Who can bother with real gardens anymore? Swap heavy pots and bulky plants with these low-maintenance air plants.
With urban gardening on the rise here in Singapore, it’s tempting to start cultivating those green thumbs, yes? But if farm-to-table is not your priority, and just keeping a plant alive is, settle on low-maintenance air plants. Also known as tillandsia, they get most of their nutrients from the air and don’t need to grow from soil. Say what? Watering is easy; most experts recommend soaking your plant in room temperature water every 10-14 days, gently shaking off the excess water, and leaving it to air dry. Sounds easy? Let’s start shopping for one…
Crafted Identity
Shop simple and elegant air plant arrangements here at Crafted Identity. Launched by a husband and wife team who chanced upon some air plants while looking for ideas to decorate their home, they became fascinated with ways to arrange the air plants and worked with seashells, driftwood and pots. You can find all you need on their site (plus some pretty crystals too!).
Crafted Identity, online and at Naiise @i12 Katong.
Pick a Plant
Here, tillandsias are categorised for easy shopping; groups include air plants for beginners (like the cotton candy), fragrant tillandsias (yes they have flowers!), assorted sizes (from minis to giants) and even collector’s ones.
Pick a Plant, 50 Old Choa Chu Kang Road, Track 14, Singapore 698940
Toh Garden
Though an established tropical orchid grower in Singapore for close to two decades, Toh Garden made the decision to keep up with the plant trends and have included air plants in the catalogue now. They also deliver the plants straight to your home, but where’s the fun in that?
Toh Garden, 11 Lor Pasu, Singapore 699191
Cat Socrates
Who knew! This quaint stationery/lifestyle shop also offers succulents, air plants and other indoor plants in their garden section. Albeit limited, there’s all kinds of cool pots, plant stands and and garden materials to get started on your DIY garden project.
Cat Socrates, 231 Bain St, #02-25, Singapore 180231
A Tilly A Day
If you want to get started on your DIY garden but don’t know how to, A Tilly A Day conducts workshops and classes. Add some characters (literally) to your arrangement with a miniature figurine or two. Shop their range of air plants, cactus and succulents, carnivorous plants and many indoor plants at the store or online.
A Tilly A Day, Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central, #02-03 (West Wing), Singapore 828761
Green Banana
We like Green Banana for its aesthetically pleasing pre-designed terrariums, and range of air plants, succulents, and accessories. They also offer basic terrarium-making classes – perfect for beginners.
Green Banana, online
Tillandsia Biotope
If you just want air plants without the frills, Tillandsia Biotope is the online destination for you. Pick and choose from a selection to build up your own garden. Go crazy!
Tillandsia Biotope, online
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