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Photo Credit: Sunshine Foliage World

Give Tillandsia ionantha some filtered light, regular watering and a little love.

The air plant (Tillandsia sp.) is not only one of the more interesting houseplants you can grow, but it’s the easiest. Air plants are members of the bromeliad family, which makes them kissing cousins to the pineapple, and are known as epiphytes – plants that need the rough bark of a tree, rock or other coarse surface to attach to for support.

In their native habitats of Mexico and Central America, Tillandsias use their wiry dry roots with soft growing tips to attach themselves to the bark of a tree like Velcro®. These roots do not penetrate the tree. Instead, the air plant receives all of its nutrients and water from the surrounding air and rainfall.

The most well-known air plant is Spanish moss (T. usneoides), where great colonies, sometimes 15 feet long, can be found festooning live oaks, bald cypress and telephone lines throughout the southeast US.

Tillandsia species typically bloom from November to March. Often the leaves will elongate and turn a brighter color when the plant is ready to flower. Showy single or clusters of flowers rise out of the colorful rosette of bright leaves and can maintain that show for several weeks.

Green Tillandsias have rosettes of bright green, strap-like leaves and need regular water and filtered light. It’s best to grow these in pots of a fast-draining, loose soil mix. The gray Tillandsias have gray, silvery leaves that are scaly. They need less water and can take full sun. These can easily be grown mounted on plaques of wood or bark. Where hardy (Zones 9-11), the air plant can be grown outside, allowing nature to provide the water and nutrients. When grown inside, air plants can benefit from daily misting and a quarter-strength application of liquid fertilizer every two weeks from spring to mid-autumn. Good air circulation is essential, but avoid direct drafts from heating or air-condition vents.