Air plants are unique from other houseplants — theyre part of the epiphytes family, which means they dont need soil to survive. However, they can turn brown for many different reasons. Where and how the discoloration appears will help you determine why your plant is suffering. Depending on if their brown leaves feel limp or crispy, you can decide if you need to give them more or less water or sunlight.
Air plants absorb all the nutrients and moisture they need to live through the air. This makes it even easier to see any problems occurring with their health since theres no potting mix to cover features like roots. Theyre a simple houseplant to take care of once you get the hang of it, but since they dont have soil, you cant water them the way you would your other plants. Air plants need to be soaked in a bowl of water at least once a week for 20 minutes, then they can return to the sunny spot they call home. Although, if you dont find the perfect place for your air plant and give them the proper amount of moisture, they will show you how upset they are through their foliage.
Air plants also known as tillandsias are unique and low maintenance houseplants that can add a tropical vibe to any space. With their sculptural shapes and minimal root systems, they make for intriguing companions to more traditional potted plants. However, like any houseplant, air plants can develop issues. One common problem is an air plant turning brown at the base or on the lower leaves.
What causes the base of air plants to turn brown? How can you restore their health and prevent base browning in the future? This article will cover the most likely reasons for air plant base browning and what you can do to fix it.
Common Causes of Browning at the Base
There are a few key culprits when a previously healthy air plant starts displaying browning at the base of the leaves or in the center:
- Overwatering
- Underwatering
- Sunburn
- Pest damage
- Disease
- Physical injury/rot
Identifying the specific cause is vital so you can take the right corrective actions.
Overwatering
Excess moisture is a frequent offender when air plant bases turn brown Air plants are adapted to dry conditions and their trichome hairs efficiently absorb ambient humidity and moisture from the air However, sopping wet bases lead to root and basal rot. The affected tissues die and become brown or black.
Overwatering damage generally originates at the base then spreads up the leaves. Look for dark mushy translucent sections in addition to browning. Reduce watering frequency and amount to resolve overwatering problems.
Underwatering
While air plants despise wet feet, severe underwatering can also result in basal browning and curled leaves. When deprived of moisture the oldest lower leaves dry up and perish first. Then browning progresses up the plant.
To remedy underwatering, resume regular soakings and mistings to restore moisture. Trim off any completely crisped leaves. The plant should bounce back.
Sunburn
Air plants like bright, indirect or dappled sunlight. However, too much direct sun can scorch the leaves, especially down low near the base. Adjust the air plant’s position to avoid afternoon sun beaming directly on it.
Gently remove any sunburned parts. Apply a light foliar fertilizer spray to stimulate regrowth. Keep the air plant in its proper light level and the new growth should fill back in.
Pest Damage
Scale, mealybugs and other sap-sucking pests can infest air plants and cause browning damage. Insect infestations often start on older lower leaves then spread up. Look for clusters of bumps, white fuzz or sticky residue.
Isolate and treat infested plants with insecticidal soap spray. Remove badly damaged leaves. Improve air circulation and growing conditions to prevent future pest issues.
Disease
Various fungal and bacterial diseases can attack air plants, typically entering through the base. These include blights, molds and soft rots. Affected basal tissue rots and browns or blackens. There may be fuzz or ooze.
Promptly trim off diseased growth. Disinfect tools after each cut. Improve air flow around plants. Discard badly infected plants to prevent spread. Use a suitable fungicide or bactericide if needed.
Physical Injury
Direct physical damage to the base such as crushing, bruising, cuts or scrapes can also instigate browning. This makes the plant prone to opportunistic microbes and moisture loss. Avoid physically handling the base when possible.
If injured, trim back damaged parts and let it dry and callous over. Apply a dilute seaweed fertilizer solution to aid recovery. Be careful not to overwater while it heals.
How to Prevent Base Browning
With proper air plant care techniques, you can avoid many common problems leading to basal browning:
- Water thoroughly but don’t soak too long. Allow to dry upside down.
- Provide bright, indirect light. No hot direct afternoon sun.
- Ensure good air circulation around plants.
- Inspect regularly for pests and promptly treat any found.
- Isolate plants showing signs of disease. Don’t overcrowd.
- Fertilize occasionally with dilute seaweed solution.
- Allow drying between waterings and avoid oversaturation.
- Give a cool winter dormancy period if needed.
Catching any issues early maximizes the chances of reviving affected air plants. Remove brown sections promptly to halt spread. With adjustments to care, your air plant should produce fresh new growth.
Caring for an Air Plant with Browning Base
If your air plant already has significant basal browning or rot, here are some care tips to help it recover:
- Cut off all brown, mushy parts back to healthy tissue. Sterilize tools.
- Allow the plant to dry out and callous over for several days before watering.
