I’ve Had the Same Air Plants for 5 Years — Here’s Exactly How I Care for Them

1 comment Jun 24, 2025

Hello! My name is Rachel! I wanted to share my weekly care routine and tips for keeping air plants healthy. You may be asking yourself: who is Rachel and what can she teach me? Well, I've been a longtime supporter of Air Plant Shop, sourcing my collection exclusively from them over the years, and I’m proud to have maintained the same assortment of air plants for the past five years in my home in the suburbs of Chicago. During this time, my largest air plant, a large Tillandsia Xerographica, has produced three pups. If that doesn’t earn me some plant cred, I don’t know what will.

air plant tillandsia watering routine care

Read on to learn more about my air plant routine!

I use a variety of displays for my air plants, including a Heptahedron Geometric Glass Terrarium, Cork Bark, Ivory Ceramic Vases, and a Macrame Plant Hanger (not sold by Air Plant Shop). I often switch up the locations of my air plants so they can receive varying degrees of daily indirect sunlight. I prefer to display my air plants along my windowsill ledges – not just because it looks nice, but because they truly seem to thrive there!

My watering routine is actually quite simple – nothing elaborate, just consistent. At the end of the week, I fill up half of my sink with lukewarm tap water. I submerge all of my air plants, gently pressing them into the water to make sure they’re fully soaking. I make sure to flip my large Tillandsia Xerographica upside down so the leaves are fully immersed because air plants absorb water through their leaves – not their roots. Then I set a timer for 30 minutes. After the timer goes off, I remove each air plant from the sink, gently shaking off excess water. I place the air plants on clean hand towels to dry. Usually, I let them rest on the towels overnight to make sure they’re fully dry. The next day, I place them back on display and they are fresh for the new week.

To the right, you can see my most recent bloom. Look at that blushing! This bright and beautiful Tillandsia Ionantha is proof that regular and routine care of your air plants can help them grow and thrive for years to come.

My ultimate tip? Change up the location of your air plants on a regular basis! You can use different window sills and a variety of displays to really liven up your space. Air plants are a fun and easy way to decorate your home!