Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Are air plants supposed to be "crunchy"? I've been looking into buying one for some time now, but they only sell them at Albertsons for some reason. None at Lowe's or Home Depot. The ones at Albertsons are all crunchy feeling. At first I assumed it was due to employees not taking care of them. But air plants are supposed to be extremely easy to take care of, and their only plants are doing fine. So are they crunchy and brittle feeling?
No, the leaves should be pliant. My guess it that the plants you've observed have not received regular watering. Check a nursery for healthy tillandsia air plants. I spritz mine with water every day and feed it once a week with a solution of orchid fertilizer.
Were they Tillandsia? Tiny ones shouldn't be brittle. Larger stiff ones might be. There are many species. However, if they were misted with unfiltered tap water be cautious. I've always read that the plants' surface pores can be permanently clogged by tap water minerals or other impurities and it will eventually kill the plant. Its often irreversible. They should only be misted with distilled or de-mineralized water with a diluted fertilizer specific for those species.
Air plants are awesome. I've had one for almost thirty years. Small fern-like and very green. When I moved 14 years ago it was packed away and stayed packed up for almost ten years in above I never needed. Went through it one day and it was still alive. I still have it in my kitchen, still pliable, green and small.
...I've had one for almost thirty years...it was packed away and stayed packed up for almost ten years...Went through it one day and it was still alive. I still have it in my kitchen, still pliable, green and small.
That thing is not alive. An air plant will die quicker than you think when it's neglected. You must have bought one of those that have been treated with a preservative, like that "moss" that stays supple forever.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
