Air plants are pretty fascinating – unlike other plants, Tillandsia requires no soil to grow. This makes them a versatile and beautiful addition to any indoor space. However, just because they don’t need soil doesn’t mean they don’t require special care. If you find your plant is looking less than stellar, use this guide to troubleshoot and learn how to revive an air plant.
Got a dying or dead air plant? If your air plant is looking dull, a bit brown, or limp, there’s usually one culprit: watering! In fact, these signs could mean that it is very thirsty! To revive a sick air plant that has been a tad neglected, shipped from far, far away, or is just looking a little under the weather, this air plant care guide will show you how to perk it back up!
Do I Have a Dead Air Plant?
Just like anything, there is a point of no return when it comes to air plant health. That being said, people often think they have a dead air plant when in reality the plant is just struggling a bit but can easily be nursed back to health.
In most cases, air plants are not truly dead, but instead in the process of dying. This means that with a little TLC, your Tillandsia can perk back up and even begin to thrive!
How to Revive an Air Plant
A healthy air plant should have leaves that range from green to gray. When you pick up the plant, it should stay intact. In other words, on a healthy air plant, leaves should not fall
There are several things you can do to revive a plant. Here are the steps I take to help my air plants regain their health.
Give the Air Plant an Overnight Soak
The first place I always start when I’m reviving an air plant is with watering. Remember, air plants don’t require soil, but that does not mean they don’t need water. Just like every other living being, water is absolutely essential to air plants!
Since air plants do not have soil, that means they have to absorb moisture and that all-important water through their leaves rather than a root system. There have been too many times I have heard that garden centers recommend spritzing air plants with water a few times a week. In my experience, this is not enough water and will leave the plant thirsty. If this happens long enough, it will lead to a dead air plant, sadly!
How Long Should I Soak my Air Plant?
To ensure my air plants get their water requirements met, I give them an hour-long bath. In the warmer summer months, I do this weekly, and in the winter about every three weeks or so. I live in the rainforest, so I like to use rainwater. However, you can use tap water as well! Just leave the water out for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to evaporate.
Then, simply remove the air plant from whatever container it is in, and submerge it in a bowl of water. The bowl should be large enough that the plant can submerge totally. Leave it in the bath for an hour or so, then take it out. Give your air plant a few gentle shakes while upside down to make sure the water isn’t pooling in its leaves. Then, put the plant back into its home. It’s that easy!
For troubleshooting and for even more information on proper water, read this article I put together about how to water air plants.
Make Sure Your Air Plant has Air!
This may seem obvious, but your air plant needs oxygen to live! There are many images floating around of air plants stored in a closed jar that make me shake my head – the plant cannot survive in an airtight environment!
The solution is easy – you can still keep your cute jar terrarium, but make sure to leave the lid cracked or open so air can circulate freely.
Remove Dead Leaves
You’ll also want to remove any dead leaves from a sick air plant by gently tugging at them to see if they come off. If they remove easily, they are dead. If the whole plant falls apart when you do this, you’ve got a dead air plant that has already bit the dust, unfortunately.
However, if only a few leaves come off and the inside leaves are green and healthy-looking, your air plant is going to make it with the proper care!
Look at the Tips of Your Air Plant
If the tips of your air plant are turning brown, try using rainwater or unchlorinated water as described above. If you are not giving them chlorine but they are still turning brown, then your plant may not be getting enough water.
Give them an overnight bath, then make sure that you are bathing them more often.
What if my Air Plant Falls Apart?
If you have a green air plant that just falls apart, you’ve got a dead air plant on your hands. This probably occurred due to sitting in standing water too long, or it was not shaken off properly after bath time.
Read the section about watering again and you’ll surely have better luck with the next one!
I hope this guide helps you revive an air plant and keep your plant collection thriving! If you love air plants as much as I do, be sure to check out the articles below.
i always use rain water. i soak them once a week for about 30 mins. let them try out on a towel. shake them out up side down, when i have my flowered ones i make sure try not to get the flower to wet. i only spray the flowered plants instead of soaking them to prevent flower from getting wet as much as possible. then since it really hott right now i spray each one besides soaking twice a week. some more then others. seem some species dry out more quick then others. then after the flower dies . i have clipped the flower stem off and some ive kept intact seeing which would most likely help. cause i read some said clip. some siad dont clip. and i also read you really dont need to fertilize them if you use rain water all the time. i will be looking into getting fertilizer air plant spray soon though. just wandering if after they are done flowering if they supposed to look dried up and dead. also it says if its done flowering and you see a dead leaf to not pick it off which i havent . i have beeen leaving any dead leaves intact. but not once have a seen a sign of pupping . some have been over 5months. nothing..
Hi Amy Marie, they are very slow growers (mostly) and it can take quite a while for pups. Keep going. It sounds like you are doing great!
Thanks! I thought I was watering enough by spraying them and didn’t understand why thry all looked so dry, brittle and brown.
You’re welcome!
My adult air plant has brown spots on some leaves with holes in the middle.
Is it some kind of bug eating the leaves ?
Hi Denisr, it sure sounds like bugs but I haven’t seen that myself. Could you take it into a garden center for identification and treatment options?
Hi Stephanie, The centre of my Bulbosa (Jellyfish) browned and rotted – I’ve cut the brown off and wonder if the leaves might survive if I soak and shake them off every couple weeks? The inside of the leaf where cut looks viable.
Hi Ashlyn, sadly, the plant will not survive from just the leaves. :(
Hello, thank you for this very helpful information. I don’t know if you are stilling replying to posts, but if you are here’s my issue, I’d appreciate any help:
I have an airplant that I got about 1.5 years ago. I only gave it water once throughout the time I’ve had it, because it was glued into a glass bulb and made it very difficult to get out. I forgot about it for a while, but later found it and the glass bulb around it shattered and I was able to get the plant out. I thought for sure this plant was long gone, having not had water in over a year, but I was surprised to see that it was still it’s living-color, with a few brown tips, but for the most part it looked the same, just very thirsty.
I’m currently giving it a thorough overnight soak, do you think this plant still has a chance at living, or am I wasting my time?
Hi Anthony, Amazing! That plant is a survivor (we hope). It will become clear very quickly if it will make it or not when you have finished the hydrating bath. It will either perk up not. I wonder if the glass bulb allowed it to hold enough moisture to stay alive? I have a small terrarium like this and I never water it although the plant inside is thriving. I haven’t tried this with air plants because, by all accounts, they need lots of air. Please keep us updated!
Hi thanks for getting back to me so quickly, I appreciate it! So far the air plant has changed colors a little bit while it’s been in the water. I have to note, it doesn’t look like the air plants in the photos you have. It’s a little bit thinner leaves, and they are white/green and they look hairy. I tried tugging on a few of the dead leaves, and they don’t want to come off easily. Pulling back some of the dead leaves, I see a healthy green color towards the center. I’m hopeful! That would be amazing if it survives!
Tomorrow I’ll post pictures on imgur and comment the link here and hopefully you can let me know if you think it will make it. Thank you so much. Have a lovely night
Hi Stephanie. The overnight soak went well I think. I uploaded pictures of my air plant, please let me know the good/bad news. Thank you so much for your time. I’m hoping for good news.
Here is the link: https://imgur.com/a/CvHWu
Hi Anthony, it looks pretty good! It’s really hard to tell but if the leaves start falling off easily and it turns brown then it’s done for. But it looks like there is a lot of new growth in the center and the color seems good. I have many that look like this with curled leaves and it is just part of their charm. You should know for sure in about a week I would guess. Have fun with the little guy!