- Soak for shorter periods to prevent added moisture stress.
- Provide extra air circulation until healed.
- Hold off fertilizing until no longer actively rotting.
- Apply fungicide if needed for disease control.
- Avoid direct sun exposure which can worsen damage.
- Monitor for signs of improvement or worsening issues.
- Remove any weakened, non-recovering leaves.
- Resume normal care once plant is stabilized.
With prompt troubleshooting and care adjustments, even air plants with major base browning can often rebound. Just go slowly and closely monitor progress. Reduce watering until the plant stabilizes.
When to Take Further Action
If you’ve made the recommended corrections but the air plant’s base is still progressively browning and deteriorating, more intervention may be warranted:
- Consult with a houseplant expert for additional diagnostics.
- Consider trying an antimicrobial bath to control infection.
- Apply antioxidant solutions to damaged areas.
- As a last resort, behead and propagate the healthy top.
Rapidly worsening base rot likely signals a severe underlying issue necessitating strong treatment. Don’t hesitate to take more aggressive action if basic fixes fail.
With attentive care and prompt troubleshooting, your air plant can fully recover from minor base browning. Just monitor closely and adjust care to resolve the underlying causes. A little extra TLC will have your air plant looking lush and lively again in no time!
Distinguishing Between Normal and Un
Are they under or overwatered?
If youve noticed your air plants turning brown at the base, you may be overwatering them. Leaves will begin to call off, and the bottom of the plant may even turn black. Whats happening is that your air plant is rotting from all the excess moisture. The first thing you need to do is immediately stop watering it. Then use sanitized shears to trim off the discolored leaves since there is no way of saving them. By removing them, youre redirecting your plants energy from the foliage thats too far gone so the rest of it has a chance to recover. Lastly, move your air plant to a sunny location to encourage it to dry out. After two weeks, you should be able to resume regular watering. Just be sure that you shake off any excess moisture after soaking them.
Air plants can also turn brown when they need more water. To differentiate between the two problems, feel your plants leaves. If theyre crispy, youre underwatering them. You can increase soaks to two to three times a week. It may also be a humidity problem, depending on the time of year. The hot air from a heater in the winter lacks moisture and will dry out your plants. To fix this, you can add a humidifier to the room, mist your plants multiple times a week, or build a pebble tray under their container.
BEST TIPS | HOW TO SAVE YOUR UNDERWATERED AND OVERWATERED AIR PLANTS | TILLANDSIA CARE GUIDE
FAQ
Why is my plant turning brown at the base?
Browning leaves are typically caused by under watering, sunburn, or overwatering.
What does an overwatered air plant look like?
Overwatering air plants is bad news. It is the most common reason why they die. So if you see that their bases start to turn dark then the leaves fall out from the middle or if they have mushy roots, and yellowing leaves, it is necessary to take immediate actions to prevent any permanent damage that may occur.
How to tell if an air plant is rotting?
- Color: Healthy air plants typically have vibrant green leaves. If the leaves are turning brown or gray, this could indicate stress or death.
- Texture: Gently touch the leaves. They should feel firm and slightly fleshy.
- Leaves: Look for any signs of growth, such as new leaves emerging from the center.
Are brown leaves destroying your air plant?
But browning leaves will soon turn these unique, eye-catching plants into sorry specimens. ‘Don’t fret, however, as if you catch the damage early enough then you can help your air plant to recover,’ advises Lindsay Pangborn, plant expert at Bloomscape.
Why do air plants turn brown?
The leaves of an air plant can turn brown naturally due to aging, and these leaves are replaced by new ones that emerge from the center. Brown tips or crispy leaves can be a result of insufficient water. While mesic types need deeper watering around once a week, xeric types need it once every 10 days during summer. Do Air Plants Bloom?
Why are my houseplants turning brown?
While in spring and summer you will give many of your houseplants a little boost with a generic plant food or fertilizer, the manufacturer’s recommended dosage can be too much for air plants and be the cause of their leaves browning.
How do you revive a brown air plant?
The methods you use to revive a brown air plant will depend on the cause of the air plant turning brown in the first place. If the cause is overwatering, or inadequate drainage, as mentioned above, you should carefully cut away any brown leaves and allow the plant to dry out fully before watering again.
How do you know if an air plant is dying?
Over-fertilizing or overwatering your air plant would not help and will only exacerbate the issue. And if you come across brown tips or notice that your plant is drying, you can soak it in water for a couple of hours to revive it. While brown leaves are a major concern, yellow leaves also indicate dying leaves.
Why is my air plant turning black?
Another reason why your air plant might start turning black is because it has been freezing. If you leave your air plant outside in very cold weather, it will soon decline to the point that it will become black and soft, without a chance or revival. Most air plants prefer warmer temperatures ranging from 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit (16-27 Celsius).