If you are looking for houseplants that do not take up a lot of space and are easy to grow,air plants might be the right choice. There are more than 500 different species of air plants.Officially they are known as Tillandsia. These plants are native to places in North andSouth America that support year-round plant growth. Air plants belong to the same family asthe pineapple. Instead of soil these plants attach themselves to things like trees,rocks and buildings. They do not cause problems for the objects they grow on.Air plants do not have roots. They depend on specialized cells called trichomes to permittheir leaves to take in water and nutrients. Associated Press gardening writer JessicaDeMiano has experimented with air plants and offers these guidelines for people wanting togrow them. Air plants require bright indirect light. So they should be placed near an eastor west facing window but not directly in front of it. Direct sunlight can burn the plant's leaves.In homes with average humidity levels put air plants in a bowl of room temperature wateronce a week for 30 to 60 minutes. In homes with drier air this process can be repeated when needed.Lightly shake the plants to remove extra water then place them upside down on a cloth to dryfor several hours. This step is necessary to prevent water from collecting on the plant'sleaves which can cause damage. If using chlorinated water it is best to let theliquid sit for 12 to 24 hours to permit the chemical to dissipate before watering plants.Air plants are especially sensitive to chlorine. Growers should feed their air plants with anyall-purpose houseplant bromeliad or orchid fertilizer. The substance should be added tothe soaking water monthly to provide added nutrients. Use about half the amount suggestedby the fertilizer manufacturer. Air plants bloom only once. The resulting pink, coral, purple,or white flowers are a signal that the plants are nearing death. However, air plants produceoffshoots known as pups. These can be separated into new plants once they grow to about one thirdthe size of the parent. Notable air plants include Spanish moss which can be found hangingfrom large trees in tropical or subtropical areas. In the home Spanish moss is grown in a humidenvironment such as a bathroom. Another kind is Tillandsia ionatha which is also known as thesky plant. It is a shaggy looking plant with green bracts. Bracts are leaf-like structuresthat grow from the area just beneath a flower. The tops of bracts can turn pink or purple beforeflowering. Tillandsia caputmeduce is named for its similarity to the snake-haired head of medusafrom Greek mythology. The plant is popular because of its long wavy leaves that grow upward from afat round base. Perhaps the most unusual species of Tillandsia is the xerographic air plant.This kind is known as the king of air plants. It can grow up to about one half meter.The plant's long thin silver leaves curl downward to produce a round shape that sets it apart fromother air plants. You can place air plants in just about any spot that provides the required sunlightand good air flow. Glass containers or terrariums are popular choices. But growers can also putair plants inside seashells or on rocks. One could even create a floating Tillandsia garden by hangingseveral plants from fishing line. The plants can also be attached to natural wood pieces with wireor glue. Some choose to grow them inside hanging frames. When choosing placement possibilities,the main thing to keep in mind is to make sure you are fully meeting all the plant's needs. I'm Brian Lynn.