No Soil Needed to Grow Air Plants at Home

01If you are looking for houseplants that do not take up a lot of space and are easy to grow, airplants might be the right choice.

02There are more than 500 different species of airplants.

03Officially, they are known as tallansia.

04These plants are native to places in North and South America that support year-round plant growth.

05Airplants belong to the same family as the pineapple.

06Instead of soil, these plants attach themselves to things like trees, rocks, and buildings.

07They do not cause problems for the objects they grow on.

08Airplants do not have roots.

09They depend on specialized cells called trichomes to permit their leaves to take in water and nutrients.

10Associated Press gardening writer Jessica Damiano has experimented with airplants and offers these guidelines for people wanting to grow them.

11Airplants require bright, indirect light.

12So, they should be placed near an east or west-facing window, but not directly in front of it.

13Direct sunlight can burn the plant's leaves.

14In homes with average humidity levels, put airplants in a bowl of room-temperature water once a week for 30 to 60 minutes.

15In homes with drier air, this process can be repeated when needed.

16Lightly shake the plants to remove extra water.

17Then, place them upside down on a cloth to dry for several hours.

18This step is necessary to prevent water from collecting on the plant's leaves, which can cause damage.

19If using chlorinated water, it is best to let the liquid sit for 12 to 24 hours to permit the chemical to dissipate before watering plants.

20Airplants are especially sensitive to chlorine.

21Growers should feed their airplants with any all-purpose houseplant, bromeliad, or orchid fertilizer.

22The substance should be added to the soaking water monthly to provide added nutrients.

23Use about half the amount suggested by the fertilizer manufacturer.

24Airplants bloom only once.

25The resulting pink, coral, purple, or white flowers are a signal that the plants are nearing death.

26However, airplants produce offshoots known as pups.

27These can be separated into new plants once they grow to about one-third the size of the parent.

28Notable airplants include Spanish moss, which can be found hanging from large trees in tropical or subtropical areas.

29In the home, Spanish moss is grown in a humid environment such as a bathroom.

30Another kind is Talansia ionotha, which is also known as the sky plant.

31It is a shaggy-looking plant with green bracts.

32Bracts are leaf-like structures that grow from the area just beneath a flower.

33The tops of bracts can turn pink or purple before flowering.

34Talansia caput medusae is named for its similarity to the snake-haired head of medusa from Greek mythology.

35The plant is popular because of its long wavy leaves that grow upward from a fat round base.

36Perhaps the most unusual species of Talansia is the zerographic airplant.

37This kind is known as the king of airplants.

38It can grow up to about one-half meter.

39The plant's long, thin silver leaves curl downward to produce a round shape that sets it apart from other airplants.

40You can place airplants in just about any spot that provides the required sunlight and good airflow.

41Glass containers or terrariums are popular choices.

42But growers can also put airplants inside seashells or on rocks.

43One could even create a floating Talansia garden by hanging several plants from fishing line.

44The plants can also be attached to natural wood pieces with wire or glue.

45Some choose to grow them inside hanging frames.

46When choosing placement possibilities, the main thing to keep in mind is to make sure you are fully meeting all the plant's needs.

47I'm Brian Lynn.

48I'm Brian Lynn.

49I'm Brian Lynn.

50I'm Brian Lynn.

51I'm Brian Lynn.

52I'm Brian Lynn.