There used to be these preserved plants people called air plants. They looked like ferns. I remember they didn't require soil or water. I told my mom they were just dead plants dyed green back then. We're talking over 20 years ago. Does anyone remember these and know what they are. I talked to a lady yesterday who was looking for them, and I told her I hadn't seen them in years. It's not the plant that is sold as air plant now. Those look like succulents almost. This looked soft and like a fern.

No clue, Clint.

But are you thinking of 'Spanish Moss'...which is an airplant....?

No clue, Clint.

But are you thinking of 'Spanish Moss'...which is an airplant....?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...

I finally found it! Just wait until my mom finds out they aren't really plants at all. This was a gimmick that many people believed was a real, live plant. I knew better.

http://www.google.com/search?q...

My first thought was Tillandsia: Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides)

and then I thought of "Resurrection Fern" which is a dried up looking dead fern until we have rain and it greens up again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...

Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides)

Here's a photo of it I found for anyone who was wondering what it was.

I never had that plant called a air plant before, only a resurrection plant. Very interesting.

At this point when everyone has a different association with the common name for a plant...I realize how useful knowing the botanical name. I cursed my Mother for making me learn the botanical names....but am so grateful now. It is always the anchor we can count on. Common names are so fickle....

Oh, I remember the "Air Plant" from a long time ago ... late 60's or early to mid 70's ... it was popular for awhile sorta like the "Pet Rock" and the "Mood Ring".

Carol: I don't come from a family of gardeners and don't really remember why or when I began learning botanical/scientific names of plants; but just at some point realized how important it is to know the scientific name because there are so many plants from entirely different species having the exact common name which can make gardening really confusing! But alas, now that I'm getting "older" I sometimes find myself looking at a plant and not remembering the scientific name or the common name! I'm so thankful for the ID forum here on ATP!

These need to make a comeback. They were so easy to keep green!

clintbrown said:They were so easy to keep green!

That's the story and I don't remember for sure but ....... I probably killed a couple of those kinds too.

There is a very nice associate at Lowes who, when I asked if they had any air plants that weren't glued to something, gave me 4 that had come unglued. Told me, "here, put these in your pocket." I put them in shells...above the kitchen sink, in the bathroom and in the screen room. Managed to kill every one...and all I did was talk to them and say how happy I was to have them. Phooey...time for a breath mint ???

Those things die for me to. This air fern is already dead when you buy it though. It's dyed green or some other colors from time to time. It isn't really a plant, but it fooled thousands into thinking it is. LOL.

Yeah, thought my mom's was real until I watered it and got the dye all over the place....

Though I grow many Tillandsia (including Spanish moss), all of mine are mounted and receive the same light, water, air movement, and fertilizer that most of my orchids do. Though most of the experts say to neglect Tillandsia and they will do fine, mine are kind of pampered. The dozen or so varieties I grow have their own blooming cycle, but they all bloom every year. I guess they are happy to be included with my orchids in the care they receive. There are three good things about mounting them: They drain very quickly, can be hung anywhere there is good, indirect light, and they probably will never have to be moved or re-mounted. Ken at www.tropicalplantsandmore.com.

I found this thread looking for information about a plant a friend had given me. I tend to kill anything I try to grow so she gave me this small but beautiful plant she called an Airplant and told me that I could not kill it as it needed no watering or special light. She also said they do better in areas that have moisture like the bathroom, I just noticed that after three years there was somehow dust on my little plant so I tried to rinse it a bit in the sink. Suddenly all this green dye was everywhere! I cleaned it up leaving the "plant" dangling to dry. After Googling I find out that my friend was right, hard to kill something that is dead and dyed. I like it and hope it doesn't have too much damage, real or no.

Now that's funny. I never thought to dye my plants so that they always looked green and healthy. Dying them sure would eliminate a lot of the work that goes into keeping them healthy, though many of the "air plants" are not green. Ken in Mississippi

I want to save it Drdawg. It's the only plant I have, lol.

Perhaps it is time to spread your wings, Purrfect, and buy a nice, healthy (real) air-plant. They really are easy to care for and when mounted on natual wood, they make interesting wall decor . Ken

I tried to tell my mom her airplants were dead and just dyed green. I was only 5 or 6 years old. I can still hear her insisting they were alive and real and just a new plant that doesn't need any water or light. LOL. Shhh. Don't tell her I told this story on the world wide web.