Beginner's guide to taking care of your air plants

They may seem otherworldly in the way they grow but these fascinating plants can thrive in your home with ease.

There are many species of air plants and all need the right care to continue growing. This guide will help you manage growing air plants in your space.

What are Air plants?

Air plants are scientifically called epiphytes, meaning they easily grow on other plants in nature, usually on tree branches. What they do is attach to another plant by the use of their roots. These roots don’t uptake moisture and nutrients like most plants.

Instead, air plant collects water from around the air and the leaves of air plants trap dust that provides necessary nutrients to the plants. When dealing with air plants, it is crucial to know which type you are dealing with. There are two main types, the mesic; from high humidity backgrounds, and xeric; from desert-like conditions.

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How to take care of air plants

Taking care of these plants is so straightforward, don’t let the lack of soil scare you away from giving them a try. Xeric-type air plants are considered easy to take care of, due to their adaptability to low moisture environments.

What you need to remember when growing air plants is keeping them out of direct sunlight. You need to match their growing conditions. In their natural environment, many air plant species grow in sheltered, shady tree branches.

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The different types will need different moisture and humidity to keep them thriving. Xeric types will do well with a misting every few days, while mesic plants need more moisture and humidity. Inspect your plants more to see if they require watering as overwatering will curl the leaves.

Remember air plants don’t have roots like other plants, they only have a few short ones meant to help hold them onto whatever. Soak or rinse the plants once or twice a week depending on the type you have. They get most of their water from the humidity you provide.