Air plants are blooming!

[birdographer]

Last edited Thu Apr 8, 2021, 06:15 PM - Edit history (1)

One day they are green, and then a few days later they are red and have purple flowers coming out!



(This plant is only 4" high.)

[Karadeniz]

1. Lovely! My cats would have it demolished in 3. - 2. 1...

[birdographer]

9. Mine, too

I have about 6, including this one, on a bathroom windowsill he can't get to. Shelves on the wall. I have a lot, but they all have to go out of his reach!

[SheltieLover]

2. Beautiful! 😍

Ty for sharing!

[George McGovern]

3. Pretty! Real nice closeup birdographer.

[arkielib]

4. Great photo!

That's a beautiful plant. I would love to have one like it on my kitchen windowsill.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. What a magical photo, my dear birdographer!

So beautiful.

Thank you!

[MontanaMama]

6. Gorgeous!

Air plants bloom once in their lifetime. Enjoy every moment of this beauty.

[birdographer]

8. I didn't know that!

I have quite a few in the house and it seems every spring at least one is blooming--never knew it was the only time!

Edited because I figured out why some I have had for years continue to bloom--they put out "pups," and those pups will then bloom. I rarely cut the pups off to make new plants out of them, so the same plant may seem to be blooming each year (at least I think so?). Note that the pup on this one is green, not red and blooming.

[MontanaMama]

13. Yes! After flowering they'll indeed put out pups

that will go on the flower. I'm completely envious!!! It is so dry here in western Montana that I have a very difficult time keeping air plants alive and healthy. There seems to be a fine line between proper plant hydration or water logged or dead. I've never been able to get it quite right. Do you use a humidifier?

[birdographer]

18. No humidifier here

Watering an air plant is one of the strangest things to try to nail down. Some sites say 30 minutes twice a week. Some say hours every other week. Brown leaf tips mean not enough water. I've noticed a sort of droopy look in some if I go too long. The leaves also fade a bit if they are thirsty. Watering always makes the leaves a vivid green, which doesn't last long. I read recently not to mist them and water--pick one method and stay with it. I've never misted. When you water, put them leaves-down in a bowl, they soak in water through their leaves, not roots.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. ❤ Kick. nt

[BarbD]

10. So cool.

[BigmanPigman]

11. I would end up killing it...two black thumbs.

I even killed an air fern and a snake plant. Right now I am struggling to keep an orchid alive.

This photo looks like the plant "Cleopatra" that ate spoonfuls of meat on The Addams Family.

[mnhtnbb]

12. What a lovely shot!

[calimary]

14. Extending Marci Gras season! I LOVE this!

Dang! That’s an air plant? Spectacular!

It’d make a glorious Easter bonnet, too! Gorgeous! I’d want that on my hat band.

[TomSlick]

15. How do you encourage it to bloom?

My wife has had an air plant for years. It's a lovely green and it's interesting that a plant survives suspended in the air. As pretty as it is, it's never shown any sign of blooming.

Is there a trick?

[birdographer]

17. Do you know what kind it is?

Probably looking up the variety would be a place to start. And possibly light needs? How often are you watering it (soaking it leaves-down in a bowl)?

[TomSlick]

19. I have no idea of the variety and am not allowed to touch it.

My wife also saw the post. It sent her to the internet and she's adjusting her plant care routine.

[birdographer]

20. Ok, I have to admit

I laughed a bit at your not being allowed to touch it. Telling my husband not to touch the air plants doesn't help a lot. They are on a window sill and he consistently closes the window on their leaves.

[TomSlick]

21. Oh, that's bad!

I would need to go into hiding for awhile to let things blow over.

[birdographer]

22. You are so wise.

[TomSlick]

23. No just experienced.

Experience is what you happens when you lack wisdom.

[BobTheSubgenius]

16. ALIEN!!!

I like it a lot - great photo!