Meet the Expert

Peggy Anne Montgomeryis a professional horticulturist and representative for Flowerbulbs.eu.

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Staghorn Fern

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Staghorn ferns are iconic and well-known in the category of soilless houseplants.

Orchid growing in coco coir ball.

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In the wild, they grow by attaching themselves to tree trunks and large branches.

These plants have gained popularity for their unique care needs and ability to grow without soil.

Thats because, as epiphytes, they grow naturally in the forest canopy, far above the ground.

two staghorn ferns mounted on wood boards on white wall

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The trick to growing them successfully indoors is to give them the correct amount of light and water.

Orchids

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Orchids are another common epiphyte that thrives without soil, says Montgomery.

The family includes both epiphytic plants (such asTillandsia) and terrestrial plants (like pineapples).

lucky bamboo plant by a window

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Regardless of how they grow, most Bromeliads thrive in soilless potting mediums.

However, pothos can also besuccessfully grown in water aloneand make an excellent choice for aquarium filler plants.

That makes it a great contender for mounting, kokedama growing, or other soilless growing options.

A Tillandsia air plant against a white background with white rocks underneath it.

The Spruce / Cori Sears

They grow best in chunky, soilless potting mixes that are well-draining and provide plenty of air flow.

Depending on the variety, hoya are also great contenders for mounting or kokedama growing.

Dischidias are epiphytes in their native environment, commonly growing on large branches and tree trunks.

small magenta orchids growing with ferns in an open glass terrarium

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Like hoyas, they can be grown numerous ways, from containers with chunky soilless potting mixes to mounting.

Bromeliads growing in the forest.

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Pothos cuttings rooting in jars of water

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

positioning the spiderette in the water

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

vase of anthurium flowers

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Bird’s nest fern on a bedside table

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

A blue star fern in a ceramic pot on a shelf.

The Spruce / Cori Sears

Hoya latifolia (macrophylla) in a terracotta pot.

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

Two dischidia plants hanging indoors.

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