"Air plant" is a lovely name and a misleading one. Tillandsias don't need soil, but they very much need water. Most shop-bought air plants that fail do so in one of two ways: they slowly dry out because nobody watered them, or they rot because they were watered and never dried. The fix is a proper soak, then a proper dry.
01At a glance
- They drink through their leaves. Tiny scales called trichomes take up water. The roots only hold the plant in place.
- Misting alone isn't enough. The RHS says misting between soaks helps in warm weather, but it can't replace them.
- Soak, shake, dry upside down. Water sitting in the base is the commonest cause of rot.
- Use rainwater if you can. The RHS says the minerals in hard tap water can block the trichomes.
- No sealed jars. They need moving air to dry.
02How to water an air plant
- Fill a bowl with rainwater at room temperature. If you have no rainwater, use distilled water.
- Submerge the whole plant for about 20 to 30 minutes. Cornell suggests 20 minutes to an hour; the University of Minnesota gives about 30 minutes for a regular dunk.
- Lift it out and shake it gently, holding it upside down, to empty the base.
- Lay it upside down or on its side somewhere airy to dry. Cornell's advice is to let it dry for at least four hours before it goes back into a glass display.
- Water in the morning so it has the whole day to dry.
03How often?
This is where advice varies, so here's the honest range. From spring to autumn, the RHS suggests immersing air plants two to three times a week, letting them dry between sessions. Cornell suggests a weekly soak as the alternative. A warm, dry, centrally heated room needs the upper end. A cool, humid bathroom needs less.
Let the leaves tell you. Cornell describes slightly rolled or curled leaves as the sign it's time to water. Minnesota describes soft, wrinkled leaves the same way. A well-watered plant looks firm and full.
In winter, cut back. The RHS advises not watering at all if the temperature drops to 12°C, because the plant stays wet for too long.
04Which air plant have you got?
Not all air plants drink the same.
- Silvery, fuzzy, grey-leaved types are from drier places. Cornell calls these the most forgiving with watering. The xerographica is the classic example.
- Smoother, greener types come from more humid places, Cornell says. Minnesota notes the hairy, dry-climate kinds need less water, so these need more. If you're not sure which of your air plants is which, watch the leaves.
### Xerographica: less often, but still a soak
The xerographica's broad, curling leaves store water, so it needs watering less often than most. NC State Extension suggests a 15-minute soak every one to two weeks, and roughly monthly in winter. The danger zone is its wide base, where the leaves cup together. Dry it fully upside down every time.
### Spanish moss: hang it loose
Spanish moss is not a moss at all. UF/IFAS Extension describes it as a rootless bromeliad that takes water from the air through its trichomes. Indoors it needs damp air more than most. Soak the whole clump, then hang it loosely where air moves through it. Packed into a tight bundle, the middle stays wet and goes brown.
05Light and warmth
The RHS describes the ideal as bright but diffused light, with light shade from direct sun under glass. A south-facing window behind a net curtain works well. In a dark corner an air plant slowly starves, however well you water it.
The RHS says they do best if the temperature doesn't drop below 12°C. Keep them off cold winter glass and away from radiators, which dry them out fast.
06Is it thirsty, or rotting?
- Leaves rolled, curled or wrinkled: thirsty. Give it a longer soak.
- Brown, crispy leaf tips: usually too dry. Water more often.
- Centre or base turning brown or black, often loose or mushy: rot. The RHS links this to water in the crown plus poor air circulation. Dry your plants more thoroughly and give them more air.
Before placing them where children or pets can reach, check the safety flags on our air plant, xerographica and Spanish moss profiles.
How we checked this
Every care and safety claim on this page is verified against horticultural and veterinary sources.
Sources: RHS — Air plants care guide · University of Minnesota Extension — Houseplant trend: Air plants · Cornell Cooperative Extension Warren County — Air plants (Tillandsia) · Penn State Extension — Tillandsias as houseplants · NC State Extension — Tillandsia xerographica · UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County — Weekly "What is it?": Spanish moss
Checked 8 October 2026. If our advice ever conflicts with the RHS, believe them and tell us.