Air plants start out as slow growers that need your patience, love and care to bloom.
Now you’re either asking one of these questions, “How do I make them bloom?, “Is there a right way to nurture these air plants?” OR just waiting patiently for your Tillandsia to flower and wondering if you could do anything to hasten the process.
Let’s begin with some background check on the blooming process of air plants. Just like all flowering plants, they bloom at the beginning of their reproductive cycle. Here’s a fun fact for you; air plants bloom only once throughout their lifetime…amazing, right? They also produce different flowers which depend on their species. Most of these species produce beautiful flowers that come in diverse colors like pink, red, yellow and purple.
In the world of air plants, you’re sure to notice different bloom styles. For example, when the Capitata peach starts blooming, it’s pale pink in color with the flowers emerging from its center. In the case of the aeranthos and stricta, small buds tend to emerge from its center which later becomes larger and releases flowers when they open up. For some species, blooming lasts only a couple of days while others could last long up to some weeks.
Larger air plants like the caput-medusae and the xerographica have a longer cycle when it comes to blooming. They tend to grow large flower tracts known as “inflorescence” that can surprisingly be a foot tall or over for some species. The inflorescence contains the whole flower tracts which open up for the flowers to emerge with time. Some air plants have flower tracts that can last over a year.
After your air plants have completed their blooming cycle, you’re likely to notice ‘new growth’ off the sides, at the base or find them protected under leaves that are beginning to die off [so be careful when trimming your plants]. These are plantlets called “pups” which would mature later into adult air plants and repeat the growth cycle.
To hasten the growth stage after blooming, you can carefully cut off the flower tract that emerged from the air plant to quicken the offset stage. After blooming, air plants [depending on the species] would produce 1 to 3 offsets or pups on average. Once the offsets reach about 1/3 the size of the adult plant, you can snip them off or leave them [they would form a clump].
As long as your Tillandsia is healthy they would bloom in due time, this doesnt leave out the fact that they need to be cared for and have enough sunlight exposure for this to happen. You could also take advantage of diluted fertilizers to hasten the blooming process and the production of offsets or pups. For more tips on how to get your air plant to bloom, click here!
We haven’t forgotten your million dollar question, “Is there a right way to nurture these air plants?” Well, first things first, don’t ever stop watering your air plants! As expected, your blooming air plants would need a little more water than usual as the energy is needed for the flower and the production of offsets or pups. Although, when it comes to watering, you need to be careful to not get the flower wet too. Why? Because having the flower soaked in water would cause it to wilt or rot.
So, instead of soaking up your air plant while its blooming, you can mist using a spray bottle or hold under mildly running water to wet only the needed parts of the air plants.
Its important for your air plants to remain healthy and radiant, so, do well to look after them.
Even if your air plants haven’t started to bloom they’re still beautiful to behold, so relax and enjoy the journey.
Air plants also known as tillandsias are increasingly popular houseplants known for their otherworldly shapes and colors. When these plants bloom, they produce some of the most stunning inflorescences in the plant kingdom. However, the blooms are fleeting, leaving many wondering – do air plants die after blooming?
While the end of air plants’ blooming phase does signal the beginning of the end, understanding their full lifecycle shows they can continue living for months or years after With the right care, you can prolong their lifespan and even propagate new plants from them
The Growth Phase: Establishing a Strong Foundation
An air plant’s life begins like any other plant – as a seed. Once germinated, the seedling enters its growth phase, focusing all its energy on producing green leaves to soak up sunlight and moisture. This phase can last months or years depending on species and conditions.
During this time, it’s key to provide your air plant with proper care to help it establish a strong foundation for future flowering. Good lighting, water, circulation and occasional fertilization will spur lush, vibrant growth.
The Blooming Phase: A Brief Burst of Botanical Bliss
Once an air plant has reached maturity, it enters the blooming phase. This signals it has adequate resources and energy stored to focus on reproduction. The plant sends up a tall bloom stalk covered in bright, complex flowers designed to attract pollinators like birds, bees and bats. Blooms generally last between a few days and a few months.
