Plant care guide
Air Plant Dehydration: Curled Leaves and How to Rehydrate
Updated
Is my Air plant dehydrated?
Curled or rolled leaves are the main sign of a dehydrated air plant. Air plants take up water through scales on their leaves, not their roots, so occasional light misting in dry indoor air often leaves them short of water.
What to do first
Submerge the whole plant in room-temperature water, then shake it out and dry it upside down before it goes back in its display. Keep watering at least weekly, adjusted to your room's dryness.
Air plants (Tillandsia) have a reputation for living on air. They don’t. NC State Extension explains that their holdfast roots cannot absorb enough water to supply the leaves. Instead, silvery, shield-shaped scales on the leaves absorb water and nutrients. If those leaves are not wetted often and thoroughly enough, the plant dries out.
UF/IFAS Extension gives the clearest sign in its air plant guide. Curled or rolled leaves indicate that your Tillandsia is dehydrated.
Signs of a dehydrated air plant
- Leaves curl or roll inward more than usual for the species.
- It hasn’t been soaked or rinsed recently, or it has only had light misting.
- It sits near a heater or air conditioner. Penn State Extension warns these can dry air plants out quickly.
Colour helps too. NC State notes that air plants are usually silvery grey and appear green when wet. A plant that stays very grey and curled shortly after watering may not have absorbed enough.
Rule out rot first
Dehydration and rot need opposite fixes, so check before soaking.
- Rot: the base is dark, soft or mushy. NC State lists crown rot among air plant problems. University of Vermont Extension warns that water left in leaf crevices can cause rot.
- Dehydration: the base is firm and the leaves are curled but intact.
Don’t soak a plant with a soft, rotting base. Remove any loose dead leaves, keep it dry and airy, and water more carefully from then on.
How to rehydrate an air plant
- Fill a bowl with room-temperature water. UVM suggests rainwater, bottled water, or tap water left to stand overnight so chlorine can evaporate. Avoid softened water, because the salt harms air plants.
- Submerge the whole plant. UVM recommends 30 to 60 minutes. University of Illinois Extension recommends 30 minutes to 2 hours. For a badly curled plant, use the longer end of that range.
- Shake out the water. Hold the plant upside down and shake gently so no water stays in the centre.
- Dry it upside down or on its side. UVM suggests draining for an hour or two.
- Let it dry before it goes back in glass. Penn State advises waiting at least four hours after watering before putting it back in a terrarium. Illinois says to let it dry a couple of hours before returning it to an enclosed space.
- Watch the leaves over the next few waterings. They should look fuller and less curled. Trim dead or damaged leaves with clean scissors. UVM lists this as routine care.
If the plant is flowering, keep the bloom out of the water. UVM warns that a wet flower can turn mushy and rot.
Set a routine that prevents it
Water at least weekly. NC State says air plants cope with drought but need regular watering, at least once a week, to thrive. UVM and Illinois both recommend a weekly soak.
Misting alone is often not enough. UF/IFAS says a weekly misting should be heavy enough that water runs off the plant. Penn State says that in dry homes, misting to run-off may be needed every other day. Penn State also suggests rinsing plants under the tap twice a week as a simpler option.
Match water to the type of plant. Penn State describes two groups:
| Type | Look | Needs |
|---|---|---|
| Xeric (dry-climate) | Grey, fuzzy, dense scales | Copes with drier conditions and more light |
| Mesic (humid-climate) | Greener, smoother, fewer scales | More moisture and filtered light |
Illinois adds that green-leaved types grow best with less light in containers that keep them moist. The grey types suit dry winter homes better.
Give bright, indirect light and moving air. UF/IFAS recommends bright but not direct sun near a south, east or west window. Penn State stresses good air circulation. Penn State links the need for more frequent watering to low household humidity.
Keep it warm, but away from vents. Penn State gives night temperatures above 13 °C (55 °F) and day temperatures of 18–32 °C (65–90 °F). Keep the plant away from heating vents and air conditioners.
Don’t let mounts hold water. UF/IFAS advises using a mounting surface that doesn’t hold water.
For more on water choice, read air plant water: rainwater, tap, softened or distilled?. For watering by species, see our guide to types of air plants.
References
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Air Plant – Tillandsia
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Tillandsia
- Penn State Extension: Tillandsias as Houseplants
- University of Vermont Extension: Tillandsia, the captivating world of soil-less air plants
- University of Illinois Extension: Grow and Decorate with Air Plants this Holiday Season
How this guide was put together: UF/IFAS Extension, NC State Extension, Penn State Extension, University of Vermont Extension and University of Illinois Extension guidance.