Best air plants for beginners: Top air plants to consider

Air plants are alive, and like most living things, they also need the right care. The idea that plants obtain all their nutrients and water through the air on their own is a misconception, especially for beginner air plant growers. These plants are sassy, soilless and alive.

Why you should consider air plants

Air plants challenge the idea of traditional soil gardening. Their exotic look and growing approach are fascinating to gardeners. Air plants are mostly evergreen flowering perennials that absorb water and nutrients through their leaves. Like most plants, they need to be watered and fertilised to encourage growth. The plants require less water and maintenance than many other plants, making them the perfect option for new houseplant owners.

Many of them can be grown in a small space, horizontally or vertically. When growing air plants, you need to create optimal growing conditions for the air plant species you have in the garden. The growing conditions may vary from indoors to outdoors, considering the different seasons and climate changes.

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Types of air plants to consider

The common misconception about air plants is that they must have roots to grow and stay alive. These plants do grow roots, but their roots are used to attach to a surface. Their unique aspect is in their ability to grow without soil. The secret lies in the fuzzy protrusions on the leaves called trichomes, which will absorb moisture from the air and rain.

These are the few air plants one can start with:

Octopus plant (Tillandsia caput-medusae) air plant
Harrisii Black Airplant.
Tillandsia xerographica (King plant)
The fan-shaped air plant (Tillandsia flabellata)

Image Credit: Pixabay

Common mistakes with growing air plants

Lack of light and air movement
Over and under-watering
Too much direct sun on certain species.
Some air plants tolerate more extreme conditions, so choosing the right air plant for your area is important.

With the right growing conditions, you can grow any air plant species successfully.