Are you curious about the growth rate of your air plant and wondering “How fast do air plants grow?” If yes, then you are at the right place. In this article, we are sharing the details about the growth pattern and lifecycle of these unique plants.
These plants are very slow-growing and need several years to mature. Yes, you hear it right! Wait for 3 to 4 years for your soil-less plants to bloom after which they will die.
Leaving behind are their pups or baby plants which carry the legacy and grow to form new air plants. Want to know more? Please keep reading to know more about “How quickly do air plants grow?”
What Are Air Plants?
Before proceeding towards the details, let us have an introduction. These unique peeps came from the region of Northern Mexico and some areas of the USA. Belonging to the infamous genus Tillandsia, they grow without needing any soil.
They use their roots to anchor to the nearby supports like plants or rocks. While the long-spidery leaves function to absorb moisture directly from the air.
The size of these plants varies from species to species ranging from a few inches to several feet. The soil-less growth, easy-to-care nature, and unique appearance made these initially infamous peeps a popular trend in modern indoor plantations.
How Fast do Air Plants Grow?
Are you not seeing any increase in the size of your air plant besides months of care? Well, don’t worry. It is just normal. Air plants are generally known to be slow-growing. On average, a common plant can get about one to 3 years to attain its mature size. Moreover, some of them can take even longer i.e. around 5 years.
Besides, there are still a few Air plant species that grow relatively faster than the others. In short, there are bright chances your Air Plants will mature, bloom and produce offspring in the first year. Howbeit, some of them will show relatively slower progress. In this case, patience is the key!
All you have to do is to be consistent in suitable and proper care. And, you will eventually see fruitful results in the form of a mature and blooming Air Plant.
Factors of Air Plant Growth Rate
The growth rate of the Air Plant varies depending upon some factors. Let us have a look in detail.
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Region of growth:
The Air plants belonging to dry and dusty deserts are known as Xerophytes. On the other hand, the Mesic ones grow in humid forests and high humidity. As a general classification, the dessert Tillandsia growing without much water are slow growers in comparison to the moisture-loving Mesic Air Plants.
Examples:
Among a few faster-growing Mesic air plants, we would like to include the T. eranthos, T. brachycaulos, T.ionatha, T.stricta.
On the other hand, T.capitata, T. fasciculate tropiflora, and T. harrisii are examples of the slower-growing Air Plants. T. xerographica is one of the slowest growing Tillandsia. It takes years to get mature and reproduce. You will be amazed to know that a Xerographica Tillandsia can be no more than 5 inches in about 3 to 5 years.
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Method of Growth:
The growth rate also depends upon the mode of growth. A seedling grown from Tillandsia seeds grows slower as compared to the plants developed from Air plant offsets. These products of propagation usually get mature and bloom within the initial few years.
How to Make Air Plants Grow Faster?
Now you know that you do not need to worry about the slow growth of the Air Plant. Let us have an outline about how to boost the growth of your Tillandsia Air Plant.
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Suitable Care:
The best way to keep a plant happy is to provide it with its natural or closest to the natural growth habitat. For this, you need to know and understand the condition of natural factors of that region. These factors include sunlight, water, soil, and humidity.
As mentioned above, the Tillandsias can be broadly divided into Mesic and Xeric Plants. Mesic ones prefer more humidity, frequent watering, and lower light levels. On the other hand, Xeric ones can withstand minor droughts along with bright light.
How to water an Air Plant?
Majority of the Tillandsias like frequent watering. Once or twice a week is generally a good frequency on warmer days. Also, make sure the plant has good air circulation around it. Also, it should dry properly before you water again.
When we talk about watering, over-watering kills more Air plants than under-watering does. So, make sure you are never over-watering your Tillandsia.
If you want to check, signs like brown foliage and slimy bottom indicate an over-watered Air Plant. To avoid this issue, experts suggest using spray water bottles. This watering technique is much better than soaking or drenching your air plant.
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Fertilizer:
Along with frequent watering and dappled sun, fertilizer doses can also boost growth. Use a suitable fertilizer in mild concentrations to fertilize once a month. Air Plant fertilizers are usually liquid and are readily available in local markets and online stores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Air Plants grow and get bigger?
Yes! Although at a very slow rate, these plants do grow. However, the mature size of the plant depends upon the species. It may grow up to a few inches to seven feet long, depending upon the species. So, you need to know the exact species and its growth capacity.
How fast do Air Plants multiply?
The multiplication rate depends upon the nature of the species. Some of them start reproducing after a year. Alternatively, others take around 3 years or even more to produce baby plants.
How long do Air Plants live?
Tillandsias are perennial plants. It means they typically live for two or more years. As an estimate, they usually live for two to five years. The exact lifespan of the plant varies among different species.
How long do Tillandsia blooms last?
Flowers of these unique peeps usually last for about two to three weeks. For your information, wetting the flowers shortens their life. So, make sure you skip the flowers while spraying your Air Plant.
Summary
Tillandsias are a unique genus of plants that grow without rooting into the soil. Their roots get attached to nearby supports giving them the common name, Air Plants. Besides this, these plants grow relatively slower. This makes the Tillandsia owners wonder “How fast do Air Plants grow?”.
An average Air Plant can take a year to mature, bloom and reproduce. Meanwhile, many others take much longer, like around 3 to 5 years. So, if you see your Air plant showing slow growth, just relax. All you have to do is to be patient while providing consistent and suitable care.
The best way to boost the growth rate of the plant is to mimic its natural environment. This includes suitable regular watering and dappled sun. Moreover, a monthly dose of suitable fertilizer is another good way to boost the growth rate and flowering of your Air Plant.
We would be happy to see the pictures of your Air Plants. Feel free to ask any queries. Happy Planting!
