@drdawg Ken - I keep all of mine indoors. But take them outside when it rains. I mist them daily, soak them weekly and they are thriving, but I have heard that the Spanish Moss requires even more humidity? Is that true??

No, basically all epiphytes need that moderate to high humidity, Christie. They are all tropicals.

HELP PLEASE, my baby is dying!!!! 💔💔💔 It's brown tips got worse seemingly within the next 24 hours after I last misted it! It lives on my rock-humidity tray and I mist it a couple of times a week! Am I giving it too much humidity or not enough light? It's been overcast for days because we've been getting too much rain. Is my plant on its way out?

It looks dry to me. When you mist, does the plant get drippy wet? If not, try that.

purpleinopp said: It looks dry to me. When you mist, does the plant get drippy wet? If not, try that.

I was given help in another thread; you're right I've been underwatering. I hope I don't do the 2 new additions the same.

Best luck! : )

purpleinopp said: Best luck! : )

I trimmed my dried one.



And bought it 2 friends.

Sounds like a good idea to me! Those are adorable!

purpleinopp said: Sounds like a good idea to me! Those are adorable!

Thank you! I hope they stay that way. Im not a good houseplant momma.

I wouldn't give anyone that label no matter what might have happened to a Tillandsia. That's not a usual houseplant at all, as far as my opinion goes. If you start killing multiple snake plants or Dracaenas, we might have something to wonder about. LOL!

I think I've killed a Dracaena.
True that air plants aren't usual houseplants and they're seemingly not as easy to care for as people think. But I love tillisandias because no soil = no gnats. Plus they are small so you can fit more into a space.
But I killed my sawed off Ionantha when I soaked it because I was told it was underwatered. 💔 It's now rotting.
Truth be told, I'm surprised my plastic plants haven't died yet.

Well, none of us has the exact same conditions, all we can do is try. Did you soak right after trimming the leaf tips? I wonder if that might have gone better if the trimmed tips had longer to dry first.

purpleinopp said: Well, none of us has the exact same conditions, all we can do is try. Did you soak right after trimming the leaf tips? I wonder if that might have gone better if the trimmed tips had longer to dry first.

I soaked first. I trimmed later. The same day, I think. I put it outside, there's no saving it. 😪 I just hope I can do better for my other 2.

Well there's nowhere to go but up at this point. Optimism!

TomatoNut95 said: I think I've killed a Dracaena.
True that air plants aren't usual houseplants and they're seemingly not as easy to care for as people think. But I love tillisandias because no soil = no gnats. Plus they are small so you can fit more into a space.
But I killed my sawed off Ionantha when I soaked it because I was told it was underwatered. 💔 It's now rotting.
Truth be told, I'm surprised my plastic plants haven't died yet.

#1 I highly doubt soaking killed it - if you had soaked it too long it would have actually fallen apart right in you hands. Something else killed it. Don't give up - maybe try a medusa air plant. You can do this.
#2 Regarding gnats - it happens. I do one of two things for that. Sometimes/often both things. If there are a lot, I get out my vacuum sweeper and keep it near the plant. Once a day I agitate the leaves and top soil of the affected plant so the gnats will fly up and use the wand of the vacuum to vacuum them up. I make sure I have plenty of cat hair, dust etc in the vacuum to entrap the gnats. Do it daily until all the gnats have all hatched. I works remarkably well. Secondly, I set out a small bowl filled with about 1/4 cider vinegar, 3/4 water, a squirt of dish soap. The gnats are attracted to it and drown. You can also buy some little yellow sticky gnat papers that will also trap them. Then do your best to keep your plants from being over watered.
#3 I heard of a lady who watered and cared for her plastic plant for years, thinking it was real. She was very proud of it - until her daughter told her it was plastic. If you ever kill your plastic plants, maybe we can have a virtual funeral for them!!

cwhitt said:
#3 I heard of a lady who watered and cared for her plastic plant for years, thinking it was real. She was very proud of it - until her daughter told her it was plastic. If you ever kill your plastic plants, maybe we can have a virtual funeral for them!!

@TomatoNut95 - I told my good friend Mark (in Great Britain) that you said you were a poor plant mom and that you thought your plastic flowers might die too - I asked him to write a limerick for you - he has a doctorate in literature and is great at limericks - here is what he sent for you. Enjoy!!

Your flowers are starting to quake;
Your plants are beginning to shake…
What on earth could it be?
Could it be that they see
You approaching with compost and rake?

Your roses smell lovely and sweet
And their colorful hues are a treat,
But I've heard that as soon as
You get out your pruners
They all turn as white as a sheet.

Growing plants though is really good fun,
And one plant is better than none,
And it's not a big deal
If you now and then feel
That they wish they had legs and could run.

@cwhitt I loved it! Very fitting for me!! You tell him he did an amazing job!

Agree! Rhyming soon as with pruners - priceless! LOL!

Fears of overwatering & overhandling are why I've never soaked mine. So far, so good, 11 yrs in.

TomatoNut95 said: @cwhitt I loved it! Very fitting for me!! You tell him he did an amazing job!

I will tell him!!