Want a cool way to display your air plants? Why not use rocks or pebbles? Read on to find out how to use this unique technique!
Air plants don’t need soil like most other plants; they can grow on the most unusual media. Capitalizing on this characteristic, find out how you can grow your air plants on rocks or pebbles to draw the attention of all your gardening pals! This project will not only display your love for plants but also your hidden artistic creativity!
Why should you Use Rocks or pebbles to Grow Air Plants?
The answer is why not! Using rocks or pebbles does not hurt or harm the plant and is an unorthodox way of showing off your plant. Stand apart from the crowd, and use this display technique to create a natural decorative art piece.
Also, by using rocks, you ensures better air circulation than most other mediums, which is absolutely necessary for air plants. They keep the plant elevated to avoid water clogging around the base and create a clean space that is easy to water and rotate. You can cut down on costs and maintenance, so overall it’s a win-win situation in every aspect!
Note: You can choose a mesic species for humid homes or xeric species for dry and bright spots. These can be grown on flat or slightly cupped pebbles, river stones, or lava rocks.
How to Grow Air Plants on Rocks or Pebbles?
1. Choose the right stone
When it comes to searching for the right rock, leave no stone unturned! Choose one that is stable, non-toxic, and won’t retain too much moisture. Lava rock with minimal hollowness or a flat river stone often works best. You can even use crystals or gemstones to add a bit of flair.
2. Prepare the Plant
Prepping your plant is key to ensuring its survival. Carefully get rid of any dead or dried leaves, and then soak the plant in water for 20-30 minutes. Once completed, hang-dry the plant upside down for an hour to remove excess moisture, which can be an invitation to pests and diseases. This entire process is optimal to allow the trichomes to get the right amount of hydration and reduce the trapped water at the base.
3. Provide Support
There are two ways to secure your plant onto the stone. If you feel the stone is very smooth and the plant may not be able to naturally grip onto it, secure it with a thin loop of florist wire or with a small amount of non-toxic glue on the underside, but make sure not to glue the leaves.
The second way depends on the structure of the stone. If the rock has cracks or crevices that can help the air plant nestle in, it will naturally grow in the gaps. This non-permanent method is beneficial if you often change the location of the plant.
4. Placing the Stone or Pebble
Now that the main structure is stable, you can unleash your creativity! Put the mounted stone in a shallow dish; you can even decorate it with small pebbles, but avoid water.
The dish raises humidity around the plant without letting it sit in water , which helps avoid root rot, hampers the plant’s growth, and causes underdevelopment.
5. Understand the Signs
This unorthodox growing medium can be tricky to figure out, so you need to keep a close eye on the plant. A mushy base and rot denote that the plant has been kept in water for too long. It is time to remove it, let it dry, and reduce soaking further.
Shriveled leaves show that the plant has been under-watered, and it is time to increase the soaking or misting frequency.
How to Take Care of Your Air Plants?
1. Watering and Humidity
Watering a plant that uses no soil can seem confusing, but it is pretty simple. Remove the rock and soak the plant for 20–30 minutes, and then shake off excess water. Dry it upside down for an hour. In humid homes, a misting routine and monthly soak generally works best.
Research shows that air plants absorb large amounts of water through foliar trichomes and can tolerate drought with regular soaking , which encourages growth.
2. Pebble Trays
This step is not always necessary, but it is beneficial in arid environments. Since air plants obtain their nutrients from moist air, you will need to do a few tweaks to create the right microclimate.
Fill the bottom of the dish with pebbles and add a little water, but avoid touching the plant base to boost humidity. This is really helpful in the winter.
3. Light and Airflow
Sunlight is a basic requirement for any plant, including the ones that don’t need soil to grow! Bright and indirect light is a must. In a dim or dark space, use a grow light on a timer and manually manage the timings to supplement light.
Also, even though air plants like above-average humidity, they also need fresh air! Avoid placing the rocks and plants in a sealed glass without ventilation, as this may lead to rot.
4. Fertilizer and Growth
It might sound unbelievable, but it is possible to fertilize air plants without using soil! For this, you will need to add an air plant fertilizer diluted to half strength to the water while soaking. Do this only once a month during the growing season. This encourages pups (offsets) and brighter blooms without risking leaf burn.
A Few Design Ideas for you
Let the artist within you go wild! You can make a cluster of different stones with various colors and textures, like lava rock and river pebbles, for a sculptural arrangement.
You can also create a rock garden in a shallow wooden tray with pebbles and several mounted air plants for a clean tea table look.
Growing air plants on rocks or pebbles is aesthetically pleasing and requires minimal care. With the right mounting, light, and watering habits, your green buddies will thrive uniquely and healthily. Let us know in the comments what other quirky ideas you have for growing air plants?