Air plants and succulents are fresh, lovely - and nearly impossible to kill

In the words of Laurie Everett, owner of the Indie House and Annie Laurie's Antiques in downtown Cape Girardeau, "plants are the new black."

And in this day and age, having low-maintenance plants indoors can create a calming space, while also being functional for busy (or forgetful) plant owners.

"That's, I think, maybe why they're so popular right now ... the resurgence of indoor plants and finding ones that are easy to take care of," Everett says.

Mother Earth, Everett's business in the Indie House, is a "curated collection of all things bohemian," including a wide array of hanging plants, floor plants and succulents available for purchase.

Melissa LaPlant of Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau says she likes succulents because they are easy to manage and tough to kill.

Succulents at Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

"I think they're a very unusual plant, and I think they're easier to take care of because they pretty much thrive on neglect," she says. "They do better the more you ignore them."

With a growing season from April or May through October, succulents can be left outside until about October. Because succulents are tropical plants, they can't handle the cold conditions of wintertime, especially in Missouri.

LaPlant says upon bringing succulents indoors, people should consider altering their watering schedule. Without as much sun and a more temperate atmosphere, the plants don't need to be watered nearly as often.

"If you continue watering the way you've been watering them outside, then that's a good possibility you could overwater, which would cause rot, and then there goes your plant," she says.

She recommends watering the succulents once a week, maybe twice, while they're outside. Once inside, the plants should be watered once every other week or even once a month, and they need to be placed in a container that drains well. She also suggests using cactus-specific fertilizers for any indoor succulents.

"It does depend on temperature and the amount of light they get," she says.

There are many types of succulents with varying shapes of leaves, and colors ranging from deep purple to greens, blues, yellows and reds.

"All of them are a little bit different; it's just a matter of finding which ones work best for you," Everett says. "If you are really not a good plant person at all, one of the cactus family -- some of them are called snake tails or mother-in-law's tongue, rattlesnake tails -- those are pretty simple to take care of."

When it comes to hanging plants, LaPlant mentions ferns, ivy and wandering Jew, and Everett mentions burro's tail and philodendrons as popular choices. Plants can be hung in decorative baskets or glass terrarium orbs, depending on the plant owner's desired look.

LaPlant says tillandsia is an air plant that doesn't need soil to survive, because it takes all necessary nutrients and water in through its leaves. The plant's minimal root system is designed to anchor them to trees in the wild, which she says makes them perfect for hanging in glass terrariums or placing on a windowsill in the bathroom. Necessary care includes a slight misting of water maybe once or twice a week.

By line:Succulents at Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

Succulents at Sunny Hill Gardens and Florist in Cape Girardeau.Laura Simon

Style wise, Everett says she is seeing retro styling with macrame and other '70s themes to add character and charm in the home.

"Some of the trends right now in decorating are throwback, 1970s-style plants. We're seeing a lot of mother-in-law's tongues, we're seeing different cacti, succulents, all of those Aztec-type styles," Everett says. "And styling them inside, you can use just about anything as a container for plants."

Everett also is seeing succulents, most notably houseleek or "hens and chicks," styled in homes with stag horns and tree and bark pieces.

LaPlant and Everett believe succulents and air plants will continue to be a trend as people move in a healthier, more environmentally conscious direction.

"I think people are starting to go more toward the trend of living organically and having living things in the home, and I think, hopefully, we're on a trend of healthier lifestyle, and having indoor plants also falls within that category. A lot of them clean the air and they just, they make you feel good," Everett says.

Certain types of succulents can have health benefits, especially aloe vera plants, which can be used to treat burns and skin conditions and has various other uses.

"I think they will continue to be very popular. You do find them in a lot of designing … They just have a very interesting shape and look," LaPlant says.

Mother Earth and Sunny Hill on North Kingshighway have a number of succulents, air plants and hanging plants available for purchase, along with decorative baskets, pots and hanging planters.

"Plants are in," Everett says. "Plants are the new black."