Most air crops are a part of the Tillandsia genus, with nearly all of varieties making up a part of the Bromeliad household (Bromeliaceae), identical to the pineapple plant.
These tropical crops sometimes develop in humid areas, equivalent to rainforests, in lots of areas around the globe. Air crops could be present in Central and South America, in addition to the West Indies, Mexico, and even in some areas within the southern United States. Within the wild, you will discover them rising in timber and crevices, in addition to on rocks and cliffs.
Most air crops are epiphytes, that means they depend on onerous surfaces for stability however do not require soil for vitamins. That is as a result of “Their leaves are coated in tiny hair-like buildings referred to as trichomes that assist them take up vitamins and moisture from the air,” Lindsay Pangborn, a gardening professional at Bloomscape, explains.
Regardless of their identify, these crops don’t solely subsist solely on air. When holding them as houseplants, you may must water them too.