It depends on species and plant size. I think common species take 7-8 years from seed to blooming. Pups can grow within a year.

Some take a long, long time to gain much size and eventually flower and maybe have pups. A person would need to see where the plant is originally from and the conditions there (high desert? low desert? cloud forest? super dry? foggy wet?). Plants can also be surprising. I have two big hunks of common Spanish Moss that I bought a few years ago at a local pet store (for reptile habitat decoration probably), and they're growing marvelously. I wish I could give some away! They haven't flowered yet, but don't need to. Here it is summer, and our average humidity in the afternoon (before any stormy weather) is around 10%. Of all my air plants, I water them the most, usually spraying them. I soak them maybe once a week or twice if it's very hot. They'd probably grow more with better care... They are in a north-facing porch and get no direct sunlight but it is very bright. I also have some ball moss that would probably colonize the neighborhood -- but the cold winter would likely kill it (which would be a good thing). So the conditions you can provide an air plant and it's natural tendencies will determine how fast and large they grow :)

debbyabq: Thanks much for your comments. ... mako

Mako,

Where-o-where have you seen bromeliads priced at $2 each (or ten for $20)?!?! Bromeliads run around $12 - $20 EACH, here in Jax. Would you kindly please point me in the direction?! Looking forward with great appreciation. Thanks, Mako!

Carol in Jacksonville

Here in the Philippines I can get air plants for an equivalent of $1 each!! (I just bought 2 today to try them out; I'm normally a cacti and succulent grower). The Xerographica air plant is $5 here each. I didn't even buy that because I found it expensive! Ha!

Keep us informed about how the air plants do for you because you are in an area that has weather conditions that some humidity-loving air plants really enjoy, while others, like the Xerographica, may find your environment a surprising challenge. But if you do well with cacti and succulents, you should have success with air plants, too.

So far so good (well it's only been with me for about 30 hours)! I'm totally winging the watering of it. I tried soaking them both once for ten minutes each yesterday (that eliminated their brown tips immediately). Hung them up and they were dry in 15 mins or so. Lol. Today I just misted around them til they were green. Then they dried in minutes too.

They look ok overall.. So I guess I'm alright. I am a total novice with Airplants so ill monitor them everyday and see how they are. I'll keep you updated.

Here are the two I got:

And

I have no no idea what they are yet :)

I agree.

Also how fast can depend on how long you can keep the plant in one piece. I have had so many broken by cats,birds..who knows what else. Undisturbed clumps just have so much faster growth.