The latest trend in the world of gardening is growing air plants, also known as Tillandsia. Tillandsia are exotic plants native to the tropics, with over 700 different species and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours.
We can see why they are so popular! Air plants are nearly indestructible and will survive in just about any environment which is perfect for beginner gardeners or people that tend to kill their houseplants! They are also compact in size and don’t take up a lot of room which is great for those with space constraints. Most importantly, air plants are unbelievably low maintenance! In fact, they are by far the easiest plants to grow because they don’t need water or soil to grow; the leaves get their nutrients from the air, hence the name.
Tillandsia species have little or no root systems. They are typically found in the wild attached to trees or other plants. Although not normally, grown for their flowers, some species have been known to bloom red flowers.
Air plants may not need soil, but they still need plenty of bright, indirect light to survive. Place the plant near a sunny window or under a grow light for the best results. They absorb their nutrients through their leaves so mist with water 2-3 times a week.
Unlike other houseplants, air plants don’t need to be grown in a pot. They are typically found mounted onto a variety of decorative surfaces, including cork, slate, rocks and driftwood or grown in terrariums. Group them in masses for the best visual effect. Air plants are also more than happy to live on the leaves or branches of garden trees and shrubs, and even rocks!
Check out these great air plant displays below or check out our air plants Pinterest board here:
