about:
air plants or Tillandsias are the largest genus of the bromeliad family. they do not require soil since water and nutrients are absorbed in the air through their leaves. you can find them growing wild in South and Central America hanging on trees or clung to rocks. they can be placed in or on almost anything and are not toxic to animals.
light:
air plants will do best in bright, indirect sunlight and full-spectrum fluorescent lights. plants with softer green/grey leaves need less light than those with stiff grey/white leaves.
[ionanthas: will lose some of their redish coloring if not if bright light.]
water:
mist your plant a few times a week during summer months, less often in winter. 1-2 times a month (again more in the summer less in winter) remove plant from house and soak for 30 min. or rinse under faucet until dripping wet. shake off excess water and let dry before placing back in house. if possible let dry upside down so water does not get held in the base of plant. use a bromeliad or orchid fertilizer in their soak or mist once a month. avoid fertilizing plants in bloom or soaking blooms.
[butzii/pseudo baileyi: give these an extra spray on the tips of their leaves which tend to dry out quicker.]
groom:
almost every air plant will bloom once in its lifetime and then begin to seed or produce pups from the base. avoid removing pups until they have reached ½ the size of the mother plant. a white bulge on the base of the plant can be an indication of pups on their way. trim away and/or pull off browned and dead leaves, this will not hurt the plant. roots can also be trimmed.
enjoy!