Tilly TLC

A fuss-free, easy-to-care-for plant suitable for the home or office? Yes please! Air plants are affordable and low maintenance particularly suitable for novice plant owners, but do you know what they need to really thrive? 

More commonly known as air plant, the Tillandsia is a genus comprising around 650 species of flowering plants that draw majority of their nutrients from the air around them, hence its name. Famous for being tough little plants that are extremely easy to care for, demand for air plants has increased exponentially over the recent years. 

Despite requiring little maintenance, air plants do still need some TLC to keep them healthy and thriving. Here are some tips on taking care of your air plant and the best ways to display them in your home.

Here are some things you should know about your Tillandsia (or Tillys, as they are affectionately called). While most Tillys do have roots, these roots, for the most part, act only as an anchor for the plants to latch onto whatever they are mounted on. 

Instead, they mainly get water through their leaves, which have tiny scales or hairs known as trichomes that help to trap water for absorption and protect the plant from harsh sunlight. These trichomes can be found on both the upper surface and underside of the leaves, giving them a silvery-green appearance with a fuzzy feel. 

Tillandsias typically mature and bloom within the life cycle of one plant, which means that once they have bloomed, the parent plant will die. However, they will produce young plants known as pups right after blooming, which should be removed from the parent plant only when they are at least one-quarter to half the size of the parent. 

Do not get rid of the parent plant right away after blooming, though! Parent plants can take months or even years to exhaust themselves. Depending on the species, some parents can produce between three to eight pups. It is even preferred by some air plant owners to allow the pups to grow to maturity in a cluster for aesthetic purposes.

A simple plant that is highly suitable for beginner plant owners, air plants generally need only a few things to grow well: Water, sunlight and good air circulation. Fertilisers are helpful, but not necessary for your air plant to grow healthily. 

One common misconception about air plants is that they do not require water to survive. Like all plants, water is in fact the most important requirement. Air plants are notoriously hardy and do not require daily watering. A general rule is to water your air plant a maximum of three times a week, adjusting the frequency in relation to the environment and the specific characteristics of the Tillandsia species you own. 

Air plants can be either watered through misting (or spraying) and soaking. As a broad guide, soak your plant for around half an hour once each month with occasional misting. If you notice your plant turning brown at the tips or starting to curl inwards into itself, these are strong signs that your plant needs another soak! 

One very important rule when it comes to keeping air plant is not to let it stay wet. An air plant that remains wet for longer than a few hours after watering may develop wet rot or mold, characterised by dark spots on its leaves and the plant’s base feeling soft or mushy to the touch. To avoid this, gently shake your air plant to get rid of any excess water after soaking, and place it upside down or on the side until it dries completely. 

Given that it is found naturally in hotter regions, Tillandsia survives well in warm climates and generally prefers bright light. Be careful to avoid placing your Tilly in direct sunlight for too long as it may cause leaf burn on the plant. 

Like humans, different air plants have different preferences for sunlight. How do you know how much sunlight your plant favours? For the most part, greener Tillandsia prefer brighter spots compared to silver-leafed ones. If your Tilly is kept indoors in an apartment, we recommend placing it in a balcony or near a window with a light-filtering mesh to keep direct sunlight out.

A splash of green never fails to instantly brighten up the home, and Tillys are versatile plants that can be displayed in a multitude of ways that show off their best sides. Some popular ways to present your air plant are:

There has been a rising trend for placing Tillandsia into glass orbs that hang from the ceiling. While that is indeed a stunning way to display your plant, ensure that the terrarium has enough holes in it to encourage good air circulation for your Tilly. Other methods include draping it on a wire trellis or bamboo racks mounted on a wall. Avoid copper wires; aluminum would be preferred.

Air plants do not require soil to grow, but you can still put those empty planters to good use! The air plant makes a pretty picture balanced on top of a colourful pot or vase.

Mount it on a rock 

You can mount air plants using floral glue, which is harmless to plants and can be purchased from nurseries and gardening shops. More creative plant owners even use large shells or bits of wood to display their Tillys. Use thread or clear fishing line to secure the plant to the surface.

Want to learn more gardening tips and tricks? Join our Community in Bloom (CIB) programmes to meet fellow plant enthusiasts and help work towards Singapore’s vision of City in a Garden.  

To learn more about the these and other interesting plants, check out NParks Flora&FaunaWeb, which features cultivated and native plants, as well as a variety of animal life sighted in our parks and nature spaces.

Text and photos by Tammy Lee