As the name implies, air plants absorb nutrients and water from the air through scales on their leaves. They’re easy to care for and don’t need much light to thrive.
Don’t plant them in dirt. They’re epiphytes, which means they grow on other plants, not in the ground. Because they don’t need dirt, you can put them in creative places. Place one in a shallow bowl or vase filled with rocks or sand, place one in a tiny container with a magnet and put it on the fridge, or tie them to driftwood with a translucent fishing line.
Don’t put them in an enclosed terrarium as air plants need the circulation of air. A closed vessel will keep them too wet, causing them to rot or get a fungal disease.
Exposure: Indirect or low light
Water: Once a week, submerge air plants in water and let them sit there for hours. Use rainwater or bottled drinking water. Softened water is high in salts that will burn the air plants, and tap water has minerals that can clog the trichomes on air plant leaves and keep them from absorbing nutrients. Dry the air plants out. This is very important. After they soak, shake off excess water and put them in a bright spot for a couple of hours to dry.
Fertilize: Feed them once a month by adding water-soluble fertilizer for epiphytes, bromeliads or air plants to the water you dunk them in. These specialized fertilizers contain nitrogen in a form they can absorb.