---
title: "Hello, Does anybody know why the bottom of my air plant looks brown?…"
description: "Hello, Does anybody know why the bottom of my air plant looks brown? I feel like it has progressed and feels crunchy. Any suggestions on how to make it better?…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/BAlhcvNhQzatWyxRCJGLLA/h9OxPFDbT5KrZZL7uiTTgw"
community: "Foliage Plant Haven"
author: "P"
published: "2024-03-30T16:05:03.187423Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IHjXSCBDpQOqnuFFZoTcdWeu7PTJi0dEfhfKAa-uwDc/O4a52bmdThWNSick2QxqGw.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hello, Does anybody know why the bottom of my air plant looks brown?…

_Posted by P on 2024-03-30_

Hello,

Does anybody know why the bottom of my air plant looks brown? I feel like it has progressed and feels crunchy.

Any suggestions on how to make it better? Or is it dead and cannot save it?

UPDATE: After carefully giving her a look there was root rot 😢 As a newbie, I didn’t do a great job in inspecting it and picking the right one before purchasing.

![Attachment 1 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IHjXSCBDpQOqnuFFZoTcdWeu7PTJi0dEfhfKAa-uwDc/O4a52bmdThWNSick2QxqGw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IHjXSCBDpQOqnuFFZoTcdWeu7PTJi0dEfhfKAa-uwDc/Pyz0V1dDTEW-EWfG8eyKrg.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IHjXSCBDpQOqnuFFZoTcdWeu7PTJi0dEfhfKAa-uwDc/p7C1ar8KRZeIgbt4FMagLQ.webp?size=large)

## 12 comments

### Elapse commented on 2024-03-30

Uhh.. I don’t own any air plants but I’m pretty sure they aren’t supposed to soak in water?

#### letsfindjoy replied on 2024-03-30

You water them with the occasional spritz or by dunking them in water for a bit and drying upside down.

### letsfindjoy commented on 2024-03-30

Is the darker area squishy?

#### P replied on 2024-03-30

It is not at all. I would describe is as hard to touch, almost crunchy feeling. I bought it about a week ago, I had been misting every 3 days but decided to do the soak method instead. This was my first soak.

#### letsfindjoy replied on 2024-03-30

Hmm it could be from under watering so I’d wait to see how it does after this dunking method and you can pull off the leaves if they turn completely brown and crispy

#### P replied on 2024-03-30

Thank you very much 😊

### Elapse commented on 2024-03-30

Oh ok sorry about that 🙁

### Mels commented on 2024-03-30

After misting or soaking be sure to dry upside down! If not the water collects into the crevices and causes some rot.

I was behind on my watering (was just lightly misting) and found one of my air plants had some light brown totally dead leaves at the base which I just peeled off.

Hope this soak does yours well!

#### P replied on 2024-03-30

🤞🏻

### The Riley’s commented on 2024-03-31

I have always soaked my air plants upside down so roots are mostly out of the water. Soak for 30-60min. Let dry on a towel for at least 30mins before placing back. Have 4 of them even had one bloom this year. Never had a problem.

#### Alysia 🪴 replied on 2024-03-31

Hey! I just visited your page and took a look at your plants and they are FLOURISHING and beautiful! I was just curious what kind of soil mixture you use?

#### The Riley’s replied on 2024-03-31

We only ever use 3 types of soil - Indoor Potting, Cactus/Succulent \& Carnivorous. We prefer Miracle Gro brand. We always use the type soil Planta suggests but we do a 50/50 mix of soil with perlite when doing cactus soil and indoor potting. Only exception is carnivorous soil which I use “Perfect Plant Carnivorous Soil” right as it comes out of the bag.

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