What are Air Plants and How do you Decorate with Them?

Learn what an Air Plant is, how to care for them and how to decorate with them. Check out a few of my ideas to place Air plants around your house so they look like beautiful decor.

If you had asked me six months ago what an air plant was I would have looked at you like you had six eyes. Let’s just say I have a bit of a black thumb. This interest in them started a few months ago while I was at the local hardware store with my four year old. I’ll tell you all about it and a little information about how to care for them and how to decorate with them.

While at the hardware store a few months ago, my daughter was “beebopping” around like she normally does while I’m trying to make sure she doesn’t break anything. In her normal fashion, she was jumping around the garden area, her favorite spot. She stopped to touch all the “sticky” (cactus) plants. As I was about to redirect her attention to the exit sign, a nice lady approached me. She asked if I knew anything about “air plants.” Of course, I said no. She then spent a quick five minutes explaining all about them.

In all of her explantation, I heard a few key points;

• they don’t have to live in soil
• you only have to “mist” them once a week

Let’s just say I was intrigued. This is where my interest in them started.

What are air plants?

According to Better Homes and Gardens,

“Air plants are epiphytes, meaning plants that grow without dirt. Air plants attach themselves to rocks, trees, shrubs, or the ground with their roots and are native to the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America.”

There are TONS of different types and varieties of them. I’m going to be sharing a few of the most popular varieties.

Because they don’t thrive in water or soil, these types of plants have become super popular over the past few years because they are so easy to care for.

Let’s be honest, it’s the main reason I’m interested in them!

How do you care for air plants?

They require bright, indirect light either as sunlight or consistent indoor home lighting. This is another reason why they are so great for indoor plants!

It’s suggested that you only have to submerge or heavily mist your plants in water for 20-30 minutes once a week. No daily watering! It’s best to gently shake out the excess water and lay them out to dry before displaying.

Note: don’t let them remain wet for long periods of time.

Disclosure; this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the price you pay. This disclosure statement refers to the rest of the Amazon links in this post.

Where do you buy air plants?

Are you looking for faux or real? I found a great supply of faux air plants at Hobby Lobby. You can see how I decorated them in my new office space below. This particular one is called the Tillandsia Xerographica.

You can see a set of faux air pants from Amazon below. These are also the Tillandsia Xerographica plants.

Want to see the assortment of air plants from Target? Take a look at one below.

You can also purchase them at your local hardware store, if they have some in stock. I tried to find some at Home Depot, but they were out. You can also order them online. Here are some from Home Depot’s website in an assortment of types.

I purchased a set of real plants from Amazon. They came in a brown box wrapped in pink tissue paper. This set of plants are called Tillandsia Ionantha house plants.

After I removed my air plants from the pink paper, I put them in a small bowl and let them sit for 20 minutes.

I then removed them from the bowl, slightly shook the excess water off, and laid them on a paper towel to dry.

How do you decorate or display an air plant?

They are mostly seen displayed in jars, terrariums, and things like driftwood! Don’t put them in soil.

This is the fun part. I’ll share a few of my own air plant decor ideas with a few others too.

In Driftwood;

Driftwood and other natural elements like birch wood are a great way to display your air plants.

In a bread bowl;

Bread bowls and other household or decorative bowls are a great way to style and display them. They add just the right amount of green.

Displayed in vases like milk glass;

I’ve used my air plants to add just a little color to my kitchen. The green helps break up all the white with the milk glass and the bread box.

In seashells;

Another way to decorate with air plants is to place them in similar size seashells. This adds a fun “coastal” vibe.

In candle holders;

Place air plants on top of candle holders instead of using candles. A great way to repurpose a candle holder with a touch of green.

In Terrariums;

There are so many affordable ways to buy terrarium’s with air plants like the one I found from Pottery Barn below.

In hanging holders;

Set them in hanging holders like the ones I found below from Amazon.

I hope I’ve given you a few ideas on how to use them in decor. If you enjoyed this post I would love for you to pin the image below to Pinterest!