Home & Garden Garden 9 Enchanting Facts About Air Plants Plants from the Tillandsia genus are fascinating little creatures that don't need soil and don't make a lot of demands. By Melissa Breyer Melissa Breyer Former Senior Editorial Director Hunter College F.I.T., State University of New York Cornell University Melissa Breyer is Treehugger’s former senior editorial director. Her writing and photography have been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, National Geographic, Audubon Magazine, and elsewhere. Learn about our editorial process Updated February 14, 2022 Treehugger / Lesly Junieth Garden Indoor Gardening Planting Guides Urban Farms Insects There is something undeniably charming about air plants. While all plants are lovely, air plants seem especially full of personality. Freed from the constraints of roots and soil, they almost feel like pets – a comparison that is strengthened by their quirky appearance that is part plant, part creature. Potted plants aren't for everyone, like, for anyone not blessed with a green thumb, or for people living in small spaces. Air plants, with their small size and undemanding nature, can make great alternatives to potted houseplants. Here's what to know about them. 1. Their Cousins of the Pineapple Air plant is the common name for members of the Tillandsia genus, which belongs to the Bromeliad family. Air plants’ most famous cousin from the Bromeliad family is probably the pineapple. But unlike pineapples, air plants get their water and nutrients from the air. Soil is so 1990s. 2. They Live Without Soil Treehugger / Lesly Junieth An air plant is what is known as an epiphyte – meaning that rather than being stuck in the soil, they attach themselves to things like trees, rocks, fences, and other structures, but they do not feed off the host for survival. In trendy homes nowadays, they seem to attach themselves to sea shells and driftwood and find shelter inside of terraria. 3. They May Grow Naturally in Your Neighborhood Treehugger / Lesly Junieth Air plants are native to the West Indies, Mexico, and much of Central America and South America. In the United States, they grow in California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and other southern states. There are more than 600 varieties of air plants. Your “mind-blown” moment of the day: Spanish moss is an air plant! Of course! So are moss balls. 4. They Have Pups! Treehugger / Lesly Junieth Air plants flower, and then after they produce little offsets called pups. Awww. Pups can be removed and treated as new air plants or can be left with mom, which will eventually lead to a cluster. Or, a litter? 5. They Like Dirty Drinks Since most homes don’t mimic the natural environments from where Tillandsia usually live, the plants require occasional misting and dunking. And they love dirty water full of goodies. Their favorites include water from lakes, ponds, aquaria, rain barrels, and even birdbaths. They do not appreciate distilled water at all; and tap water should be left out overnight to allow any chlorine, etc to dissipate. 6. It’s All About the Trichomes paulbein / Getty Images They work their magic thanks to little scales on their leaves called trichomes, which are like little reservoirs that grab water and nutrients from the air. The image below shows trichomes at 20 times magnification. 7. Some Are Fuzzy Air plants with fuzzy leaves and a silvery or dusty surface are xeric types that come from dry climates without much rain. Their more-pronounced trichomes are able to collect ample water and store it for dry spells. If you have these kinds, they require less frequent watering and don’t mind the direct sun. 8. Some Hail From Cloud Forests Treehugger / Lesly Junieth As opposed to xeric types, mesic air plants come shady moist places like rain and cloud forests. Their trichomes are less pronounced, resulting in glossier leaves They like more frequent watering. 9. They Face Threats As is true with most of Mother Nature's treasures, human desire could spell doom for air plants – and many species are threatened thanks to habitat destruction and over-collecting for the horticultural trade. Thankfully, exporters now need to prove that their air plants were nursery grown rather than harvested from the wild. When purchasing, make sure your plant seller works with suppliers certified for Tillandsia exportation.