Some plants evolved clinging to tree bark and rocks, never touching soil. These species thrive in airy, mineral-rich substrates that mimic their natural habitats.
- Air Plants: Absorb water through leaf scales, requiring no growing medium at all.
- Staghorn Fern: Mounts on wood slabs, gathering nutrients from decomposing matter in crevices.
- Lithops: Survive in pure pumice or sand, mimicking desert stone fields.
- String of Pearls: Trails through gritty perlite mix, preventing root rot.
- Carnivorous Plants: Root in pure sphagnum moss, acidic and nutrient-free like bogs.
- Bromeliads: Nestle in bark chips and moss, storing water in leaf cups.
- Tillandsia: Cling to driftwood or wire, feeding from air and occasional misting.
- Rhipsalis: Cascade from coarse cactus mix, replicating rainforest branch life.
Soil was never the requirement — just the surface we happened to notice.
