to do the same 😬
What if it's starting to bloom?! How would you water & dry the graphicas "big ones" (sorry for butchering the name!)? A few started to bloom, but quickly wilted. BUT there's a few purple "stems" (?) Coming up from the center still. I REALLY don't want to kill & miss the chance to see a bloom!
Thank you SO very much! I've REALLY appreciated all your information & help!
You should still water the plant, but just avoid submerging the flower stalk :-). Keep in mind that once a tillandsia blooms, it will slowly die, but hopefully not before it produces more pups for you!
Hello! In regards to watering the xerographica, would you say using well water from under the ground is fine too? I live in California so we don't get too much rainfall here, but I do have a well access on my property
I would say it's probably fine to use!
on the topic of distilled or RO theyre bad due to the l;ack of menerals
if you use them on normal plants aswell it basically leeches nutrients from the soil (not all but leeching does happen)
Now I find your video after tillandsia death #2! Uhg.. i guess 3rd times a charm? I did the spray method then they looked crispy, soaked just the leaves for a few hours.. then.. molded.. again! Uhg.. and yes I have a water softener! Now that I know! Both times I soaked them, dead! Never again. I should have kept ignoring it! Uhg. Thanks, great video !
At least now you know, and you can try again :-) I'm glad you found the video helpful!
Thank you so much for this!! Great information 👍🏻 🌱
Glad you enjoyed it Kimberly :-)
I've soaked mine, but I've noticed that the water turns green. are they losing chlorophyll? thanks. this was a great video
Glad you enjoyed the video! That seems unusual that the water turns green. I've never encountered that before!
I have soft water and not enough rain to collect. I buy spring water in a jug, hopefully that's my best option.
Never thought to just put them outside when it rains. LOL tysm for this video, I needed the common sense reminder. 😅
We all need a reminder sometimes! There are no such things really has "house" plants, right? Houseplants evolved outdoors :-). Spring water will work just fine :-)
Ok, I have a water softener. 😔
When it rains here, it’s never enough of a rain to collect. I can run them out if it rains, but I live at the beach, so humidity is never really an issue.
I’m curious about fertilizing air plants. I collect orchids and use RO water or distilled water when I feed them. So can I use RO water? Do they need calcium and magnesium once in awhile or a 20-20-20 fertilizer at any point?
Thank you Rafael. Excellent video! I’m dying to see the mounting video as I often mount my orchids.
Hi Barb! Many airplant growers don't advise using distilled or filtered water because they are largely devoid of nutrients. If you do use it, I would add some fertilizer to it. There are special fertilizers for tillandsias and bromeliads that you can use. This will also encourage more pups to form after the Tillandsias flower :-) Hope this helps.
I had my sprinkler system and hoses attached to my water softening system, we did it because my ex didn't want hard water stains on his car. Our garden thrived. Grass was fine and my garden was so healthy and happy. We lived in the mojave so the soft water was all my yard got. Roses, honey suckle, rosemary, veggies and herbs all did great.
While sodium my be toxic to plants, water softening systems are not heavy enough in sodium to be as dangerous as he makes it sound. Don't use ocean water for sure. But your water softener will not kill your plants :)
I really don’t know why tap water is an option but in our area it is very very hard and once I used it and caused the leaves to burn. I use RO water and add magnesium and calcium plus little orchid fertiliser and have good result. I noticed that hard water is more dangerous for Spanish moss than on other tillandsia
Great video! I recently got a Tillandsia Hybrid "curly slim" - Intermedia x Steptophylla. What watering method would you recommend, soaking or spraying? Also, when I bought it, it came in soil but I've removed it, since I noticed some bugs in there, and now the plant is just sitting on the shelf. Does this type of Tillandsia need to be in soil or is it gonna be okay without it?
These should not be growing in soil so you did the right thing! I would start off by soaking it once a week or so, and see how it responds. The leaves will get curlier and curlier as it get drier, so this can also be an indication of when to water!
That is very interesting. One thing I am missing is while is very important to shake off the excess water from the plant, in nature there is noone to do that. May be natural inviroment is more windy so the plant dry out faster....???
That's a great question! The main reasons are that there is air circulation outdoors (wind) and usually warmer temperatures, so these contribute to the plants drying out without it being a concern.
@Rafael - I have a bloom/flower which has passed. What is the best way to promote another bloom, and should I cut this one off.?
