Plant Care Guides / Indoor / Moderate Care
Air plants break all the rules. They do not need soil at all. In the wild they grow attached to tree branches and rocks, pulling moisture and nutrients from the air through tiny scales on their leaves. That makes them incredibly versatile indoors: mount them on cork bark, nestle them in a shell, hang them from a wire, or just set them on a shelf. They are small, sculptural and endlessly interesting.
The silvery-white coating on the leaves is not dust or disease. Those are trichomes, tiny scales that absorb water and nutrients from the air. The more trichomes a plant has (the greyer it looks), the more drought-tolerant it is. Greener air plants need more frequent watering.
Bright, indirect light. A spot near a window with good natural light is ideal. They can take some gentle morning sun, but hot afternoon sun dries them out fast. Avoid dim corners; without enough light, they slowly decline.
This is where most people go wrong. Misting alone is not enough. Soak the whole plant in room-temperature water for 20 to 30 minutes once a week, then shake off the excess and let it dry upside down on a towel so no water pools in the base, which causes rot. In winter or in a humid room, you can stretch to every ten days. The coastal humidity in St Francis Bay helps, but soaking is still the key.
Feed once a month by adding a very diluted liquid fertiliser (a quarter strength) to the soaking water during the growing season.
No soil needed. If the mount or display gets tired, just move the plant to a new one. Air plants attach themselves over time with small roots, but these are for grip, not feeding.
Ask about availability. We keep a changing range of indoor plants. WhatsApp us to see what is in store, or pop in and we will help you choose.