This phenomenal effort takes a heavy toll on air plants. The blooming phase marks their reproductive peak after which they begin to decline. However, with good care, air plants can continue living for a considerable time after flowering.
The Offset Phase: A New Generation Springs Forth
Though individual air plants die after blooming, the species carries on through offsets. As blooms fade, plants put energy into forming pups or plantlets – miniature clones sprouting from the base or edges of mature plants.
Attached offsets rely on the parent plant while developing their own root systems. Once about a third the size of the parent, they can be gently removed and potted up to grow independently. A single plant may produce pups for months to years until it naturally expires.
Optimizing Post-Bloom Care for Longevity
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Maintain ideal conditions – Keep providing proper lighting, temperature, water and humidity even after blooms are gone. Avoid stressors that may accelerate decline.
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Allow offsets to develop – Don’t remove pups too early. Leave them to mature and get nutrients from the mother plant for as long as possible.
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Remove spent blooms – Snip off faded flower spikes so the plant doesn’t waste energy on them. But leave enough stalk to sprout offsets.
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Fertilize regularly – Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to provide nutrition for the parent plant and developing pups.
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Monitor for signs of decline – Wilting, yellowing or curling foliage indicate the plant is fading. Increase offsets’ chance of survival by removing them sooner.
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Propagate before it’s too late – Take off viable pups while the parent is still thriving to raise the healthiest new generation possible.
The Bittersweet Life Cycle of Blooming and Rebirth
While the end of air plants’ lives after flowering is inevitable, understanding their growth phases helps us appreciate their natural cycle. With proper care, these captivating epiphytes can delight us with their neon blooms and spritely pups for years before finally expiring. And their vivacious offspring live on, ready to repeat the blossoming cycle anew.
So when your air plants burst into bloom, enjoy their fleeting splendor. Then help them pass the torch to propagate more of these uniquely charismatic houseplants.
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Air Plant Flowers – What Happens After They Bloom?
FAQ
What to do after your air plant blooms?
Once your bloom has passed, you can either leave the dried flowers and bract intact to observe the plant’s natural cycle or you can simply remove the flowers and trim the bract towards the base. Trimming the inflorescence will not harm the plant and will help to encourage pup growth.
What is the lifespan of an air plant?
With proper care, air plants can live for several years, with some species living up to 10 years or more.
Do air plants die once they flower?
Flowering is the peak of the air plant life cycle, but also marks the beginning of the plant’s old age – after it flowers, the plant will eventually die. But don’t despair!
Do air plants die after having pups?
The mother plant will eventually die (like everything that is no longer growing) but usually not before the pups are pretty large (and potentially not until after the pups have flowered and started making their own pups).
How often do air plants bloom?
It’s worth noting that most air plants only bloom once during their life cycle. After the bloom has completed, the next growth phase is to produce offsets (also known as ‘pups’), which are essentially baby plants/clones that protrude from the base of the mother plant.
Why are my air plants dying?
If your air plants have dark bases, falling leaves from the middle, mushy roots, or yellowing leaves, it is crucial to take immediate actions to prevent further damage. Here’s how to rescue a dying air plant from overwatering:
Are air plants dead?
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! Brown tips can occur from not enough water or too much sunlight, which is fairly common. A healthy air plant should have leaves that range from green to gray.
How long do air plants live after blooming?
It’s worth noting that the blooming season indicates that your air plant is nearing the end of its life cycle. Some air plants may stay for a few days or 2 to 4 weeks before dying after blooming. Bigger plants, however, can live on for up to a year. This fact signifies how essential pup formation is for the generation of air plants.
Why do air plants bloom?
Air plants bloom as part of their natural life cycle. The blooming process is crucial as it ensures the continuation of the species. Like all plants, Tillandsia has a reproductive phase that involves pollination and fertilization. Without this process, all Tillandsia would eventually cease to exist.
What happens if you cut a dead air plant?
If you are trimming your air plant and the entire thing breaks apart, you have a dead air plant that has sadly perished. With proper care, your air plant will live even if only a few leaves fall off and the inside leaves remain green and healthy.