Echeveria is an easy-to-produce succulent. And if you're a brown thumb looking for some bragging rights, air plants got you covered. What Type of Water Is Used for Air Plants If a soil mixture has too much substrate mixed in, it doesn't retain water long enough. The digital age makes it easy for misinformation quickly to spread. It doesn't take much to water air plants. It is not suitable for air plants because they depend on nutrients and minerals for their growth. Because they can't absorb nutrients or water, their roots can attach to rocks or other shrubs.