Air plants are easy for most of the year, but a British winter changes three things at once: the days are short and dim, central heating dries the air, and windowsills turn cold at night. None of that needs a new routine, just a few adjustments. Here is how to keep air plants healthy from October to March, and how to spot trouble early.
The short answer
In winter, move air plants closer to a window for light, keep them above about 12°C and away from radiators, soak them every week or two in room-temperature water (rainwater is best in hard-water areas), and take extra care to dry them fully, upside down in a warm, airy spot, before they go back. In a very warm, dry room, a light mist between soaks helps.
1. Give them more light
Low light is the main winter problem in UK homes. Move air plants as close to a window as you can, ideally within half a metre. Winter sun is weak, so a south- or west-facing window that is too fierce in July is often just right in January. If a plant's colour fades or new growth looks stretched, it wants more light. Our windowsill decor ideas show how to make room for plants on a sill.
2. Keep them warm, but not hot
The RHS says air plants do best above about 12°C, and they cope with up to 30°C if the air is humid. On frosty nights, a windowsill behind a drawn curtain can get much colder than the room, so move plants in from the glass or leave the curtain open. Keep them away from radiators, heaters and the top of a warm appliance, where the dry heat scorches the leaf tips.
3. Keep soaking, every week or two
Central heating dries the air, so air plants still need a proper drink in winter. Soak them face down in room-temperature water for 20 to 30 minutes every one to two weeks: closer to weekly in a warm, dry room, closer to fortnightly in a cool one. If the room drops to around 12°C, hold back, because the plant stays wet for too long. Rainwater is best, especially in hard-water areas, where minerals in tap water can build up on the leaves; bring it indoors first so it is not icy. If you use tap water, let it stand for a while rather than using it cold.
4. Dry them properly
This matters more in winter than at any other time. Cool rooms dry plants slowly, and water left sitting in the base of the leaves is the main cause of rot. After a soak, shake the plant gently, then leave it upside down in a warm, airy spot for a few hours (near a radiator is fine, on it is not) until it is completely dry before it goes back into its terrarium.
5. Mist only as a top-up
Misting is not enough on its own, but in a very warm, dry room a light mist between soaks helps stop the tips going crisp. Mist in the morning, so the plant dries during the day.
6. Choose an open terrarium and keep it dry
Air plants need moving air, so keep them in an open terrarium and never let water collect in the base. Our glass terrariums are nearly all open: the mini terrarium on tung wood (£7.75), the cube on corner (£16.95) and the lantern (£19) all suit a single air plant on sand or pebbles. Plants are not included.
7. Expect slower growth
Air plants grow slowly anyway and slower still in winter, so do not worry if nothing seems to change until spring. If you feed yours, pause over the winter months and start again when the days lengthen.
Signs of trouble, and what to do
- Crispy brown tips: too dry. Soak a little more often, add a light mist between soaks and move the plant further from the radiator.
- A soft, dark base, or leaves falling from the centre: rot from trapped water. Dry the plant thoroughly upside down after every soak, and let the terrarium dry out too.
- Fading colour or stretched growth: not enough light. Move it closer to the window.
- Leaves curling inwards: often thirst. A longer soak usually puts it right.
Going away over Christmas?
Give your air plants a soak and a thorough dry before you leave, and set them in a bright spot away from radiators. They cope happily with a week or two on their own.
Common questions
How often should you water air plants in winter?
Soak them for 20 to 30 minutes every one to two weeks: weekly in a warm room with the heating on, fortnightly in a cooler one. Always dry them fully, upside down, afterwards.
How cold is too cold for air plants?
The RHS recommends keeping them above about 12°C. A windowsill behind a curtain on a frosty night can drop well below the room temperature, so move them in from the glass.
Can air plants go near a radiator?
Not right next to one. Dry heat crisps the leaves. A spot a little way from the radiator, in good light, is ideal, and it also helps them dry after a soak.
Do air plants need more light in winter?
Yes. UK winter light is weak, so move them as close to a window as possible. A south-facing window is usually fine from autumn to spring.
For the full year-round routine, read our air plant care guide, see the best plants for a terrarium, or browse every glass terrarium.
