Viewing post #3106068 by cwhitt

TomatoNut95 said: I think I've killed a Dracaena.
True that air plants aren't usual houseplants and they're seemingly not as easy to care for as people think. But I love tillisandias because no soil = no gnats. Plus they are small so you can fit more into a space.
But I killed my sawed off Ionantha when I soaked it because I was told it was underwatered. 💔 It's now rotting.
Truth be told, I'm surprised my plastic plants haven't died yet.

#1 I highly doubt soaking killed it - if you had soaked it too long it would have actually fallen apart right in you hands. Something else killed it. Don't give up - maybe try a medusa air plant. You can do this.
#2 Regarding gnats - it happens. I do one of two things for that. Sometimes/often both things. If there are a lot, I get out my vacuum sweeper and keep it near the plant. Once a day I agitate the leaves and top soil of the affected plant so the gnats will fly up and use the wand of the vacuum to vacuum them up. I make sure I have plenty of cat hair, dust etc in the vacuum to entrap the gnats. Do it daily until all the gnats have all hatched. I works remarkably well. Secondly, I set out a small bowl filled with about 1/4 cider vinegar, 3/4 water, a squirt of dish soap. The gnats are attracted to it and drown. You can also buy some little yellow sticky gnat papers that will also trap them. Then do your best to keep your plants from being over watered.
#3 I heard of a lady who watered and cared for her plastic plant for years, thinking it was real. She was very proud of it - until her daughter told her it was plastic. If you ever kill your plastic plants, maybe we can have a virtual funeral for them!!