air plants


I know you have seen these around lately, they have burst out into the design scene, especially in terrariums. They are back from the 70's.

Tillandsia or commonly known as air plants. They need no soil because their water and nutrients are absorbed through their leaves. No soil = no watering= hard to kill, therefore making their creative possibilities endless!

Air plants are found in the desert and mountains of Central and South America, Mexico and the desert areas of the Southern United States. Being a native north eastern girl myself, I would love to see them thriving in their natural habitat. These plants are in the family bromeliad (a common plant found in many malls) but not all bromeliads are air plants, many bromiliad plant varieties need soil to thrive.

one of mine sprouted a beautiful flower!

Interesting facts: They are used as an main ingredient in Allerplex, an herbal remedy to treat seasonal pollen allergies. The common spanish moss used in floral and plant design is also a tillandsia.

Flores del sol DIY Project:

a tillandsia centerpiece




What you'll need:
-a few varieties of tillandsia- they are relatively cheap and found all over the internet like tortoise loves donkey on etsy. I got mine from airplantcity, but be sure to ask for them wrapped carefully, mine were rolling around in the box.
-beans- I used Great Northern beans, I liked the contrast of the white.
-a long wooden planter

No mess, no soil, no hot glue: Poor the beans into the planter and nestle your tillandsia into place. Enjoy and soak your tillandsia in luke warm water for an hour once every two weeks or more. They are very forgiving if you are a little forgetful.

8 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness... I love it!!! The beans are such a great filler idea. It's absolutely beautiful. I wonder if I can get some tillandsia locally, I have the perfect tarnished silver bowl that they would look great in, I think.

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  2. This may be my most favorite one yet Tina...awesome....and...I can't kill them :)

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  3. I simply love this! The pictures are stunning..have a lovely weekend!
    x

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  4. Love this. I've been searching for a centerpeice for my dining table forever and I think this is perfect! I just ordered my 5 air plants from tortoise loves donkey. Thanks for this great DIY!

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  5. I love these plants and am glad to share it! Another one of mine also sprouted a purple flower. So pretty!

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  6. Where did you find the wooden planter in your photos?

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  7. i got it from a local floral wholesaler. but there are some pretty cool vintage ones that would work great like these: http://www.etsy.com/listing/67248831/vintage-brown-wood-bowls?ref=sr_list_32&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=wood+bowl&ga_view_type=list&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=vintage&ga_facet=vintage

    or just search under vintage wood bowls on etsy

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