Succulents…it seems like they are everywhere these days, but I wondered how easy they would be to plant and grow. Don’t get me wrong, I like plants. I even own a few patio plants and usually remember to water them. Like many working, single moms parenting teenagers, my days are jam- packed!
However, there was something about these seemingly indestructible plants that called to me…besides the fact that it doesn’t matter too much if you forget to water them. Should I really add one more thing to my “To Do” list?
First toe in the water, I bought a succulent for my brother as a Christmas gift. Spied it at the checkout in a local organic food store, already planted in a cute Asian-inspired planter. Bingo! He really likes plants and NEVER forgets to water them.
One step closer to inspiration, a few weeks later I found this really cool planter at a local Home Décor store.
The next and final straw was a trip to the home improvement store for light bulbs when instead, I found myself in the garden center. In front of the succulent section.
Needless to say, I did not leave the store empty-handed!
Ruby Ball Cactus
Thimble Cactus
Would all these incredibly cute, unique succulents fit in my new “cool” planter? Let’s find out.
My design idea was to place a larger plant off center. The two flowering cacti were so pretty I wanted to make sure they were included.
Each plant has special features, making it hard to choose but finally I came up with a winning layout.
Time to roll up my sleeves and plant! I was concerned the single bag of soil would be insufficient, but it was just the right amount.
Planting didn’t take long but I struggled with my gardening gloves. They were like cardboard. Granted I hadn’t used them in, um, well, several years.
Helpful Tips
- Choose gloves with flexibility to prevent manhandling the plants.
- Succulents are not as hardy as they appear!
- Before starting, I drilled a hole in the bottom of the planter with a special masonry drill to allow for good drainage.
Once the plants were in place, I sprinkled sand over the top of potting mix and lightly watered the entire mini garden, rinsing some of the stray sand off the leaves.
I am quite proud of the end result and truly enjoyed the process. It took about an hour and a half, start to finish. Being outdoors and unleashing my inner gardener was just what I needed!
