These nifty little guys are special because unlike most plants, they aren't rooted into the dirt. Who would have ever imagined a plant without a pot?!
The name comes from the fact that they don't need soil, and are sometimes seen on top of other plants or even trees in the wild, but... they can't actually survive on air alone. They still need water (and fertilizer) like other plants. However to water these, you can either soak them in a bowl or mist them (sometimes they get homesick and miss the rainforests); some prefer to just be dunked in rather than taking a long bath though. If an air plant has been submerged, it must be dried upside down to make sure all the water drips off. It it sits at the base of leaves, they will rot.
Did you know there are actually hundreds of kinds of air plants? Most are in the bromeliad family, but some kinds of orchids, ferns, and cacti still count. Tillandsia is the most common variety and here's some you are likely to see:
One of the most fun parts of air plants is the creativity you can have in displaying them. Since they don't need to be in a pot like other plants, you can put them in a terrarium, on a piece of driftwood or pretty stone, in an artsy wire holder, or even suspend them from the ceiling! It is advised not to glue them into place as it's bad for the leaves and can make watering difficult.
