what is an air plant

Air plants, also known as Tillandsias, are a type of plant that belongs to the Bromeliaceae or Bromeliad species. They are native to the forests, mountains, and deserts of the Neotropics, from northern Mexico and the southeastern United States to Mesoamerica and the Caribbean to central Argentina. Air plants are epiphytes, which means they do not need soil to grow. Instead, they cling to whatever surfaces are readily available, such as telephone wires, tree branches, bark, and bare rocks. They absorb nutrients and moisture from the air and rain, and their leaves are covered with specialized cells called trichomes that can rapidly absorb water. Air plants are not parasitic and use their host for a method of support. They require a platform to commence growing, but their roots are mainly used as a means of attaching themselves to the supporting subject. Air plants require frequent watering, beneficial air circulation, and brilliant filtered light to thrive. They are easy to care for once you know what they need.