Air plants (Tillandsia spp.) are a unique type of flowering plant that obtain the majority of their moisture from the air. Since they don’t require soil to grow, air plants are popular among indoor gardeners who don’t have access to an outdoor garden. Air plants are also easy to care for, require minimal maintenance, and can be displayed in a variety of ways. They come in a range of shapes and colors, making them a great way to add texture and color to any room. You can also propagate air plant pups pretty easily. In this article, we’ll explore how to propagate air plant pups to grow your collection of Tillandsia.
What are air plants pups?
Air plant pups are small baby plants that are essentially genetic copies of the mother plant that grow off the mother. These pups can be removed from the mother plant and propagated to start new air plants. These pups tend to emerge near the base of your mature mother air plant. Knowing when and how to propagate these pups is vital if you want to propagate more air plants and grow your Tillandsia collection!
When do pups grow in?
There’s not much you can do to make an air plant develop pups. This process typically begins after the Tillandsia has flowered for the first time. Flowering is a 6-month-long process for air plants and they can take a few years before flowering. If you have a young air plant, don’t expect pups any time soon. Once they have gone through their bloom cycle, you should expect to see pups developing near the base of your air plant any time.
In the wild, air plant pups will usually remain attached to the mother until the mother dies. This creates a beautiful clump of air plants that can be seen growing together. The mother plant will provide the pup with protection, sustenance, and support during its early stages of growth. As the pups become more established, they will slowly start to detach from the mother and begin to grow their own roots. This is a natural process that creates an aesthetically pleasing display of air plants clustered together. It also helps ensure the survival of the species as the pups are able to spread out to new areas and establish themselves in their own habitats.
If you want a more clump-like appearance for your air plant, you can just leave them attached to the mother! If you want to propagate air plant pups into more plants, you’ll want to eventually remove them.
How to propagate air plant pups
Air plant pups should be removed from the mother plant when they are one-third the size of the mother plant. The best time to remove the pups is after watering when the plant is most hydrated. It is important to use a pair of sharp scissors or a knife to avoid damaging the mother plant. Carefully slice the pup away from the mother plant at the point where it meets the mother’s stem.
After removing the pup, the pup’s leaves should be removed. The pup should then be placed in a well-ventilated spot that is not in direct sunlight. The pup should also be misted with water every few days to help it establish roots.
Air plant pup care
Caring for your newly propagated air plant pups in the proper way is vitally important for keeping your new air plants alive.
- Water: Air plants need to be watered 1-2 times a week, preferably in the morning. Fill a bowl with water and soak your plants for 10-20 minutes. Make sure to shake off the excess water after soaking and allow the plant to dry before putting it back in its spot.
- Light: Air plants need bright, indirect light. Place them near a window that gets ample sunlight, but make sure to protect them from direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day.
- Temperature: Air plants do best in temperatures between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fertilization: Air plants benefit from occasional fertilization. Use a diluted cactus fertilizer solution and fertilize your plants every two weeks.
- Pruning: If your air plants have dead or dying foliage, remove them by pruning.