To soak air plants is super easy, just make sure that you leave the plants fully submerged in water for a few minutes. Air or sky plants of the Bromeliaceae family can grow without water for weeks and their water needs are very different from other plants, so you have to water them with care.
To learn how to soak them as well as other ways to water them, read this article.
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How to Soak Air Plants in 6 Easy Steps?
To soak air plants in six easy steps is really quite simple – first you prepare the plant for watering, pour water in a bowl and submerge the plant. After soaking for 10-30 minutes you can remove and keep the plants in a well-ventilated area.
1. Prepare the Plant for Watering
When you are ready to water your air plants, start by preparing them. If the plants are still attached to their substrate, remove them from the substrate. Also, now would be a good time to prune or remove any unwanted leaves or growth.
Check for pests on the leaves and shake them off. Just try to make the plants as clean as possible before you submerge them in water. Do this, especially if you have a lot of plants to submerge.
2. Pour Water Into a Bowl
When you have prepared your plants for soaking, pour water into a large bowl. Ensure that the bowl is large enough to fit your air plants so that they can be fully submerged in the water.
3. Submerge the Air Plant
When the bowl and water are ready, submerge the plant. Ensure that the plant stays fully submerged and that no leaf or stalk is emerging from the water. Soak your plants for 20-30 minutes in the water to ensure that they get enough water. If you fear that 20 minutes is too much for your little plant, reduce the soaking duration to 10-15 minutes.
Soaking your plants for a long time will help them collect enough water that can last them a week or even a month depending on their growing conditions. The longer you display your plants without watering them, the longer you should soak them. However, note that if you overwater the plants, they might not survive it.
4. Remove the Plant From the Water
When you are satisfied with how long your plants are in the water, remove them and shake off excess water. Do not leave water dripping on the plant when you keep it back on its display, as that excess water can cause overwatering.
If you can, keep your plants upside down for up to 30 minutes so that excess water can drip off the plants before you hang them. Also, it can help if you dry the plant with a towel. Just make sure that you do not break anything.
5. Keep the Plants in a Ventilated Area
Before you hang your plants back on their display, leave them in a ventilated room for some extra minutes. This is important, especially if there’s not much ventilation in the display room of your plants. The ventilation will help dry out excess water from your plants before you display them.
Ensure that the ventilation room is well-lit. Leaving your newly watered plants in a dark room can expose them to a fungal attack. When your Tillandsia xerographica plants are dry, you can take them back to their display.
6. Return the Plants to Their Display
After soaking air plants for some minutes and drying them up (the entire process can take up to one hour), return them to their display. Arrange the leaves just the way you met them and ensure that the room is well-lit so that your beautiful plants will show well. So long as you soak them well enough, they can stay in their display for seven to ten days.
How to Water Air Plants Using 3 Methods?
To water air plants you can use one of three methods: misting, dunking and using running water. Each has their own pros and cons but each of them is acceptable. Misting is the easiest and least messy and using running water is best for plants growing close to the ground.
1. Misting
Misting is the easiest way to water your air plants. Misting is best for your plants that do not have thick leaves, as such plants do not hold a lot of water. This means that they need regular watering, therefore, soaking is not the best way. You can mist your mounted air plants.
If you have ever wondered how to water air plants with flowers, use misting. To mist the plants, use a spray bottle to spray water droplets on the leaves. The smaller the droplets, the better. Mist a spot once and move on to the next. Stop misting the plants before water starts dripping off the leaves.
2. Dunking
Dunking plants is just like soaking them. However, you only submerge the plants for just a few seconds before removing them. Dunking plants is just like dipping bread into a drink. If you leave the bread in the drink for a long time, it will crumble. Therefore, dunking is best for air plants that have either suffered from overwatering before or those that do not like water at all.
If you choose to dunk Tillandsia stricta and other species of plants that don’t like water, you’d need to dunk them more often than when you soak them. However, with this method, you can be sure that you will not overwater the plants. This is the safest method to water your plants if you are concerned about overwatering.
3. Using Running Water
Of course, you can water your plants just like you water other plants. This method is best for plants growing close to the ground or those that have thick leaves. It’s also good for plants that are hard to submerge. If you’re lazy or just want to water your Tillandsia like other plants, this is the method for you.
When watering your plants, ensure that water reaches every part of each plant. Also, do not water them with high pressure so that you do not destroy their leaves and displace them from their substrate. After watering them, ensure that the water dries out quickly so that the plants do not suffer from overwatering.
Frequently Asked Questions
– How Often Should You Soak Your Air Plants?
You should soak your air plants every week. This will help them stay hydrated. The air plant care routine, especially for indoor plants, requires occasional and not regular watering. Even though these plants need water to grow, remember that they survive on low or no water in their natural habitats.
– What Type of Water Should You Use for Your Plants?
You should use tap water to water your plants. You can also use distilled water for air plants if you have, especially if you want to soak them. Tillandsia tectorum and other types of air plants need clean water so that they do not get sick after you water them.
– How Can You Tell That Your Air Plants Need Watering?
You can tell that your air plants need watering when you see them weaken and their leaves look frail. Your plants may not show the symptoms of dehydration for weeks, so you do not have to wait until you see that they need watering before you water them.
– How Can You Fix Overwatered Air Plants?
You can fix overwatered air plants by leaving them in a well-ventilated room for a few days. The room humidity should be low, as it will help dry out the excess water from air plant watering. Your plants such as Tillandsia magnusiana will be ready for display in a week.
Conclusion
Watering air plants will be super easy for you now, surely. Before you go soak the plants, remember these points:
- While soaking the plants is the most popular method to water your air plants, remember that there are other methods such as misting and dunking.
- Use clean water for your plants. You can use water from the tap to water them.
- Water your plants every seven to 10 days so that they do not become dehydrated.
- When misting your Tillandsia aeranthos plants, stop before the water starts dripping.
- Do not wait until your plants look weak before you water them. Create a watering schedule for them.
So long as you stick to this plant care guide, you’d soak your plants correctly. Just ensure that you do not overwater them.
