Succulents and air plants are on trend this season. Their clean, structural appeal has struck a chord with gardeners and designers, young and old alike.

If you haven’t picked up these hip houseplants yet, you may be missing out. Forgetful gardeners can breathe a sigh of relief, as these plants are very forgiving. With so many different types to choose from, it is often hard to pick just one.

Succulents

What is a succulent? Succulents truly are the perfect plant for forgetful gardeners. Any plant that has fleshy leaves or stems that store water is considered a succulent. Caring for succulents is easy, and succulent gardens and terrariums add drama and elegance to both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Easy Care Tips for Your Succulents

When succulents are kept indoors, it can be difficult for them to get enough sunlight. A good rule of thumb is about six hours of light per day, so keep them close to a window with bright light. Outdoors, they prefer the same conditions, making a sunny patio spot ideal. Most of the cool, funky succulents are not winter hardy and need to be brought indoors for the winter.

Always plant succulents in a light potting mix with plenty of sand or perlite to allow for proper drainage. They do not like wet roots, so cactus soil is the best choice.

A common misconception is that succulents like to be kept consistently dry. This is not entirely true. Succulents should be watered so that the soil becomes thoroughly wet, then left to dry out completely before watering again.

Succulents are ideal for lazy or forgetful gardeners because even when left dry for a period of time, they recover beautifully. If you have trouble knowing when to water, a moisture meter can be very helpful. It is a simple and inexpensive tool that tells you whether your soil is too wet, too dry, or just right.

Air Plants

These unusual plants look like something from prehistoric times. Tillandsia, commonly known as air plants, are epiphytes. This means they do not require soil and instead obtain water and nutrients from the air.

Easy Care Tips for Your Air Plants

There are a few ways to care for air plants. Most growers recommend misting them once or twice a week. Another method is soaking them in a bowl of water for about 15 minutes once a week, then allowing them to dry upside down so excess water can drain before placing them back in their terrarium. We even have one customer whose air plant produced babies this winter.

One of the most interesting ways to display air plants is in clear glass terrariums that hang or sit in windows. They truly act as living pieces of plant art in your home.

Have we convinced you yet to try these cool little plants? It is such a simple way to connect with nature with very little effort. Simply pick out your favourite plant, a fun pot, and a bag of cactus soil, and you will be well on your way to joining the succulove movement.

Peace & Plants,
Kelly Heath
Retail Manager