Air plants, a category of plants formally known as epiphytes, get their name from seemingly living on air. Although they appear to require nothing in the way of water or food, air plants actually gather their nutrients and moisture from the atmosphere around them.
While not available at every home garden center, air plants can be found at specialty nurseries and are increasingly easy to find as they grow in popularity. Great for people with self-professed black thumbs, air plants require practically no care. Just be sure that they receive ample sunlight and aren't left in a place where temperatures can dip toward freezing.
Debra Prinzing
Debra Prinzing snapped this impressive shot at the Tropical Plant Indoor Expo. Here, a collection of Tillandsia climb the wall in a unique planter designed by John Lamos for Viducci's Garden USA.
Debra Prinzing
With curving gray-green foliage, Tillandsia xerographica is a versatile air plant that can grow to be quite large.
Schoolhouse Electric
Anna Marra Flowers' walls are decorated with a few wall-mounted staghorn ferns, making an indoor garden out of the shop's space in the Schoolhouse Electric factory building.
West Elm
Shane Powers Ceramic Wall Planters - $19
Ceramic wall planters, like these matte white vessels by Shane Powers for West Elm, turn air plants such as staghorn ferns into living art.
West Elm
Filled with a collection of tiny air plants, these clear glass planters by Shane Powers for West Elm allow you to create a hanging indoor garden. Just be sure to hang them where they'll receive natural light.
West Elm
When placing air plants into vessels like this glass orb, be sure that the vessel's opening will easily accomodate your plant. If the leaves get dusty, spritz them with a water bottle.
DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL
In this sleek bathroom by DKOR Interiors, three staghorn ferms seem to grow out of a wall that is covered in tiles that resemble wood grain. A nearby window provides the quality sunlight that these specimens prefer.
Flora Grubb Gardens
This wooden display by Flora Grubb Gardens showcases a variety of slender-frond air plants. Says Grubb, “Our inspiration was the amazing and unusual qualities of the plants themselves, and their ability to survive without roots, without soil.”
More on Grubb's air plant displays
Justina Blakeney
Blogger Justina Blakeney displays her air plants in a surprising way: in a pine apothecary chest found in a thrift shop in Los Angeles.
Debra Prinzing
Debra Prinzing snapped this impressive shot at the Tropical Plant Indoor Expo. Here, a collection of Tillandsia climb the wall in a unique planter designed by John Lamos for Viducci's Garden USA.
Debra Prinzing
With curving gray-green foliage, Tillandsia xerographica is a versatile air plant that can grow to be quite large.
Schoolhouse Electric
Anna Marra Flowers' walls are decorated with a few wall-mounted staghorn ferns, making an indoor garden out of the shop's space in the Schoolhouse Electric factory building.
West Elm
Shane Powers Ceramic Wall Planters - $19
Ceramic wall planters, like these matte white vessels by Shane Powers for West Elm, turn air plants such as staghorn ferns into living art.
West Elm
Filled with a collection of tiny air plants, these clear glass planters by Shane Powers for West Elm allow you to create a hanging indoor garden. Just be sure to hang them where they'll receive natural light.
West Elm
When placing air plants into vessels like this glass orb, be sure that the vessel's opening will easily accomodate your plant. If the leaves get dusty, spritz them with a water bottle.
DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL
In this sleek bathroom by DKOR Interiors, three staghorn ferms seem to grow out of a wall that is covered in tiles that resemble wood grain. A nearby window provides the quality sunlight that these specimens prefer.
Flora Grubb Gardens
This wooden display by Flora Grubb Gardens showcases a variety of slender-frond air plants. Says Grubb, “Our inspiration was the amazing and unusual qualities of the plants themselves, and their ability to survive without roots, without soil.” 
Justina Blakeney
Blogger Justina Blakeney displays her air plants in a surprising way: in a pine apothecary chest found in a thrift shop in Los Angeles.