Airplant Roots

People are often confused as to why airplants have roots if they gather all their water and nutrients through their leaves.  Used primarily for securing a happy Tillandsia to its perch in nature these roots ensure the plant remains safely in place during high winds or heavy rain.  In cultivation an airplant can be secured using a variety of techniques so these roots are unnecessary and can be pruned for aesthetics.  It’s important to only prune the brown roots below the base of the plant, cut too high and you can kill it! 

Roots Indicate that Your Airplant is Thriving!

If you do see new roots forming on your Tillandsia it is a good sign as it indicates the plant is thriving and wants to ensure it stays put.  Sometimes after leaving one of our AirplantFrame vertical gardens on an exterior wall for many months we’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon.  Take the AirplantFrame off the wall and Tillandsia roots have secured plants so securely to the wall face that they remain behind.  These can be left suspended or easily removed with minimal permanent damage to either the airplant or your wall.