how to: indoor succulent garden
Posted: June 27, 2011 Filed under: antiques & trinkets., how to., interiors. 7 Comments »i’ve been seeing succulents everywhere for quite a while… on home decor blogs like here, in anthropologie stores, in magazines and we even just planted some at Nordstrom. i became enamored by the fact that there were SO many different kinds available! i’m not one to have indoor house plants {other than flowers} but i loved the idea of having something fresh and alive on our large coffee table, and i’m always up for a new how-to project that i’ve never tackled before! the BEST part is, they require hardly any work what-so-ever… no, seriously!! they do need full sunlight, but only need to be watered once a week {if the soil is dry} since they store water in their leaves {think aloe plant!} and can be planted indoors or out.
here are a few photos i thought were inspiring…
ummm... gorgeous!
ahhmazing idea for a cake!
here’s what you need to get started:
- a planter {with a drainage hole if you’re planting outside…}
- drainage rocks {if you’re planting inside and your planter has no drainage, like mine…}
- cactus soil {hold 25% more water than traditional soil, your succulents will love it!}
- succulents! there are so many to choose from so have FUN picking them out! i bought mine at Lowe’s… they were $4-$9 each, depending on the size. i really mixed them up to create interest… {i also wasn’t sure how many i would need so i bought a bunch and returned the 2 or 3 i didn’t end up using.} prepare for foreign language… i bought: echeveria {lola & dondo,} donkey tail {burito,} pachyveria {blue pearl,} hens n’ chicks {pacific blue ice,} platter plant & sedum species…
i'm usually like pheobe when it comes to potterybarn, but gil and i had a gift card and i thought this would be the perfect planter... i love it!
love!
it’s really important NOT to over-water succulents… they’ll die! and since this planter doesn’t have a drainage hole you’re going to make your own by covering the bottom layer of your planter with drainage rocks. this way, IF you happen to over-water, the h2O will have somewhere to go… then the soil can suck the water back up as soon as it needs it. genius!!
next, you want to start adding the cactus soil and then place your plants {and water them once before you plant them…} i started in the center with the largest ones, spreading them out evenly then i layered in the smaller ones, followed by the fillers.
don’t get discouraged if you don’t like it right away! i think i started over at least 4 times… gil was cracking up, but i wanted it to be perfect {according to me!} my only warning is: BE VERY CAREFUL! succulents are very fragile… be sure to pick them up by the roots only and nestle them gently. keep adding soil so that they are tucked in tightly…
the final product is to DIE for! let me know how yours turns out… hope you enjoy and be curious!
I think rooftop “yards” are made out of succulents. They are resilient and beautiful. I’ve also really enjoyed the wall art made from succulents on etsy. I can’t wait to make something for our new home. Thanks for the extra inspiration!
I’ll have to check out the wall art on etsy! let me know how your next project turns out… hope you’re well!
did lowes have the hens and chicks? i was on the waiting list at dearness gardens and never heard back from them!
yea they did! different sizes too
I shopped the northlake one, they had the best variety I’ve seen so far!
Looks gorgeous! We started our cross country trip with two very small ones velcroed to the dashboard. It’s amazing how much they’ve grown since we left 2 months ago!!! They went from about 4 leaves to almost 20 and when I looked into the bottom of the pot yesterday, I found out we have 3 babies! Cause when the leaves fall off they form new roots
that’s amazing!! if ours grow that much I’ll have to move some to another container!! I’m glad you guys are loving the roadtrip! what’s been your favorite city so far??
i have some of these same succulents planted in various pots, they look so cute around the bottom of bigger plants that you have potted also, adds a little variety… i also buy little tea cups, coffee cups, odd little things at the thrift store and just plant like one of my little hens and chicks in there and they are adorable…. your pot is beautiful…..