Succulent Gardening

With all the rain my succulents are going crazy it’s a  perfect time to make some original container gardens.

My garden is perfect for clippings! Succulents can get very expensive and I think a lot of people don’t realize just how easy they are to propagate.

I have Never followed the rules when it comes to succulent container gardening.

I simply cut the succulent and plant the cuttings in good Damp Cactus Dirt.

The trick is Not to over water!! They will thrive!

They do need light so if you’re putting your new arrangement indoors it can be trickier. Porches or patios are perfect.

OK, so let’s look at some container choices…

I love these containers! Making arrangements in beautiful urns with faux succulents are incredible indoors but I like going a bit more rustic when planting outdoors.

So today, I’m going to focus on Outdoor Container Gardening.

I found this wonderful succulent booth at the Vintage Marketplace in Temecula.

The owners used old carts, wire baskets, rusting containers….Anything works as long as there’s drainage!

Here’s a really easy idea. Using 3 soup cans, I lightly rusted. painted and drilled holes in each can for drainage. I then mounted to a piece of distressed wood with a piece of rusted, painted tin for a great accent.

I then used on an old chain to hang the arrangement.

I filled the bottom third of the can with small pebbles , topping with some good Cactus Soil.

It became a fun arrangement for pennies.

I used a  large discarded paint can to make into this amazing planter.

I first cleaned then mounted the can to distressed wood with ice tongs as the hanger before planting the succulents….

This gets pretty heavy so make sure whatever you use as the hanger  is strong enough to hold the weight. Add holes for drainage, pebbles then fill with dirt. All the succulents are clippings.

This can and the ice tongs were found in a trash heap!

 I tried planting some cuttings in the crevasses of our garden wall and with very little care they are thriving.

This crevasse in my wall is the perfect planter space… I simply added moss to help hold the clippings and they grew like crazy. I was actually surprised they took so well and have planted total of 6 more groupings. They are all growing just fine.

They’ve been there now for going on 3 years through rain and shine.

 Pallets made into planters? Nothing new but here’s another way to do it.

This is 4 palates, reconstructed, two on each side. Bottoms were added on each section for planting. Each side is around 6 ft in height. They were then hinged so I could place in my garden as a divider. I then lined each palate section with gardening fabric, filled with cactus dirt and planted, mostly with clippings. I water once a week real well and that’s it.

What a great way to add dimension to a small side yard.

This  paint can was used for target practice in the dessert but was perfect to plant some grass and fill with succulents in each hole. It makes a great arrangement.

I also used a saw blade and some rusted tin can lids also found deserted. They are fun mounted as background to the planter.

This is a Stove Pipe!! A What?

I found this pipe rusting at an old abandoned ranch!

I cleaned the pipe real well of all the smoke, then wrapped the stove pipe with barbed wire and  mounted it to a piece of old fencing.

I stuffed it with moss then filled with cactus dirt, gently adding the succulent clippings.

I’ve always been sorry I sold this…I love it and it’s a one of a kind!

This poor paint can was also used in a former life for target practice…now made new holding succulents! All Clippings… What!!!!

Start looking at garage sales for items like this old garden cart. Line with moss then fill it up. Such a statement piece in any garden!

Displaying succulents can be so fun..no matter what the setting. On your porch in a beautiful elegant setting…

Or arranged on an old kitchen step stool next to a work shed…

Displaying succulents can be whatever you want…whether you go elegant or display your succulents in a rusty tin cans.
Have fun just making it your own!

On my next post on February 10th,  I’m so excited to share an awesome store that not only has those incredible urns and indoor faux succulents but many other great floral design items and great home decor.

My next favorite place to Shop for February 10th 2017: Forever Floral, Murrieta, Ca.