How Long Do Air Plants Live?

If you want a plant that is easy to grow, then you have probably considered an air plant. These plants are one of the easiest plants to grow, especially if you lack experience in gardening.

This is because air plants do not require soil, or very much care from their owner. Instead, you can simply keep these plants in your home, and for the most part they will take care of themselves. 

But, if you are thinking of introducing an air plant to your home, then you likely want to know how long they will live for. After all, houseplants quickly become a part of the family, so you want to know how long they will stick around before you lose them. 

In this guide, we’ll take a look at what air plants are, and how long they typically live for. So to find out more about these wonderful plants, keep on reading. 

What Is an Air Plant?

First things first, let’s take a look at what an air plant is. As we have mentioned, air plants are a type of plant that have gained popularity because they are fairly easy to grow and keep alive.

Gardening is something that a lot of people struggle with, and that is why hardy plants, like the air plant, have become so popular. 

Even though they are well-known as air plants, this isn’t actually the official name for this species of plant. Instead, air plants are officially known as Tillandsia.

Tillandsia is a genus of plants that is made up of around 650 different species. All of these species are hardy, and the majority originate in Mexico and the South-Eastern USA. However, they have become popular all over the world because they are so hardy. 

Air plants are tiny plants, but they are truly beautiful. As we have mentioned, these lovely plants do not require soil to grow, and they also do not need to be watered.

This is because these plants absorb water and nutrients from the air in which they grow. It is these two things combined that make these plants so easy to look after and grow. 

How Fast Do Air Plants Grow?

Some plants are fast growers, and because of this it can be easy to assume that your air plant will grow quickly when you first plant it. However, this doesn’t happen.

This is because air plants are slow-growing plants, so don’t be disheartened if it takes a while for your plant to grow. In reality, it takes a while to be able to see any signs of growth in most plants. 

But, air plants are incredibly slow growing plants. Once you plant the seeds, it can take up to 2 months for them to germinate. Then it will take at least a year or two for these plants to grow to their full size.

However, you will be able to see signs of growth soon after the seeds have germinated. Depending on the lifespan of the specific air plants that you have bought, it could take even longer for the plant to reach its full size. 

But, most of the time, air plants will reach their full size by the age of 2 years. For some air plants, this means that they do not really live for that long once they reach their full size. So, how long do air plants live for? Let’s find out.

How Long Do Air Plants Live?

So, now that we know exactly what air plants are, let’s take a look at how long these plants live for. As we have said, the exact life expectancy for your air plant will depend on the specific type of air plant that you are growing.

Even then, some plants will outlive the general life expectancy for their species. So, how long do air plants live?

Generally, most air plants will live for around 2 to 5 years. Due to the genetic design of these plants you are pretty much guaranteed at least 2 years out of these plants.

This is primarily because these plants look after themselves, and require very little interference in terms of gardening. However, you will sometimes have to intervene to save your air plant if it shows signs of death. For example, if your air plant begins to turn white/gray, you can water it to bring it back to life.  

There will be occasions where air plants do not make it to 2 years of age. For example, if the plant becomes damaged, this could inhibit its ability to survive. However, most of the time, air plants will live longer than their life expectancy. 

Tips For Looking After Your Air Plant

While air plants are very hardy plants that are pretty self-sufficient, there are some things that you can do to ensure that they remain in good health and that they grow well. So, here are a list of tips to consider when you add an air plant to your home. 

• Keep Germination Conditions for 2 Years – For the first two years of their lives, air plants will do a lot of growing. During this time, it is best to keep them in germination conditions if you want them to grow as large as possible. 

• Mist Your Air Plant – You don’t need to water your plants too heavily, instead simply mist your air plant occasionally to ensure that it is getting enough water. 

• Keep in Dimmed Conditions – It is important that your air plant is allowed access to sunlight. However, direct sunlight isn’t ideal for your air plant, so keep it in dimmed conditions. 

• Maintain High Humidity – Air plants require high humidity and temperatures of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit in order to thrive. Maintain these temperatures if you want your air plants to live a long lifetime. 

Summary

In short, air plants typically live for anywhere between 2 and 5 years. Most air plants will not be fully grown until 2 years of age. So at the very least, the majority will live for this lifespan, unless they become damaged. 

However, the majority of air plants will outlive their life expectancy because these plants are incredibly tough and hardy. So, if you are new to keeping houseplants, an air plant is a great species to consider.