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    Home » Gardening

    Air Plants - Growing Epiphytes in Your Home

    February 6, 2022 by Patti Estep 4 Comments

    Air plant in a shell

    Learn about growing epiphytes in the home. These air plants derive much of their water and nutrient needs from the air and surroundings.

    Several epiphytes such as a staghorn fern, tillandsia, and a orchid in a collage.

    Ever since I created Kokedama, I began to think about growing other air plants. Also known as Epiphytes, they are those plants that receive their nourishment, i.e. water and nutrients from the air, and other surroundings. However, Epiphytes are not parasites. They grow on the host plant for support only.

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    Kokedama orchid hanging in a window.

    Growing Epiphytes

    Take a look at this orchid from the Kokedama project I made last year. It is doing well and getting ready to bloom again. Look at how the roots have made their way out of the moss ball.

    Mini-orchid in a blue pot.

    Here's another mini orchid growing in a pot. It also has a couple of "aerial roots" coming up and out of the pot. This is typical for orchids. In tropical rain forests of South America, you can see orchids growing off the trunks of trees. Orchids' fleshy roots allow them to absorb and store water. 

    Both of these orchids are phalaenopsis orchids. Most orchids are epiphytic but not all. You'll notice that orchids are planted with bark medium and not potting soil.

    Foot part of the staghorn fern

    Another epiphyte that I recently purchased is a staghorn fern. Here's a look at the staghorn fern when I first purchased it.

    They have two types of leaves or fronds. Basal fronds (see in the middle) that cover and shield the root system and foliar fronds, sometimes referred to as "antler fronds."

    Staghorn fern mounted on the wall.

    Later I mounted the staghorn fern to hang on the wall like it would in the wild. Mounting a staghorn fern is easy to do and makes a beautiful statement in the home. 

    Air plant Tillandsia in bloom in a large shell.

    Finally, the most common of the group is Tillandsia. These are the guys you see sitting in a nursery with no roots or soil of any kind. Here's a pretty blooming Tillandsia that I photographed at my sister's place in Florida with my iPhone. It looks so pretty in this shell they found on the beach.

    I think the biggest issue with growing these guys is the moisture in the air.  Many say you can mist them from time to time. You can also set out trays of water with pebbles to help release moisture into the air. However,  I usually give all my houseplants a weekly soak, and that seems to work well for the epiphytes too. Sometimes during the winter, they look a little tired but they perk back up in the spring.

    Patti signature

    Want More? Here are a few great articles from some of my gardening friends about the care of air plants:

    How to Grow Air Plants - Empress of Dirt
    Caring for Air Plants (Tillandsia) - House of Hawthornes
    Get Creative with Air Plants - Our Fairfield Home and Garden

     

     

     

     

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Eldred Steinkopf

      February 23, 2017 at 9:57 pm

      Thank you so much for including me! I am honored!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 24, 2017 at 7:09 am

        Hi Lisa,

        You are very welcome. Thank you for sharing!
        Patti

        Reply
    2. Carole West, Garden Up Green

      February 20, 2017 at 8:07 am

      I was told the soaking is the key even if you don't live in humid climates which is apparently suppose to be great for Tillandsia. I love orchids and the Kokedama is wonderful. Enjoy seeing follow ups to previous posts encourages me to give it a try. I plan to have orchids again one day. Waiting until after our Tiny House project and maybe then I can incorporate some kind of peaceful spot in my future home.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 20, 2017 at 8:18 am

        Hi Carole,

        I think an orchid or two would be just the trick for a new space in your new haven.
        Have a great week!
        Patti

        Reply

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