Hi there! So each plant will only bloom once and then start a slow process of dying which can take many months if not longer. But your plant should start to produce pups at the base, and then you can raise those and get them to blooming size, and repeat the cycle all over again :-)
I tried shaking my plant softly after watching this video. Unfortunately, the stem broke even through gentle shaking. Your other advice regarding water types was helpful but the shaking killed my plant. I will never use this method again and will stick to spraying.
Sorry that your plant broke. :-(. That's never happened to me.
It was probably rotted in the core. Gentle shaking should not ruin a plant.
I used tap water but my city doesn’t rain that much in Calgary Alberta Canada it did before in summer now is getting less.
It should be just fine!
Forgive the ignorance, when you recommend soaking the air plants, do one submerge them completely in water, or halfway? Thank you.
I would submerge them completely :-).
You speak well very informative... thank you
You are very welcome
I feel terrible. I've been soaking my 30+ air plants once weekly for 30 mins in well water with a water softener. I've had them for almost a month now, 3 being Queens. They seem to look ok, and feel strong. Think they'll be ok? Going to use spring water now after your video.
If they look fine, then you're good! I'm glad you stopped though. Just keep an eye on them :-)
Is it safe to increase humidity around them by standing them on some gravel in a dish and putting a small amount of water in which doesn't come to the surface of the gravel so the plants are not in contact with it? Our house is quite dark but have an east facing window where they get nice indirect light but there's a radiator below it which can make it a bit warm and dry.
Yes absolutely! As long as the plant itself is not sitting in water, you should be just fine.
@@OhioTropics Thanks. I lost the smallest one....it literally just fell to pieces so must have rotted at the base. I ordered them thinking they were artificial ones and ended up with real ones lol....
I soak my plants in aquaponics water. I read that when you use pond or aquarium (or in my case, aquaponics) you don’t have to fertilize. Is this the case?
I'm not familiar with aquaponics, but I know that aquarium water is amazing for plants and you would not need to fertilize if you are regularly using it!
Needed this video.. very informative...
El agua de osmosis es correcta para el riego?.
Well this explains a lot about why my airplants are dying( I have softened water) could you use like bottled spring water?
Yes spring water should be good!
I assume that dehumidifier water is also fine, correct? I save that all summer to water my plants.
Yes I don't see why you couldn't use that!
Just got my first air plant. It was SO dry when I got it, sprayed it at first and let it sit for a while but still looked a bit...blah so I now soaked it. Thing is in the winter my house humidity drops below 40% frequently so I'm thinking I might have to mist daily if not 2x a day and soak every 2 or 3 days. Any advice on that?
Hi Mariah! You can maybe try to soak once a week, and then mist 2 or 3 times a week in between and see if that helps. Just make sure to shake the plant out after each soaking and/or misting to make sure water isn't lodged and causes it to rot.
Thank you so much. Very good video
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Hi I am watching your video because I have two Air plants and 6 on the way. Hydra, Teddy Bear, I forgot the name of the 6 coming. But they are Blue and spikey. Anyway I wanted to use the White sand from my Saltwater tank that has sat in a box for 30 years. but ?? No sodium. Will that hurt them ? I see a lot of ocean displays.
Sodium will hurt plants. If you want to use the sand, make sure you rinse it out really well.
I am using sand and pebbles from the ocean as the substrate to sit/tuck in the air plants, in a conch shell. Do you think the sand/pebbles need to be rinsed first?
Yes, I would definitely rinse the sand and pebbles really well to remove any salt. Sounds like a fun project!
I soak mine in old aquarium water, all those nitrites help in my experience.
Yes, it definitely is excellent to use for plants! If I had an aquarium, I would do the same 😃
This is very good! Thank you!
Glad you like it!
How about lake water? We're on waterfront and I'm just sure that water is highly nutritious! For plants and fish.
I would imagine it's probably fine!
Thank you very much. Very informative!!
You're very welcome Andrienne!
Why not distilled water if rain water is basically distilled water? 😭 ;( I’ve been using distilled water for 3 months
I got this information from an airplant grower actually. The thought is that the plants will be deprived of nutrients that they need. Rainwater is definitely best. I just use tap water most of the time and it works perfectly fine for me.
Thank you so much!! Day after day everything you do is very important and so appreciated!!!
High chlorine tap water, no go
I have a question after soaking my Tillandsia Xerographica in water for almost 2 hours I notice that there is a pinkish hue is that normal?
Does it only appear after you water? The plant will definitely change color when it's wet, but should return back to the normal color when it has dried. I wouldn't say I've seen mine turn pink though. It may be due to brighter light perhaps?
