If you’re looking for a gorgeous, interesting décor element for your home, air plants are a fabulous idea. We’ll cover how long their lifespan is and offer some tips to keep them healthy and vibrant.
How long do air plants live: The lifespan of air plants is two to five years. To keep your air plants alive, stick to a regular watering schedule and observe if there are any changes to the tips or edges of the leaves, as well as the underside of the plants. If you want to propagate your air plants, remove the offshoots once they develop.
Air Plants Lifespan
Most air plants will live between two and five years. When purchasing your air plant, you should definitely find out how old it is as this will affect how you care for your new plant.
In order to keep having air plants in their home, most owners will propagate new plants. You can find offshoots, also known as pups, on the bottom of the plant, which can turn into new plants with the right steps.
Caring For Air Plants
Water
Getting into a healthy rhythm of watering your air plants is key for their survival. There are many routes to this and you may have to employ a few of them to better understand the unique ecosystem of your home and how your air plants thrive.
One of the most popular methods to water your air plant is the soaking method. For this, take your plant and place it in a bowl of water, set to room temperature, for five to eight minutes.
After the plant is done soaking, shake it gently to remove any extra water. An important step after this is to actually turn the plant upside down and then leave it on a paper towel in a warm, sunny area.
Air plants are quite delicate and if they are left in water for too long, or not properly dried out, they can actually start to rot.
Humidity
In addition to soaking your plant every two weeks, you should regularly mist the tops of the plants so that they don’t dry out. The goal is to moisten all of the individual leaves and tendrils but doesn’t add so much water that the plant will start to drip with moisture.
Air plants are tropical so they want a humid environment. While you may have periods of humidity in your local climate, recreating such an atmosphere is key.
Winter can be a very dry time, so be sure to add more moisture to the air around your air plants. You should also remove them from areas near large windows in the winter as the glass can transfer a lot of coolness inside.
Light
Air plants need light and while natural light is best, you can use artificial light if you don’t have an alternative. The key is to not keep these plants in a dark area as they simply won’t grow.
When possible, aim for bright, ambient light such as in a living room with plenty of windows. You don’t have to put your air plants directly in front of a window as this can cause too much heat and exposure.
If you have your air plants in a darker area, invest in a full-spectrum light. This should be located close to your plant and be on for at least 10 hours a day.
How do you keep air plants alive?
Air plants need the right amount of light and water to stay alive. They do not need soil as their composition is able to transform light, water, and air into the nutrients it needs.
Start by finding the right area to keep your air plant. Exposure to bright, natural light is great, especially if you have a room with lots of windows.
Maintain a regular watering schedule and inspect your plant to see if there are any brown or black spots that could indicate not enough water or too much water.
Air plants are susceptible to extreme changes in the weather. If you live in a humid climate but have dry winters, mist your plant more to make up for the lack of moisture in the air.
How do I know if my air plant is dying?
Brown leaves
There’s a fine balance when learning how much water your air plant needs. While it definitely needs water, too much can lead to rot.
Especially in the beginning stages of owning an air plant, constantly monitor your plant’s leaves. Look for any signs of browning along the edges as this can indicate that your air plant is not getting enough water.
If there is only a bit of browning, simply mist the plant with more water. If there are a lot of brown spots, then this means you will need to change your watering habits and soak the plant more frequently.
Brown plant base
Overwatering your air plant is a definite concern. Unfortunately, it is harder to spot this sign and when you do, it may be too late.
Check the underside of your air plant for any brown or black markings. You can also feel the texture and if the underside is squishy, this means it has absorbed too much water.
Be sure to take your air plant out of its home and place it in a warm, dry area. Keep it on a paper towel to help absorb extra moisture and you might have a chance of salvaging it.
Plant falls apart
The last sign that your air plant is gone is if it starts to fall apart. If you move your air plant to water it and the leaves and the base of the plant all break away, then there is nothing left to do about bringing it back to life.
Conclusion
Air plants will live between two and five years with proper care. While they don’t need soil, they do need light and water. Place your plants in water every one to two weeks and mist the leaves in between these times to keep them moist but not soggy.
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