Water most air plants (Tillandsia) by soaking them in room temperature rainwater, filtered water, or tap water left out overnight for 20 to 30 minutes once a week, then shake them gently and set them upside down in a bright, airy spot so they dry completely within about four hours. In dry heated rooms, add a light misting once or twice between soaks. Give them bright, indirect light, never plant them in soil, and never leave water sitting in the center of the plant, because trapped water causes the rot that kills most air plants.
Read the leaves first
Air plants absorb water and nutrients through tiny scales on their leaves called trichomes. How fuzzy and silvery the leaves look tells you how much water a type wants.
| Leaf type | Examples | Watering |
|---|---|---|
| Silvery, thick, very fuzzy (xeric) | T. xerographica, T. tectorum | Quick dunk or misting; avoid long soaks |
| Gray-green, medium | T. ionantha, T. harrisii | Weekly 20 to 30 minute soak |
| Smooth and green (mesic) | T. brachycaulos, T. bulbosa | Weekly soak, plus misting in dry rooms |
A plant that is thirsty has leaves that curl inward more than usual and feel soft. A rotting plant has a dark, mushy base and leaves that fall out from the center.
🌱 Get Personalized Plant Picks
Answer a few quick questions and we’ll match plants to your exact yard conditions.
Find My Plants →How to water step by step
- Fill a bowl with room temperature water. Avoid softened water, which contains salt, and distilled water used alone, which lacks minerals.
- Submerge the plant for 20 to 30 minutes. Bulbous types such as T. bulbosa should be dunked and removed quickly.
- Shake gently to clear water from the base.
- Dry upside down on a towel or rack in bright light with moving air for one to four hours.
- Return it to its holder only once the base is dry.
Shop air plant care supplies on Amazon
Fertilizer made for tillandsia, a fine mist bottle for between soaks in dry heated rooms, and open holders that let plants dry quickly after watering. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Amazon · Air plant fertilizer Amazon · Fine mist spray bottle Amazon · Air plant holders
Light and temperature
Air plants want bright, indirect light: near an east window, a few feet back from a south or west window, or under a grow light for 12 hours a day. Silvery types tolerate more light than green ones. They do best between about 50 and 90°F. Keep them away from cold glass at night and from heating vents, which dry them out within hours. Our guide to grow light basics for winter houseplants covers placement and timers.
Feeding
Air plants grow slowly and need little food. Use a fertilizer formulated for tillandsia or bromeliads, at the strength on the label, once a month in the soaking water or as a mist. Skip feeding in very low light. Fertilizer will not rescue a plant that is too dry or rotting.
Holders and displays
- Choose open holders such as wire stands, wood blocks, shells, or open glass globes that let air move around the plant.
- Avoid copper wire or copper treated holders. Copper is toxic to tillandsia.
- Skip closed terrariums and glued displays. Closed glass stays too humid and glue blocks the base. For enclosed plantings, see our guide to building a terrarium and use moss and humidity lovers instead.
- Take plants out to water rather than soaking the whole display.
Pet and child safety
Cats often treat air plants as toys and chew the leaves. Keep plants on high shelves or in hanging holders out of reach, and check the ASPCA plant list for your specific species. Store fertilizer sealed and out of reach of children and pets. If a child swallows or splashes any garden chemical, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If a pet eats it, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Common problems
- Brown, crispy tips: too dry. Soak longer or more often and mist between soaks.
- Mushy, dark base: rot from water sitting in the center. Remove soft leaves; if the core is mushy, the plant usually cannot be saved.
- Pale, stretched growth: not enough light.
- Blooming, then fading: normal. Most air plants bloom once, then produce pups. Separate pups once they are a third the size of the mother.
Bottom line
Soak weekly, shake and dry upside down within four hours, and keep air plants in bright, indirect light with good airflow. Adjust for the leaf type, mist a little in dry heated rooms, and feed lightly once a month.
Related reading
- Humidifiers for houseplants in winter
- Tabletop succulent centerpieces
- Low-mess houseplants
- Living greens for table centerpieces
Ready to match plants to your location? Try the PlantWise Plant Finder →