To remove the pups, they should be at least 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the mother plant. Hold both mother and pup at their bases and gently twist in a downward motion. If this is hard to do, you may have to cut down as close to the mother as possible to get rid of the pup. Don’t throw away the mother plant just yet; as long as she’s alive, she will keep giving you more pups. Often taking several years after blooming before she finally dies. Learn about about separating air plant pups on our blog.
Our air plant displays on cork bark come with the easiest to take care of plants. You’ll love them!
Tillandsias can grow almost anywhere: on rocks, in seashells or on coral, in ceramics or pottery, or stuck to wood. Avoid pressure treated lumber that is impregnated with copper. Whenever you plan what to do with your plant, don’t forget that you need to be able to water it and put it somewhere where it will get enough light.
Try not to put Tillandsias in containers that hold water, they need to dry out. If you do put the plant in something that can hold water, let the extra water drain away after you water the plant. The same thing applies when mounting your plant. Do not surround your plant with moss. It will hold too much water and will rot your plant.
You can use glue, wire, fishing line, twist ties, nails or staples. Nails and staples can only be used on plants with a woody stolon or with sufficient roots. Do not staple your plant on its fleshy parts as it will kill it. Hot glue or a waterproof glue like E-6000 should work. Give the glue five seconds to cool down. Do not not use superglue or copper wire as these will kill your plant.
With their sculptural shapes and ability to grow without soil, air plants (Tillandsia species) have surged in popularity as unique houseplants. But how long do these intriguing epiphytes actually live?
An individual air plant may only live for a couple years, but the plant can produce offsets called “pups” that continue the life cycle indefinitely With proper care, you can enjoy air plants for many years to come
Below I’ll cover everything about the air plant life cycle, including:
- Typical lifespan of individual plants
- Growing air plants from seeds vs pups
- Maximizing lifespan through care
- Blooming and reproduction
- Signs of decline
- Caring for generations of air plants
Understanding the growth stages and lifespan of your Tillandsia will help you provide the best care for a long and healthy life!
What’s the Average Lifespan of an Air Plant?
On average, an individual air plant will live for 2 to 5 years. However, lifespan can vary quite a bit based on these factors:
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Species: Certain Tillandsia species are naturally longer lived, like T. xerographica. Fast growing types like T. bulbosa may only live 12-18 months.
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Propagation method: Air plants grown from seed take much longer to mature and have shorter lifespans, around 1-3 years. Plants propagated from pups enjoy the longest lifespans of 3-5+ years.
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Growing conditions: Optimal indirect light, ambient humidity, ventilation and watering will maximize lifespan. Poor conditions lead to shorter life.
With proper care in ideal conditions, some air plant species can survive 5 years or longer. But on average, you can expect individual plants to live around 2-4 years.
Should You Grow Air Plants from Seeds or Pups?
Air plants can be propagated by seed or by planting offsets called “pups” that form on mature plants. Pups are by far the easier and faster option.
Seeds: Growing air plants from seed is challenging. Seeds are tiny and slow growing. It can take 3-5 years for plants to mature and flower when started from seed. Overall lifespan remains short at just 1-3 years.
Pups: Propagating from offsets results in larger, faster growing air plants with the longest lifespans between 3-5+ years. Pups begin life with a head start compared to seeds. Simply detach and root pup when it’s 1/3 the size of the mother.
So while possible to grow from seed, air plant pups should be used to produce robust, long-lived specimens suitable as houseplants. Pups carry on the legacy!
How to Maximize Air Plant Lifespan Through Proper Care
Give your Tillandsias the following care to support long, healthy lives:
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Bright indirect light: Air plants thrive with bright filtered sunlight from an east or west window. Rotate plants periodically.
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Good air circulation: Stagnant air promotes fungal disease. Allow air to flow around plants.
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Ambient humidity: Bathrooms and kitchens provide the humidity air plants love. Or mist plants daily.
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Watering: Soak air plants for 20-30 minutes weekly in room temperature water. Ensure they dry fully before returning to display.
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Fertilizer: Use a bromeliad or orchid fertilizer at 25% strength once a month in spring and summer.
By providing optimal growing conditions matched to your particular Tillandsia species, you can maximize their lifespan and enjoyment!
The Air Plant Life Cycle: Blooming, Pups and Seeds
The life cycle of air plants includes flowering, forming pups, producing seeds and eventually dying back. Here’s what to expect:
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Maturity: Most air plants bloom for the first and only time once mature, usually at 2-4 years old. Flowering signals the end stage of life.
