Do air plants need sun? Yes, they do. Read on to learn how to give them the right amount of light and grow the healthiest air plants!
Air plants are incredibly gorgeous when you look at them. They add the much-needed life and color to your interior décor. They are easy to maintain with sufficient water and fertilizer. Do air plants need sun? Yes, they direly need it to bloom and look healthy. Some plants need direct sunlight in varying amounts of time. Others would thrive in 4 to 6 hours of sunlight. What about air plants, how much light exposure do they need? Read on, to get more insights about it.
Do Air Plants Need Sun?
To begin with, air plants don’t require intensive light. This means that you shouldn’t place them in full or direct sunlight. It should be partial to get just the right amount they require. During summer, the scorching sun might cause the leaves to burn if the air plants are in a window. Owing to that, you can transfer them to away from the light.
It takes a twist because you can also set down the air plants in full sunlight in the morning. At this time, the sun is much friendlier than in the afternoons. You can allow them to absorb the light for about 4 hours straight. The ideal time is from 7 am to 11 am for them to get beneficial light. They will get a substantial amount of sunlight to grow healthier. Mornings are also great because the air is humid. The sun rays will not reach directly to the beautiful air plants.
Can you utilize artificial light?
Yes, you can use artificial light on your air plants. If you have an office or basement that doesn’t have access to sunlight, then fluorescent light can do the work. Just because it’s not natural light, it doesn’t mean that it won’t be of assistance to the plants. In essence, it will add flesh to your plants and they will not dry up. Here, the air plants should receive full lights. That means you have to keep the light on for 12 hours straight. The lights will not cause any leaf scorch since they are utterly kind. You only have to let them take in the light for a maximum amount of time.
Artificial lights keep the air plants warm during the cold season as well. The best place to place them is about 3 feet away from the lights. Do you know how plants need light to make their own food? On that account, ensure that the light is totally adequate. The basement might need unique bulbs such as Vita-Lite, Repta-Sun, and Gro-Lux. They work efficiently to provide lights for 12 hours or more. What’s more, they are automatic hence; you can use a timer if you are away on vacation. Your plants can get plenty of light consistently without fail.
Where should you place them?
In essence, the location of the air plants is crucial because it will determine the amount of sunlight exposure. Therefore, windows qualify as the ultimate places to position your air plants. This is because the first places that the sun rays reach are the windows. Rooms that have windows facing the south and east make the cut at the optimal locations. If the light is too much, the windows reflect back and moderate the intensity.
Similarly, if you have windows that are north-facing, they are perfect. Enough light will be able to infiltrate to the air plants. You should, however, desist from putting the plants near the window. The light tends to be super bright which will damage the leaves. Light from the western direction is usually tricky and unreliable. It comes in very late and isn’t that efficient to air plants. The light is too bright and intense for the air plants to actually thrive. In that case, it will be wise to keep the plants away from the windows. Otherwise, you will lose them to the enthusiastic sun.
Air plants prosper with some mist as well. It should be moist and warm so that the leaves get the nourishment they deserve. The bathroom and kitchen windows would play as excellent hosts to the air plants. This is because when you take a hot shower, some warm air rises. Plus, the bathroom is totally humid after a long shower. As for the kitchen, you will find yourself boiling water or any food for that matter. The moisture is great for the plants which in turn creates a conducive environment for growth.
Benefits of the light to air plants
Indirect sunlight is the best because it enables the plants to retain their moisture. As a result, the air plants will maintain the dampness. Direct light will surely evaporate all the water that you poured on the plant. Again, since you don’t grow the air plants in the soil medium, the rate of water loss is high. Thus, minimum light will keep the plants in great condition.
Light wards off fungal diseases can result from too much humidity. Some bacteria can also eat up the leaves hence; you will have no air plants left. If you need to get rid of the pathogens, the plants should have quality light time. The sun will give air plants healthy development and growth.
As aforementioned, air plants make food with the help of sunlight. This is commonly known as photosynthesis. You need to allow them to see the light so that they can get the utmost energy. The food keeps them going and out of that, they blossom. They don’t look dull and malnourished at all. Therefore, light is vital to the air plants if you need them to look magnificent in your interior.
Conclusion
Ultimately, do air plants need sun? Yes, they do but in the right quantities for them to flourish and grow vigorously. To create a perfect spot for the plants, place them on the windows. Light will get to the air plants effortlessly at any time of day. As from noon, the sunbeams might be too much for the plants to handle them. Transfer them away from the direct sunlight so that they won’t get dehydrated. This will guarantee you strong and resilient air plants. Fluorescent lights are also ideal for air plants, but they should be on for a whole day or night. Consequently, for splendid air plants let them taste the light.
