Troubleshooting
Velick's Air Plant problems — and how to fix them
Velick's Air Plant (Tillandsia velickiana) is generally low-drama, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Leaf curl and dehydration
Leaves rolling inward from the edges indicate the plant is not receiving enough water or is in conditions that are too dry; increase soaking frequency and check ambient humidity.
Scale insects
Hard, brown, dome-shaped bumps may appear along the leaves; scrape off manually and treat with a dilute neem oil or insecticidal soap spray, rinsing the plant thoroughly after treatment.
Prevent velick's air plant problems before they start
Most velick's air plant issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Velick's Air Plant problems — FAQ
Why is my velick's air plant leaf curl and dehydration?
Leaves rolling inward from the edges indicate the plant is not receiving enough water or is in conditions that are too dry; increase soaking frequency and check ambient humidity.
Why is my velick's air plant scale insects?
Hard, brown, dome-shaped bumps may appear along the leaves; scrape off manually and treat with a dilute neem oil or insecticidal soap spray, rinsing the plant thoroughly after treatment.