12 Lovely Types of Air Plants that Bring Charm to Your Home
Seeking out decorative plants that don’t require much care? Air plants would be the right choice. What are air plants? Also called tillandsia, they are commonly grown without the presence of soil. That’s why they belong to epiphyte, plants that grow on a tree stem and don’t require soil.
Their size is relatively tiny making their roots less visible. Their varieties are abundant. Here are 12 types of air plants in nature to choose from.
1. Tillandsia ionantha
Tillandsia ionantha is one of the popular air plant varieties. People care very much for the plants as they have one of a kind colors. They are not only strong but also resistant to any condition of their surroundings. The elongated leaves turn pink and red making the epiphyte adorable.
The silvery foliages remarkably match with their purple flowers. The height of the plants reaches up to 10 centimeters tall. Water them once in a week.
2. Tillandsia aeranthos
Tillandsia aeranthos is characterized by silver-blue leaves that look scaly. They always grow upward and have a sharp shape at end section. Native to South America (from Brazil to Paraguay), the species comes with a variety of shapes as well as hybrids.
Once this air plant blooms, you will get stunned by its blossoms highlighting the shade of purple and pink. You can place it in a small vase full of sand or rock. It’s such a chic centerpiece of your room.
3. Tillandsia Maxima
To lend color of your patio, adding Tillandsia maxima would be a perfect idea. Compared to other air plants relatively requiring partial sun, this variety has an exception.
Don’t you know, it can survive under the strong sun exposure? It also produces multiple blossoms at one time. The focal point of the flower is nothing else but its duo colors showcasing the elegance of purple and pink color. Before blooming, the leaves turn coral-red.
4. Tillandsia Xerographica
What makes Tillandsia xerographica spellbinding is its look high in fashion. The epiphyte plant comes with broad leaves covered by silvery-grey shade. Besides, the foliages are tapered tip and narrowly curling. Originating from El-Salvador and Guatemala, it goes with a spiral rosette.
Interestingly, the blossom can be towering and reaches up to 3 feet tall or even more. It thrives well within temperatures ranging from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius.
5. Tillandsia cyanea
Unlike the blossom of other air plants, the flower of Tillandsia Cyane is way larger, making it become a center of attention. Also known as the pink quail plant, the plant remains favored.
The blossom is comprised of pink bracts fanning out and an emerging purple flower. When you grow it indoors, it’s essential to water the plant on a regular daily basis.
6. Tillandsia andreana
At a glance, Tillandsia andreana looks like a sea urchin with pretty long hair. The elongated, thin leaves protrude from the center into all sides. They can grow from three to four inches. In nature, the plant that is originating from Colombia grows in the cliff side. It generates a bright red flower of which a tubular shape.
The best growing medium is a piece of bark hanging. It needs partial sun and regular watering. Use a spraying method instead of the direct one.
7. Tillandsia aeranthos bergeri
To add the charm of your spring moment, presenting Tillandsia aeranthos surely is the best idea. The famed decorative plant is pretty similar to the tropical pineapple plant – yet with thinner version. It has elongated, evergreen, tapered leaves with spiky blossom.
You must love the beauty of the plant as it points out the grace of blue and pink colors. This plant is reaching up to 9 inches regarding height, so it doesn’t require high maintenance.
8. Tillandsia brachycaulos
One of the colorful air plants that are perfect for houseplant is Tillandsia brachycaulos. The unique part of this epiphyte is when its long hardy foliages fan out from the growing point.
When you find the green leaves turn red, it indicates that it gets ready to bloom. It has another hybrid named brachycaulos x concolor. This sort doesn’t change regarding color. The essential treatment that you need to pay attention is air circulation.
9. Tillandsia kolbii
While the leaves of other air plants tend to shoot out from the growing center, this variety does in reverse. They grow upright like a bunch of celery does.
The light green leaves are dotted with grey fuzz making the plant more attractive. The height ranges from 2 to 3 inches tall. Before the blooming time, they usually turn pink. Aside from the leaves, this epiphyte comes with a classy look, purple flower.
10. Tillandsia bulbosa
For those whose looking for uncommon hanging air plants; you can’t miss out on Tillandsia bulbosa. As its name suggests, this attention-grabbing floral species go with bulbous roots. The protruding, narrow hardy leaves look like some tentacles of a sea creature.
That’s why this air plant is so unique. Interestingly, the leaves’ color turns red or purple just before the blooming time. In nature, the bulbosa has a mutual bond with the ants.
11. Tillandsia cacticola
This kind of air plant might be one of the rarest ones. It’s because the cultivation of Tillandsia cacticola is relatively hard. It turns out it doesn’t generate multiple offsets. Some branches flock one stem, and each branch is teeming with finger-shaped lavender flowers. When it comes to the leaves, they are found to be silvery green.
12. Tillandsia loliacea
If you love the small version of air plant flower, never miss out on Tillandsia lolicea. Interestingly, this epiphyte never gets taller than one and a half inches. In the brief look, it might look like Aloe vera yet in a small size. It frequently lives in a clustered way on a specific plant like terrariums where the plant absorbs some water from it.
In a word, there are varied types of air plants to opt for. Each has its own grace and uniqueness. Have you decided which one belongs to your favorite?
