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How fast do air plants grow?

7 years ago

The tillandsia and bromeliad plants I see
advertised on the web for about 10 for $20 appear to be about 1 and
1/2 “ in diameter: how fast do they increase in size as they grow? I live in Maryland. ... mako

Featured Answer

raxidor

7 years ago

My tip: tillandsia juncifolia and t. stricta.

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Comments (10)

raxidor
7 years ago
It depends on species and plant size. I think common species take 7-8 years from seed to blooming. Pups can grow within a year.
debbyabq
7 years ago
Some take a long, long time to gain much size and eventually flower and maybe have pups. A person would need to see where the plant is originally from and the conditions there (high desert? low desert? cloud forest? super dry? foggy wet?). Plants can also be surprising. I have two big hunks of common Spanish Moss that I bought a few years ago at a local pet store (for reptile habitat decoration probably), and they're growing marvelously. I wish I could give some away! They haven't flowered yet, but don't need to. Here it is summer, and our average humidity in the afternoon (before any stormy weather) is around 10%. Of all my air plants, I water them the most, usually spraying them. I soak them maybe once a week or twice if it's very hot. They'd probably grow more with better care... They are in a north-facing porch and get no direct sunlight but it is very bright. I also have some ball moss that would probably colonize the neighborhood -- but the cold winter would likely kill it (which would be a good thing). So the conditions you can provide an air plant and it's natural tendencies will determine how fast and large they grow :)
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mako202
Original Author
7 years ago
debbyabq: Thanks much for your comments. ... mako
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
7 years ago
Mako,

Where-o-where have you seen bromeliads priced at $2 each (or ten for $20)?!?! Bromeliads run around $12 - $20 EACH, here in Jax. Would you kindly please point me in the direction?! Looking forward with great appreciation. Thanks, Mako!

Carol in Jacksonville
Violet Blackwould
7 years ago
Here in the Philippines I can get air plants for an equivalent of $1 each!! (I just bought 2 today to try them out; I'm normally a cacti and succulent grower). The Xerographica air plant is $5 here each. I didn't even buy that because I found it expensive! Ha!
debbyabq
7 years ago
Keep us informed about how the air plants do for you because you are in an area that has weather conditions that some humidity-loving air plants really enjoy, while others, like the Xerographica, may find your environment a surprising challenge. But if you do well with cacti and succulents, you should have success with air plants, too.
Violet Blackwould
7 years ago
So far so good (well it's only been with me for about 30 hours)! I'm totally winging the watering of it. I tried soaking them both once for ten minutes each yesterday (that eliminated their brown tips immediately). Hung them up and they were dry in 15 mins or so. Lol. Today I just misted around them til they were green. Then they dried in minutes too.

They look ok overall.. So I guess I'm alright. I am a total novice with Airplants so ill monitor them everyday and see how they are. I'll keep you updated.

Here are the two I got:

And

I have no no idea what they are yet :)
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
7 years ago
I agree.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
7 years ago
Also how fast can depend on how long you can keep the plant in one piece. I have had so many broken by cats,birds..who knows what else. Undisturbed clumps just have so much faster growth.

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