What do you think?
Rate this book
Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias
Air Plants, by Zenaida Sengo, the interior coordinator at the popular San Francisco-based Flora Grubb Gardens, shows how simple and rewarding it is to grow, craft, and design with these modern beauties. Decorating with air plants is made easy with stunning photographs that showcase ideas for using them mounted on walls, suspended from the ceiling, as living bows and jewelry, as screens, and in unique containers, like leather pouches, dishes, and baskets. Six step-by-step projects include a wood mount, a wall hook, lasso-and-hook wiring, a ceramic-frame garden, and three unique terrariums.
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2014
73 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 10, 2015
SUPER charming. The author had this really endearing way of personifying plants, like a friendly druid who just wants you to love plants as much as they do. Plus this book reminded me to water my air plant more, so technically it saved a life.
November 2, 2015
As someone with completely zero knowledge of air plants, this book answered all my questions. The author explains what exactly they are, how they absorb water, what their light requirements are, how to properly care for them, how they propagate, growth patterns, where to place them, etc etc.
There was a huge section on how to decorate using air plants (e.g. how to wear them in your hair, on your clothes, and how to display them in different pots and other decorative items in your home) which I found quite redundant, and which took up too much of the book (nearly half). If this entire section was scrapped and instead replaced with, say, a section featuring successful air plant growers with their plants (so we can see the different successful conditions air plants are grown in and how different people care for their air plants), that would have made this a 5-star book.
There was a huge section on how to decorate using air plants (e.g. how to wear them in your hair, on your clothes, and how to display them in different pots and other decorative items in your home) which I found quite redundant, and which took up too much of the book (nearly half). If this entire section was scrapped and instead replaced with, say, a section featuring successful air plant growers with their plants (so we can see the different successful conditions air plants are grown in and how different people care for their air plants), that would have made this a 5-star book.
February 26, 2017
I have not read a lot of books about Tillandsias, though I have read hundreds of various articles online. This book was a pleasure to read, it is filled with bunch of different illustrations. Even though I have read it in a few hours, I was able to google mentioned plants and spent whole day researching about them. The book covers all the basics that anyone would need to start their journey discovering air plants. It also gives various ideas about where and how these plants can be used and shows that they are one of the most versatile pants, as long as you take good care of them and don't limit your imagination.
May 2, 2018
I was gifted a trio of mounted air plants. I know nothing about them, so I zoomed over to the local library to find this book dedicated to them.
Beautiful, close pictures display their intricate details accompany the author's conversational tone as she shares her knowledge, and deep passion for this flora. She covers the basic care in clear language, including common problems, with illustrating photographs that I found very helpful.
The section discussing plant selecting offers sound advice for choosing the best one. Within that chapter is a two-page useful chart naming species, features, use, and care of the most commonly available varieties. Next, companion planting for their mutual benefit, as they often grow on hosts in the wild. Being from Louisiana, noticing her inclusion of Spanish moss felt odd because it grows so profusely here, I never imagined anyone would cultivate it.
The second half of the book focuses on the vast methods and combinations possible for mounting, and displaying these lovely plants.This includes a large array of home decor arrangements on walls, pots, and wreaths, then blasting into the creative sphere using Tillandsia as decoration for gifts, adornment such as barrette, ring, or necklace. Ending this portion with open terrarium designs.
I only wish there were more about Tillandsia varieties, otherwise I consider it a complete book for the houseplant owner.
Beautiful, close pictures display their intricate details accompany the author's conversational tone as she shares her knowledge, and deep passion for this flora. She covers the basic care in clear language, including common problems, with illustrating photographs that I found very helpful.
The section discussing plant selecting offers sound advice for choosing the best one. Within that chapter is a two-page useful chart naming species, features, use, and care of the most commonly available varieties. Next, companion planting for their mutual benefit, as they often grow on hosts in the wild. Being from Louisiana, noticing her inclusion of Spanish moss felt odd because it grows so profusely here, I never imagined anyone would cultivate it.
The second half of the book focuses on the vast methods and combinations possible for mounting, and displaying these lovely plants.This includes a large array of home decor arrangements on walls, pots, and wreaths, then blasting into the creative sphere using Tillandsia as decoration for gifts, adornment such as barrette, ring, or necklace. Ending this portion with open terrarium designs.
I only wish there were more about Tillandsia varieties, otherwise I consider it a complete book for the houseplant owner.
November 18, 2019
Some gardeners rejoice at the approach of spring, but for me the end of the outdoor gardening year has its own joy -- the season to read about gardening. That season is twice as nice if the gardening is indoors, as with author Zenaida Sengo's Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias. Disappointed more than once by air plants' inability to thrive under my lackadaisical care, I'm now armed with knowledge about their own unique needs, and on the watch for xeric forms to brighten my succulent plantings and more water-loving mesic forms to make adorn staghorn ferns and orchids. Sengo's affection for the not-always-tiny tillandsias shines, and her book is stuffed with enough craft and decorating ideas -- illustrated by Caitlin Atkinson's glorious photographs -- to keep an indoor gardener happy year round.
