Tillandsia ionantha
Quick answer
Brown, crispy tips on your air plant have a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is dry air. The full list is below.
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How to tell
Just the very tips and edges go brown and papery while the rest of the leaf is fine. This is most common in winter with the heating on, and air plant prefers 50–70% humidity.
The fix
Give it an extra soak each week while the heating is on, and keep it away from radiators.
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How to tell
Air plant dries out between soaks faster than most people expect since it has no soil reservoir, so the tips crisp first.
The fix
Soak it fully once a week (twice in a hot, dry room) rather than relying on misting alone.
How to tell
Tips brown even though it gets regular soaks, and a pale film may show on the leaves. Hard tap water leaves minerals behind.
The fix
Soak it in rainwater or distilled water instead of hard tap water.
How to tell
Tips brown within a week or two of feeding. Air plants need only a very weak dose in their soaking water.
The fix
Rinse it in plain water, and feed at a quarter of the label strength no more than once a month.
How to tell
Dry brown patches or scorched edges show up where strong sun hits the leaf. Air plant wants bright light and some direct sun.
The fix
Filter the harshest midday sun with a sheer curtain for a few weeks, then reintroduce the sunny spot gradually so the leaves can harden off.
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