Air Plant Care Tips

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We are regularly asked for Tillandsia care information, so I thought it might be useful to review it quickly. If you have any questions or want more information, feel free to reach out to us any time.

Light

Lighting for Tillandsias should be bright but filtered (April – October). They should not be left in the direct sun in the summer months (this will cause the plant to become sunburned ). Tillandsias love direct sun (November – March). Tillandsias may be grown in the house directly in front of a window. Fresh moving air is advisable, but remember, the most important care need is bright filtered light.

Beware – Trees, overhangs and window tinting can rob your plants of needed light. Place plants no further away than 3 feet in front of a bright window.

Water

Thoroughly wet your Tillandsia 2-3 times per week; more often in a hot, dry environment; less often in a cool, humid one. Plants should be given enough light and air circulation to dry in no longer than 4 hours after watering. Spray misting is insufficient as the sole means of watering but may be beneficial between regular waterings in dry climates to increase the humidity. Under-watering is evidenced by an exaggerating of the natural concave curve of each leaf.

Air Circulation

Following each watering, Tillandsias should be given enough light and air circulation to dry in 4 hours or less. Do not keep plants constantly wet or moist.

Temperature

Optimum temperature range for tillandsias is 50 – 90 degrees F.

Fertilizer

Use Bromeliad fertilizer (17-8-22) twice a month. It is GREAT for blooming and reproduction! Other water-soluble fertilizers can be used at 1/4 strength (Rapid Grow, Miracle-Grow, etc.) if Bromeliad fertilizer is not available.

Scientific Data Supporting the Use of Indoor Plants

As we move into the New Year, I thought it might be useful to highlight some of the research in support of using plants indoor. It is a compelling story that you can use to pick up new accounts or increase the number of plans on existing accounts.

Also, we donated money to Green Plants for Green Buildings a few years ago, and in return we received lots of beautiful, color brochures produced by Green Plants for Green Building that highlight the benefits of plants. We would be happy to give you some if you think you can use them. They are unbranded and should work great as marketing material for potential customers.

Scientific Data

  • A recent study by Dr. Lohr from Washington State University found that the subjects were 12% more productive when they worked in an environment with indoor plants versus no plants.
  • Researchers at the Agricultural University of Oslo found that subjects that worked in a building with indoor plants reported 20% less fatigue, 30% less headaches, 30% less sore/dry throats, 40% less coughs, and 25% less dry facial skin than subjects working in a building without indoor plants.
  • Plant-filled rooms were found to contain 50-60% fewer disease causing airborne mold and bacteria than rooms without plants according to Bio-Safe Incorporated.
  • An 8-month study completed by researchers at Texas A&M found that the subjects working in a building with indoor plants generated 15% more ideas (measure of innovation) than those subjects that worked in a building without plants.
  • The subjects in a study directed by Fengel et al. in 1990 rated the retail products on display 30% more favorably and were willing to pay 12% more for goods in an environment with plants than an environment without plants.

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