Here's the funny thing about blogging. It's the crazy intersection where luck meets imagination, where an experience -- a conversation, a place, food, the way someone's dressed -- sparks an idea that excites me to write about something that in turn will inspire you, dear reader. Sometimes that will fire across the whole website leading me to blog something that may have already be blogged on another part of the website...
Our friend received this air plant in glass for Mother's Day. Just as she was forwarding her IPhoto to us, excited, Shayna was blogging a similar arrangement in San Francisco. We figure it must be something in the air. And why not? Beautiful, easy to care for, and inexpensive, it's a natural with the Midcentury modern aesthetic that has found a firm stronghold here out West. Unlike succulents, air plants can survive on a clean and aesthetically pleasing bed of rocks, a great alternative to flowers during the summer months.
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Comments (5)
Oooh, and where would one buy air plants? I have two glass containers that are just sitting around with no purpose. I think an air plant or two would be a nice, simple addition to my bedroom and living room.
everyone I know manages to kill these plants, because they think they are "care-free". Not true! I have a thriving cluster of mexican tillandsia that I have had for over 8 years now. I keep them on a bed of pebbles in a russel wright-ish ceramic bowl. here is the trick- if you water them correctly ( I soak mine for a few minutes then put back on the pebbles) and give appropriate ventilation (terrariums will cause rot) and allow them access to indirect sunlight(mine are on northeast windowsill) they will thrive...
mine not only thrive, but every year around the week of daylight savings ( I think it is triggered by the tiniest extra bit of sunlight) the entire cluster blushes bright magenta and explodes with purple flowers for about a month. down side is that after flowering the parent plants start to die, but eventually are replaced by "pups".
good luck to anyone trying to grow these. I love mine!
sparkle,
many nurseries and some florists carry them or you can buy them online from deltona sea shells.
cheers!
abby
I had completely forgotten about air plants - I had some a few years ago, and managed to kill them. Now that I'm older and actually responsible I think they'd be the perfect thing for my new apartment.
I love the arrangement in the post! It's very zen-like and modern.
I too felt the need to chime in with air plants' need for water: Air plant care gives good information. They do need to be watered; humid air is not enough. Their name comes from the fact they don't need soil, which is indeed nice for making attractive displays.
I too got some of my own tillandsia (air plants) this year. They're lovely and much fun. (Photos of my tillandsia for anyone interested.)