Air Plant Care

The best beginner air plants are tough, forgiving, and flexible about light. Here are our 10 favorites, each tagged xeric or mesic so you know what it wants.

No. Air plants are epiphytes that absorb water and nutrients through their leaves, not roots. Planting one in soil will actually rot and kill it.

Silver, fuzzy air plants are xeric and want bright light with less water. Greener, smoother ones are mesic and want softer light with more water. Here is how to tell and care for each.

An air plant turns brown for one of five reasons: thirst, too much sun, rot, dry air, or natural aging after a bloom. Here is how to tell them apart and fix each one.

A 30-minute soak every 1 to 2 weeks is the baseline. Here is how to adjust for your plant type, your climate, the season, and how you water.

Air plants need just three things: water, light, and airflow. This beginner's guide covers watering, light, drying, and the mistakes to avoid.