Air pineapple cultivation methods and precautions

As long as the environment is suitable, it is not difficult to care for air plants . When caring for air plants, the most important thing is to maintain a warm environment. The suitable temperature range is 18~28℃. Let’s learn about the cultivation methods and precautions of air plants.

1. Suitable places for placing air plants

Air plants should not be planted in the soil. They can be placed on wood, branches , or anywhere that can secure the plant.

2. Soak in clean water

The best way to hydrate the air plant is to soak the entire plant in clean water (shallow water). This not only increases the humidity, but also allows it to replenish water quickly. Usually soak it once every one or two weeks or two or three weeks, each time for 5 minutes. The specific frequency depends on the local air humidity and maintenance environment. If there is sufficient sunlight and the air is dry, soak it every one or two weeks; if the air is humid and there is insufficient light, soak it once half a month or a month.

3. Water spray and humidity

In addition to soaking the entire air plant in clean water regularly, you should also spray it with water frequently, especially in dry environments, once every one or two days to allow the moisture on the leaves to evaporate quickly. If ventilation is poor and watering is frequent, the moisture on the leaves cannot evaporate in time, which can easily cause the entire plant to rot. To care for air plants, it is necessary to maintain a certain air humidity, and the relative humidity should be above 40%.

4. Sunlight requirements

Air plants need bright diffuse light and more than two to three hours of soft light a day, such as morning or evening sunlight, to grow well. Avoid direct sunlight to prevent the leaves from being sunburned, especially avoid direct sunlight at noon and in the afternoon. At the same time, do not place it in an overly shaded place. If there is no light at all, you need to supplement it with an appropriate amount of light.

5. Pest and disease control

There will basically be no pest problems when caring for air plants. If planted outdoors, regular inspections are required. If aphids are found, simply rinse them with clean water. The most important thing to watch out for is root rot, which is a fungal disease that often occurs when there is too much water. To avoid long-term residual moisture on the leaves, increase ventilation and provide scattered light. Once the air plant is infected with root rot, it is usually difficult to save it.

6. Pruning and propagation

There is no need to frequently prune air plants to maintain their maintenance. Just clean up the dry and yellow leaves in time to keep ventilation between the plants. As long as it is properly maintained, the air plant will grow many small side buds, which can be used for division reproduction. Especially after flowering, many small side buds will grow next to the mother plant. When the small side buds grow to 1/3 or half the size of the mother plant, they can be separated, placed in a suitable place, and maintained normally.

7. Fertilizer use

There is no need to fertilize air plants frequently when caring for them. Excessive fertilization can cause fertilizer damage and plant rot. You can choose special fertilizer for ornamental pineapples or general water-soluble fertilizer , dilute the concentration to 1/5 of the usual concentration, and spray it directly on the leaves with a pressure sprayer to form a mist of water-soluble fertilizer. Generally, spray every 3 to 4 weeks during the growing season, and stop fertilizing when the temperature is too high or too low.

8. Temperature requirements

Air plants prefer a warm environment all year round and grow fastest when the temperature is between 16 and 28 degrees Celsius. When the temperature is below 10℃, growth will stop. Too low a temperature will cause frostbite. It is safer to keep the minimum temperature above 7℃. If the temperature is higher than 32℃, move it to a cool place.

If you can't grow air plants well, you need to start with the home environment. The main problems include poor ventilation, low humidity and inappropriate light, and the second problem may be temperature. Air plants are suitable for growing in a warm and moist environment all year round, and the maintenance environment needs to have good ventilation. If the indoor ventilation is poor, you can use a small fan to assist. If you find that the leaf tips are dry and yellow, you need to check whether it is due to over-watering, dry air or inappropriate light, and make timely adjustments.