January 28, 2018
I found this a really beautiful, inspiring book which the author’s passion for Tillandsias shone through and made me really excited to have my own. As a complete beginner this was a really great run down on what Tillandsias need, why they need it like that and how to care for them. The colour photos were fantastic and the information was great.
I found the decorating with air plants section a little ? much. I realise that design is relevant to the author and it did fit but I think I would have preferred less on that section and instead a gallery of the species or something. The design was interesting and it did give me ideas but it didn’t mesh that well and learning more about specific species would have been more interesting as a gardener.
I found the decorating with air plants section a little ? much. I realise that design is relevant to the author and it did fit but I think I would have preferred less on that section and instead a gallery of the species or something. The design was interesting and it did give me ideas but it didn’t mesh that well and learning more about specific species would have been more interesting as a gardener.
August 2, 2018
This book is so charming. It answered all my many questions about how to care for my air plants. It definitely made me want to collect different varieties of air plants and her ideas for displaying and decorating with air plants were really cute. As other reviewers have noted, I think the section on decorating with air plants was a little long. I wanted more information about the plants themselves. However, it's still a great book about the cutest little plants ever.
October 11, 2020
I borrowed this from the library to see if I’d find this helpful, and it had so much information about air plants, complete with descriptions and photos of different varieties. Lots of care details as well, and I appreciated the perspective that you could use them as decor knowing that you’ll need to replace them after a time, much like cut flowers. I’ll probably purchase at some point for all of the display ideas.
June 10, 2022
I really liked this one! The pictures were astounding and super inspirational, and I liked the information that was given by the author. It was concise and very easy to follow for a newbie to air plants like me!
The only downside I can see is that half the book was projects you can potentially do to display your air plants. I liked them, but others who are more interested in information about care and the like might feel differently.
The only downside I can see is that half the book was projects you can potentially do to display your air plants. I liked them, but others who are more interested in information about care and the like might feel differently.
December 15, 2018
This would make a great gift book. Lots of inexpensive how-to’s. Photos were very well done. The straight forward cultivation tips debunked the mysteries - it will not survive on air alone and it really may have already been dead when you bought it. Everything you need to begin your obsession with these plants.
August 1, 2017
Informative, with great photography! You could learn the same information from combing the internet, but despite doing that I still learned new things, and it's great to have lots of information in one place. I've changed my care practices thanks to this book.
May 28, 2019
Perfect book for air plant lovers
This is a concise book with everything you need to know about growing air plants. I learned a lot from this book and I thought I already had it figured out. It only took an hour for me to read. Love it!
This is a concise book with everything you need to know about growing air plants. I learned a lot from this book and I thought I already had it figured out. It only took an hour for me to read. Love it!
March 13, 2020
This is an awesome book that helps you learn about air plants and what the difference between them are and how to make sure they stay happy! I feel much more confident about taking proper care of my air plants!!!
March 18, 2020
This was a lucky find of an airplant book. It had a good mix of plant characteristics, care tips, and design ideas. I actually enjoyed reading the entire book, which I have not found to be the case with every plant book I pick up.
April 2, 2022
Some good info on care, but I wished there had been more on specific species. I have several tillandsias but don't know what type they are. The ideas she gave on co-planting did inspire me to spread some "pups" out with my other potted plants.
February 22, 2018
Great, easy-to-read book on the basics of tillandsia care. Beautiful photos throughout.
June 30, 2018
Great ideas on displaying Telly's.
July 15, 2018
Good starter book on air plants. It gave a general overview of care tips. I have to look for more books to find better information on how to keep them alive.
February 18, 2019
Best book I have seen on Tillandsias, very helpful if you grow them.
It is a very good book.Complete with lots of tips and ideas to get the best out of your plants.
It is a very good book.Complete with lots of tips and ideas to get the best out of your plants.
February 19, 2019
This book is a masterpiece. Loved it!!
March 17, 2019
Very useful and informative. Lots of pictures with great ideas for designing and decorating with Tillandsias.
July 18, 2019
Beautiful photography
This book is extremely informative and offers gorgeous display inspiration. As a florist, I am going to have to use that tilly boutonnière idea!
This book is extremely informative and offers gorgeous display inspiration. As a florist, I am going to have to use that tilly boutonnière idea!
September 14, 2019
Excellent book about air plants. Delightful to read, complete information, and wonderful ideas for how to display.
March 25, 2020
A good balance of plant care and design tips. I definitely want to try a terrarium or little landscape!
April 1, 2020
I love tillandsias. I very much enjoyed reading this book that gave such nice detailed information about how to care for them.
April 13, 2020
Good resources and beautiful images!
July 25, 2020
Other books offer better infromation. Two tumbs down.
October 2, 2020
I liked this book. There were a lot of species pictures and ways to display them. The information was very helpful, especially for beginners.
June 11, 2021
Tillandsias, I wish I could keep one alive for more than a few weeks. Gorgeous illustrations. Wonderful tips on how to care for these "easy" plants.
January 6, 2023
Now I want to get even more airplants! Helpful in learning some of the varieties that may be of interest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews