Let’s get real guys, #succulents are all the rage. Not only are they unbelievably easy to take care of and visually fantastic, they’re green, which has been trending since Obama’s first term. These voguish plants have made it possible for anyone to keep a healthy #garden alive (!!), fashioning another notch in our 100% biodegradable hemp belts. So here I bestow on you, my fellow green-thumb-challenged, environmentally inspired go-getters, a #stepbystep #guide on how to build yourself a #succulentplanter (OR if building one yourself isn’t your style? Buy one of ours located on the "SUCCULENTS" page & don’t-but-say-ya-did 😉).
.Step 1: Select a container. Choosing what you want to build your succulent planter in is one of the best ways to show off your creative strength. Due to their shallow root systems,succulents can be planted in virtually any container as long as it has a drainage hole in the bottom, the plant’s roots are covered by soil and it’s #foliage is above the rim.
With that being said, you don’t want to find a vessel that is too large. If the container is exponentially larger than it’s succulents, the #plant will focus on spreading its roots rather than growing. While keeping it proportionate, make it conducive to your own style. If you’re looking for a classic look find some glazed pottery. If you’re looking for something more eccentric try an antique shop. Remember, as long as it has a drainage hole and it’s a reasonable size your plants will thrive.
Step 2: Select your plants & soil.
The artistic bus doesn’t stop at the container! At this point in your journey you get to explore
different types of succulents at your local nursery. As you peruse, consider your design: notice their wild shapes and patterns, try to match your plants to your container, choose a taller succulent to add height to your #design, throw in a trailing succulent that can hang loosely over the side, or find a plant that extends out past your container. While most succulents have relatively similar requirements (full sun and minimal water), make sure you’re top draft picks will work as a team.
Usually, weather and water instructions can be found on the plant tags or befriend a nurseryman that looks friendly enough to help a novice #horticulturalist in need.
Found your plants? Good! Now that you’ve selected your players, it’s time to grab a bag of potting soil and gravel. If they have a blend specific to arid-loving plants grab it, but any standard potting soil will do. Additionally, you’ll want to grab some pea-gravel or any type of small rock to layer in your planter (I prefer Permatill.) Pea-gravel will give your soil better ventilation, allowing it to dry faster and make those all-stars happy 😋
Finished at the #nursery?
Congratulations, it’s time to make your dream #planter a reality!
Step 3: Prepare your planter & soil.
Remember that drainage hole we raved about earlier? It’s time to secure that sucker so you don’t make too big of a mess when you water your babies. Cut a piece of screen so that it will fit over the drainage hole. The pea-gravel you lay down next should keep the screen steady while serving as a ventilation-drainage system. After the pea-gravel, grab your potting soil mix, you want soil in your pot before adding the plants so the roots have something to sit on.
Decision making time, you’ve got a few options at this stage: - If you’re a messy gardener, you want to fill your container to the top with potting soil and dig a hole for the plant once you’ve decided your design strategy. - If you’re on the more meticulous side, you can fill your planter halfway with potting mix. To make sure you’ve added enough soil, place the plant and root system in the container and make sure the plant sits just above the rim, while the full root system is below it. Once you’ve arranged your succulents, you will fill the empty areas of the container with soil.
Step 4: Plant your succulents.
Time to get that green thumb working and plant these babies! At this point, all the hard work is out of the way and from here on out it’s smooth sailing. Remove your plants from their original containers and clear away any excess soil. When you’re finished you should be holding a plant with roots (if theres some soil still attached it’s not a big deal, but there shouldn’t be much.) Start placing the succulents in their respective positions.
Don’t be scared if they’re close together, this will make your container more visually pleasing. The plants will grow more slowly, ultimately benefitting your original design by allowing it’s shape to last longer.
With that being said, if you are working with smaller sedums and would like them to flourish in your planter, plant them with space (up to an inch apart) and over time they will fill in. Giving your succulent space allows for better air ventilation, which helps the plant receive oxygen and the soil to dry out more quickly, ultimately resulting in a faster growing plant.* *NOTE: While it will grow fast-ER, don’t expect this to happen quickly, as succulents grow at a glacial pace
When you have settled on a favorable design, plant your succulents in the container. Make sure to plant the sedums above the rim of the pot. You can leave a little space (~¼ inch) so watering is easier, but with too much space water can pool leaving leaves to rot, which causes problems for rest of plant. If you initially decided to fill your container halfway, take this time to fill the rest of the container with soil.
It is imperative you make sure all of the roots are covered so they don’t dry out. Once you’re finished, if you still have soil showing in-between your plants, dress the top soil with marbles, gravel, and/or rocks.
Step 5: Get your new babies {and yourself} a drink 🥂
Time for their first taste in their new home! Dispense the water slowly as you saturate the container until you see water coming out of the drainage hole. Don’t water again until you notice the soil is dry!
PLANTED ON MARCH 8
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REPHOTOGRAPHED ON MARCH 22 ▶️▶️▶️▶️▶️▶️▶️
TA-DA! Guys, if you weren’t an expert on succulents before, you’re still not, but now you can fake it ‘til you make it 🙃 Place your new favorite living decor piece in a window or area that gets plenty of sunlight & enjoy!