It’s a... Tillandsia

WORDS BY MARTINE AAMODT HESS

Is it an alien or your new favourite plant? These tiny green beings with pointy tentacles may not actually be from Mars, but their abilities certainly seem otherworldly. The Tillandsias have been nicknamed ‘air plants’ because no soil is needed and they cling to just about anything. With this great potential for styling and easy care, there is no doubt they deserve a place in every plant parent’s indoor jungle and heart.

CARING STYLING SOURCING

“I love houseplants but I don’t have a green thumb. Many have come to my house to die, but the air plants just always survived,” says Sarah Navan, 30, who runs the Meath-based planter business S.N.A.P. Aside from their unique look, Sarah’s favourite thing about these plants is the maintenance, or rather, the lack thereof. “The less you care for it, the better. Find it a beautiful spot in your home and don’t worry about watering it every week,” the air plant enthusiast advises.

Although air plants require minimum care, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Firstly, these plants do not have a typical root structure that needs soil or take up water. Instead, they help the plant cling to the surface it sits on, while the leaves take up nutrients from the humidity in the air. Sarah recommends bright indirect sunlight and the occasional bath to keep the leaves from turning brown and crispy: “Every two weeks, soak your air plant in room temperature water for five to ten minutes. After soaking, gently shake excess water off and turn upside down to drain for a few hours. That’s it.” There are hundreds of species of air plants and just as many ways to style them. Place them in a seashell, on a crystal, or be inspired by Sarah who has turned her son’s old dinosaur toys into planters by painting them in golden hues and bright pinks to compliment the greenery.

A trendy approach is to house the air plants in geometric mobiles. Michelle Fidler, 37, owns the online shop Pickle Poppet Designs, which specialises in such mobiles. Her main tip for displaying these plants is to consider air supply. “Many terrariums are closed off to airflow, but this will be detrimental to your air plant’s health,” she says.

Michelle also emphasises that air plants on their own are highly decorative: “They are undeniably beautiful little oddities with their range of curly, spiky, furry or trailing leaves setting them apart from your usual house plants.” On a final note, Michelle adds: “And to top it off, they shoot bright tubular flowers from their middle and pop out little baby plants from their sides. How can you just not love that?” Only a few years ago, air plants were considered a rarity and some would travel as far as Holland to source them. Thankfully, air plant sales have soared, leading to a number of online nurseries for air plants, and a blossoming market on platforms like Etsy. In other words, you can rest assured and there is no need to cross any borders to secure yourself a soilless plant baby!