How to revive air plants is a concern for those growing this lovely foliage. In this regard, knowing that you can easily do so if the foliage hasn’t been severely affected is essential.
In the following article, we will walk you through the process of resolving the issue. Continue reading to obtain an in-depth and direct look at the process involved in reviving the plant and tips to provide the proper air plant care.
Contents
How Can Air Plants Be Brought Back to Life?
Air plants can be revived or brought back to life by removing the dead leaves, moving them under sunlight, giving them a thorough drench, and tackling pests. Make provisions for sunlight, get rid of the excess water, humidify the plant, add fertilizer, and continue providing care.
– Remove Dead Leaves
Removing any dead leaves from the air plant is the first and an important step in reviving a dormant plant. You should remove them by giving a light tug, and just by that they will be fragile enough to drop and get removed.
Another query would be questioned in this case, and you would find yourself asking, is my air plant dead? When you pull at the leaves, if the entire plant crumbles to pieces, you, unfortunately, have a dead air plant, and reviving it is going to be unavailing or impossible.
If, on the other hand, only a few of the leaves fall off and the leaves on the inside appear to be green and healthy. As you would see this from the sides of the other leaves that are still there, then, you will see that your air plant has a good chance of surviving if you care for it properly.
– Drench the Plant
Drench the air plant in water overnight, or for a couple of hours if you wouldn’t wish to wait that long. When trying to revive an air plant, the primary focus is to ensure it gets enough water. Air plants do not need soil, but water is necessary for their air plants’ survival.
Because there is no soil where air plants can grow, they must rely on their leaves rather than a root system to take in moisture and the all-important water they need to survive. In short, this is how they would receive their nutrients, either from the water or from the air, so drenching it is a good choice to make.
If you ask, how to soak air plants, the simple way to do it is just to put the plant in water in a container and let it sit at room temperature overnight. It is essential that the bowl be large enough to allow the plant to be completely submerged.
When you remove it, turn your air plant upside down, give it a few light shakes to ensure that the water is not collecting in the leaves of the plant, and place it back in its original container. On the other hand, remember that if air plants do not receive enough water, their growth may be stunted, and their leaves may be turning brown.
– Give It the Air It Needs
In order to survive, your air plant requires oxygen and a sufficient amount of it so that it would thrive. As a result of the latter, you must move it to a spot where there is air circulation.
Make sure that you avoid dark, dingy corners for this plant, and if you are growing your plant in a jar terrarium, keep the lid open enough to allow air to flow freely inside. Remember that airflow is essential for survival and helps plants grow back.
– Get Rid of Insects and Other Pests
Your air plants may be suffering from poor health due, in part, to the presence of pests. One of the biggest threats to air plants is the mealybug. They can cause severe damage to your plants by eating the leaves and roots; as a result, you need to take measures to prevent disease and death in your plants by warding off pests and insects.
Hence, you need to isolate the affected plants from the healthy ones from the damaged ones. After doing so, you will need to spray them with disinfectant solutions such as dish soap, baking soda, or neem oil.
What this does is it would get rid of most of its pests while preserving its health; this will go a long way toward revitalizing it.
– Make Provisions for Sunlight
Like water and air, sunlight also plays an essential role in providing sufficient energy to air plants. It is recommended that after thoroughly soaking the plants in water, it is recommended that they are placed in an area with a lot of light.
But remember not to keep them under direct sunlight as it can have a negative impact on the air plants, in terms of scorching the leaves. The full and direct light would give the plant a sunburn and that would cause further issues.
– Get Rid of Any Extra Water
Watering plants is essential for survival, but too much water can cause the root and leaves to rot. What you must do is make it a point to avoid giving the plants excessive water and to ensure that they are kept dry.
To accomplish this, you should use a dry paper towel to carefully wipe away any excess water that may have accumulated on the plant. While removing water, you mustn’t damage the leaves and roots, or cause them to be of excess water and look heavy and lumpy.
– Humidify Your Plant
Keep the air plant in a very humid environment, as this is the essential thing you can aim to do and bring it back to life. Typically, the conditions in tropical rainforests with humidity levels are ideal for air plants’ growth.
Therefore, if you maintain a low humidity level for these plants, they will not be able to live—the optimum humidity level for indoor air plants is between 50 and 90 percent.
You can achieve the effect of mist by using a spray or a humidifier to bring the relative humidity of the air inside to a higher level; you can also place a pebble tray to increase the moisture. If you mist around it, it will assist you in increasing the humidity level within a room and maintaining the air plants’ health.
Grow an air plant in a terrarium to achieve a more natural and high-humidity level, and as you add different ones, they would radiate humidity too.
– Get Rid of the Brown Leaves
If you notice that the air plant turning brown at base or the leaves have started to turn brown, it indicates the possibility that the plant is suffering from a fungal infection. It can cause damage to the cells of the air plants, which may eventually lead to rotting, and the growth of microorganism.
Start cutting those with brown leaf tips and branches as soon as possible to stop the infection from spreading further and further. This will help you avoid further complications. While cutting the leaves, avoid cutting any healthy part of the plant.
– Add Fertilizer
A practical and valuable way to revive an air plant dried out is to add additional air plant fertilizer. In typical conditions, these plants do not require additional nutrients; however, fertilizers can significantly assist when air plants die.
It has the potential to provide plants with the nutrients they lack, thereby improving their chances of survival. You can apply the fertilizer once or twice a month, depending on the type of air plants, and how it has been left regarding the condition.
– Focus on Care
After completing the above steps, you can still take additional measures to care for your air plants. For instance, you can give your air plant a new home by putting it in a different pot and soil, and you may also try to change their location, to a place where the light is not direct, but bright and indirect, so that it grows.
You can use tap water or rainwater for better results in the soaking process. In addition, you should make it a habit to check on the planet’s recovery at regular intervals. Using non-toxic fertilizers is another option for those interested in chemical-free options.
Conclusion
You have just finished reading and comprehending the step-by-step method to rescue an air plant.
Let us review the information covered in this article below:
- Moving the plants into brighter light, thoroughly saturating them with water, removing any dead plant leaves and controlling any pests that may be bothering them are all effective ways to give these plants a new lease on life.
- Because it is a tropical species, the plant requires a humid and warm environment to flourish and maintain its overall health.
- In order to survive, your air plant requires oxygen; therefore, relocate it to a location where it has adequate airflow.
- There is a possibility that the presence of pests is contributing to the air plants’ poor health. It is necessary to tackle them as soon as possible.
- After completely submerging the plants in water, it is recommended that they be positioned in an area that receives a lot of light to recover from their stress. However, it is essential to remember that you should not store them in a place that receives direct sunlight, as this can affect the air plants.
Now that you’ve read this article, reviving your air plant shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for you. What are you waiting for- utilize our advice to make your way through restoring this tropical foliage.
- Growing Brussel Sprouts in Containers – 7 Crucial Steps - May 30, 2023
- How to Care for Carnivorous Plants: Provide The Right Needs - May 26, 2023
- How Long Do Hibiscus Flowers Last: Ways To Elongate - May 24, 2023