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Blooming: The inflorescence (flower spike) emerges and opens attractive blooms in colors like white, pink or purple. Flowers last 2-6 weeks.
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Pups: Following flowering, plants put energy into forming offsets or “pups” at the base or in leaf axils. Mature pups can be removed and potted.
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Seeds: Some air plant species produce seeds following blooming. But seed propagation is difficult. Focus efforts on planting pups.
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Death: After flowering and producing next generation plants, the mother air plant slowly declines over 6-12 months. Leaves brown and dry as the plant dies back.
By understanding these life stages, you can anticipate needs like watering during flowering and know when to propagate new pups.
Signs Your Air Plant is Nearing the End of its Lifespan
How can you tell when your air plant is getting old and reaching the end of its natural life cycle? Here are some giveaway signs:
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Leaves progressively brown, dry and die back
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Little to no new growth emerges over time
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Plant fails to respond to improved care
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Faded, damaged appearance even in ideal conditions
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Plant flowers, signaling the final life stage
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Pups slow down or cease forming as nutrients decline
Catch declines early and propagate pups before the mother plant dies to continue enjoying air plants for years. Remove dead foliage as needed for a tidy appearance.
While individual plants eventually die off, you can grow future generations indefinitely from pups!
Caring for Multiple Generations of Air Plants
With proper propagation, a single air plant can produce enough pups to last for many generations if cared for correctly. Here are some tips:
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Root pups while still attached to the mother plant. Detach only when 1/3 grown.
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Stagger pup propagation over time instead of removing all at once.
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Grow multiple pups together as a clump for an attractive arrangement.
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Track pup lineages and document their unique care needs.
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Provide each generation with optimized conditions to maximize health.
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Time pup growth to replace dying or declining mature plants.
Put in place a system to continue growing future generations of air plants as older plants complete their life cycle. With a little planning, you can enjoy thriving Tillandsias for many years!
The lifespan of an individual air plant may be just a few years, but the plant’s legacy can live on indefinitely through proper propagation and care. Focus on maximizing health and start propagating pups well before mature plants decline. By caring for multiple generations, you can keep air plants in your home for life!
Try These Easy-Care Air Plants Today!
Caring for Your Air Plants
1. A 20-30 minute weekly soak is recommended for most air plant species with supplemental misting as needed.
2. Give them bright, indirect sunlight or consistent full-spectrum fluorescent home or office lighting.
3. Protect them from frosts as air plants prefer warm conditions between 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Never plant in soil. As long as the air inside is dry, you will need to submerge the plant in water for 7–10 days and mist it every few days in between soaks.
4. After you water the air plants, make sure they get enough light and air flow to dry in a few hours. Although air plants thrive in containers, its advisable not to showcase them in enclosed ones. Make sure they are completely dry before putting them back in a container that might make it hard for air to flow.
5. Giving your air plants the nutrients they need to grow will help them bloom and make pups once a month. Our one year supply of air plant fertilizer is available here or try our Ready-to-Use premixed solution.
Take the Air Plant Quiz
Discover which of the Tillandsia perfectly align with your lifestyle through our quiz!
Caring for Your Air Plants
Tillandsias grow differently than most other house plants, so they can be confusing to the beginner. They are really very hardy, and require much less attention than other house plants. The following simplifies the instruction but you can scroll down for much more specific information.
Air Plant Care Guide // Garden Answer
FAQ
How often should I water air plants?
What is the life cycle of an air plant?
How do I know if my air plant is still alive?
How long do air plants live?
Air plants are perennial plants with a life expectancy of 2 – 5 years, depending on the variety you are growing and the plant’s health. However, blooming indicates the end of the Air plant life cycle with several months to live. What Factors Impact the Life Expectancy of Air Plants? How the Air Plant was Propagated?
How long do air plants take to grow?
Depending on how your air plant was propagated, it will have a different lifespan. In general, it counts towards the full lifespan – since growing from seed will take much longer than from pups. If you grow your air plants from seed, it will take around 2-3 years for it to become a small plant. After this, it will take another 3-5 years to mature.
How long do air plants bloom?
Air plant blooms have a different lifespan – some lasting only few days to 2-4 weeks. However, some larger air plants’ blooms, such as t.xerographica, can last for much longer, for around a year. To make your air plant’s bloom last longer, make sure not to soak it or water it at all.
Can you grow air plants outside all year?
If you live in USDA Zone 9 or warmer, you can grow an air plant outdoors all year if you keep it dry during the winter. Air plants thrive in high humidity. If your home is particularly dry in winter, add a humidifier to the room holding the plants.