Great,helpful information.Thank you.
Glad it was helpful Pearl!
I'm new to tillandsias this is so helpful thank you for the tips! One problem I've encountered is my cats love them a little too much 😒 Glad to see they're nontoxic however a few of my poor air plants look like pathetic little nubs with short uneven chewed leaves. With proper trimming, light and watering is there any chance they may recover somewhat over time? Or will these just slowly die thanks to my indoor hunters?
Hi Kristen! I think it depends on where they are in their lifecycle. If they haven't bloomed yet, they will continue to grow leaves from the center. But the damaged leaves will not recover. Also remember that tillandsias will start to die after they bloom, but they should produce pups to keep things going. So regardless, with proper care, your plant will recover little by little, or just wait for the pups and you will have new plants!
What is your advice on watering the medusa air plant ? I've seen some say do NOT soak just dunk ,or mist only. Then others say soaking the medusa is fine. All I know is I don't want to kill mine! Thanks in advance ☺️
I still prefer to soak! Just make sure to turn it upside down after soaking and shake all the excess water out and you should be fine!
@Ohio Tropics Houseplant Care thanks so much for your response. P.s. I signed up for your email tips & I am really enjoying those ! Thanks again!
Hey there! I recently got myself some baby air plants, and I have attached them to a piece of wood that is hanging outside (I have very limited space for them to lie around). How do I drain them from the water? I am concerned that if I have put them on surface, the weight of the wood will crush them. Will just holding them upside down for a minute or 2 do the trick?
Yes that should do the trick, and also remember that there is air circulation outside so that will help them dry out faster than if they were indoors. Good luck!
Great info!
Glad you enjoyed !
This was the best info!
Glad you enjoyed it! :-)
I soak my air plant in my fish tank for about an hour once a week or so. Usually before I do a cleaning of the tank
Great idea!
What is the hardness of tap water in your area? If the tap water is too hard and contains high calcium and magnesium salts, can I use tannin acid to remove them?
We have pretty hard water, but I don't treat it with anything and the plants are just fine. If you can harvest rainwater, it's probably the best thing!
@@OhioTropics Thank you very much for your reply. I am hesitating whether to invest in a water softener, but I am afraid that the treated water will contain too much sodium. With your experience, I don’t have to buy soft water equipment anymore.
What about fertilicing air plants? I got a sptay fertilicer, specially made for tillandsias, is it not needed? I am a new subscriber from the nort of Europe, by the way.
Yes, it is a good idea to fertilize air plants for best growth and longevity! Welcome to my channel and I hope you enjoy it!
can I use a garden hose to gently spray the air plants?
Yes I don't see why not :-) Just make sure the water isn't too cold.
From my experience growing bromeliads over the years once the mama plant blooms it slowly dies but pups come out to continue the line. Same with all Tillandsias?
OMG i forgot to water my beautiful little fern, and now it looks like its dying. 😪AfterWatching your video I immediately put it in a bowl filled with water. I hope it will be ok.
We've all done it!
Thank you for this video and I guess I'll ditch the distilled water !!
I have a question... I have several of the green tillandsias (like on your grapevine but mine are loose). I have them inside but do not know how much light they need to thrive and if it's morning east window light, south or west window? I live inland in southern CA (sunny, hot, dry) so I just haven't figured out where they'll be happiest.
You're welcome Suzanne! For those exposures, I would say try East. Morning sun is more gentle.
These are great bathroom plants. They like low light and high humidity.
I have bought a fairly tall curly slim. Can I shower it instead of spraying it or soaking it?
Yes absolutely!
Thank you for this video. New subscriber here🙋🏻♀️. I just bought my very first tillandsias and I got a xerographica and a blooming ionantha(I didn't know they die after blooming). I spray them with rain water but I live in a VERY hot and dry part of California and I noticed my xerographica gets brown crispy tips and thats with daily spraying. Should I spray more often? Or maybe another method? Thanks again.
Hi Bianca! Do you keep the plants outdoors or indoors? How much sun does it get? You may want to soak them instead for a few minutes to water them.
@@OhioTropics I keep them indoors close to a west facing window so they get bright indirect light. Thank you for the tip. I was actually afraid of soaking my xerographica cause I was told it doesn't like that but spraying is just not working in my environment so 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for your help :) what about boiled water?
You're very welcome! You can use water after you have boiled it and let it cool.