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Harry’s New ‘Do

Bull sheep. The resident black thumbs strike again. Big surprise.

It’s pretty bad when you can kill baby tears, people. Especially when everyone reassures you that they’re so easy to upkeep. You may remember them at a happier time, but they nose dived almost immediately. (Just to be clear, we watered them, sang to them, and cooed for them. We did.)

Now, for some plants that are at low kill risk – air plants! The girl at the store even told me so (but we’ve heard that before, ahem).

Air plants need a 1/2 hour soak once a week (followed up with light spritzes throughout the week with drier air, such as heated or air conditioned homes depending on the time of year), then flip them upside down on a towel to dry before putting them back in place. That’s it. We plumped Harry with leftovers wine corks for some fill (um, we had plenty just, oh, laying around), then set our plants right on top.

They receive their daily nourishment from – get this – the air, so no soil’s required, and filtered light is a-okay. We’ve found our leafy soul mates.

 And as for the terrarium, well, you saw our video, didn’t you? Alive and kicking, thank you. Here’s to new life – and hoping for the best.

Anyone else enjoying the effortless nature of an air plant?

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  • katie10.17.11 - 8:28 AM

    um, i almost hate to post this, but…

    i’ve had bad luck with air plants. although the last time i had them i was in college, maybe i should try again. good luck to you!ReplyCancel

  • Anna Kristina10.17.11 - 9:12 AM

    We’ve had air plants for the better part of this year. They’re doing great! I run water over them once a week (it was every other day in the summer when it was hotter) and forego the 30 minute weekly soak unless they look dry. One of them conked out and we replaced it, but I think it was related to it trying to flower, and then not flowering because I moved them and the dead buds rotting out the inside. So if they start looking like they’re going to flower, don’t move them to a place with less light. :)ReplyCancel

  • Aleksandra10.17.11 - 10:00 AM

    I hate to say i, but I’m kind of relieved that there’s another normal, functioning human being out there with as bad of a black thumb as I have. We’re moving in two weeks, and have about 12 house plants. You might ask how many of them are well enough to even make the move, rather than being thrown away because they are so near death? Oh, just two. Of 12.ReplyCancel

  • Kim10.17.11 - 10:06 AM

    Anna, thank you for the tip! Good to know, since it looks like one of ours wants to bud (you can see it in the photo where Scott’s holding them).

    Alex – kudos to you for even having 12 house plants! We don’t venture farther than our terrarium, and now, the air plants!ReplyCancel

  • krissy10.17.11 - 10:21 AM

    I wish you the best of luck, I usually have a pretty green thumb and I have killed only about 7 air plants in the last 2 years. Even the most beautiful ones that were blooming and throwing off babies like Octomom suffered in my forgetful hands. If you do forget to water, for like, many months, don’t try and make up for it by soaking the plant for a day (or two, whoops)it won’t help.ReplyCancel

  • Mackenzie10.17.11 - 3:19 PM

    I wish you all the luck with your air plants! I had a similar experience to Katie… we tried air plants in the store I work and killed about 100 of them in a few weeks. It wasn’t pretty.

    We actually have good luck with terrariums at home, but kill almost everything else except our philodendron which has been kicking for years now. I even managed to kill a spider plant, which I was told was indestructible. The most ironic part is that my husband is a botanist…ReplyCancel

  • Lacie Josephine10.17.11 - 7:54 PM

    I’m convinced that there is no such thing as an easy plant. I have horrible luck. So far The only things I can’t kill are bamboo & aloe.ReplyCancel

  • Elisa @ The Self Life10.18.11 - 8:22 AM

    These are so cute! I trust you’ll give us an update in the next few months… I also have a good amount of plants at home and they are all still kicking! Although I do have to say — I find larger plants much easier then small plants. No idea why.ReplyCancel

  • Terese10.19.11 - 4:07 PM

    you should also check out mother-in-law’s tongue (not sure what else it is called). it’s a bigger potted floor plant, but i’ve kept one alive for almost 5 years and i have a black thumb!ReplyCancel

    • Kim10.19.11 - 10:34 PM

      Sadly, we have managed to kill those, too!ReplyCancel

  • Kalli10.21.11 - 1:40 PM

    I love my tillandsia! I’ve had it for at least a year and while most of my other plants might thrive and then crash and burn, this one doesn’t really change. I just keep it on the kitchen windowsill (with afternoon light) and stick it under the running sink faucet until entirely wet, about 1-2 times a week, or more if it’s looking particularly dry. You can do it!ReplyCancel

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