Creating A Succulent Garden

Having a small space is no more an excuse to not grow plants. With the rising popularity of container gardening, every nook and cranny can (and should) be stuffed with plants. 

If you’ve just dipped your toe into the gardening world, container gardening is a great way to start. 

It gives you the flexibility of moving your plants if you find that they’re not taking well to the soil or light conditions. You will also face less of a threat from weeds and pests with indoor container plants. 

A succulent is a flashy, yet beginner-friendly container plant. Read on to know the steps to creating a succulent garden in a container. 

How to create a container Succulent Garden in 4 easy steps

Choosing the right container

Succulents are no-fuss plants. So they will thrive in pretty much any container you put it in. 

The only main requirement is that the container has enough drainage holes. Succulents cannot sit in water. So you need to make sure the container will allow the water to drain.  

The pot doesn’t have to be too deep, so you can reuse any old container you have lying around. 

If you’re going to repurpose a box or stand that wasn’t originally a flower pot, drill holes in the bottom. 

A succulent garden grown on old fountains or birdbaths is a fantastic way to accent your succulent garden. 

Choosing the right soil

Succulents are desert plants, meaning they are used to well-draining soil. So the soil you plant your succulents in has to be well-draining as well. 

Luckily, you don’t have to do too much work for this. You can get cactus or succulent potting soil mixes. This will contain the perfect mixture needed for your succulents to thrive. Alternatively, you can visit a sod store to explore soil options tailored for various plants, including succulents.

If you’re adamant about doing it yourself, here’s how – combine three parts regular potting soil and three parts sand. Then, add two parts pumice. The pumice will help reduce water run-off and retain the right amount of water your succulents need. 

Where to put your plants?

Desert plants need a lot of sunlight to thrive. Proper indoor plant care is vital for your garden.  A rule of thumb is that your succulents can’t have enough sunlight.

But bear in mind, if you place your plants in full light and forget to water them, they could get sunburnt. Some succulents grow well in shaded spots as well. 

Most succulents change their colors depending on the light availability. Too much light and the plant takes on a darker shade. If they get no light, the colors start to fade out. 

Some succulent species that need full sunlight are Cactus, Agave, and Sedum. Some low sunlight requiring succulents are Jade Plants, Haworthia, and Gasteria. 

Decide which types of succulents you’re planting depending on the light availability in your home. Without sufficient light, your plants will start turning yellow and eventually die. 

Keeping your garden aesthetically pleasing 

One of the popular trends of late is mismatching succulents to increase their aesthetic appeal. 

But this step can’t be random. There needs to be some thought when you’re planting two different species in the same pot. 

First, you need to plant two succulents that have similar water and sunlight requirements. Yes, the requirements don’t change drastically between species’. But you still have to consider its needs. 

Second, the plants need to look good together. Some succulents stay small while others, like Aloe Vera and Saguaro, can grow to a pretty large size. 

This size mismatch won’t look balanced. There’s also a chance the larger plant will drain all the water and nutrition from the soil. This leaves the smaller one nutrient deficient. 

Here are some succulents that thrive when planted together. 

• Jade Plant and Tiger Jaws succulents 

• Bunny Ear Cactus and Moon Cactus

• Lola, Sunrise, and Corsican stonecrop

Planting succulents in the ground

In-ground gardening is a bit more tricky than container gardening. The main limiting factor is that you can’t control the environment. 

Despite that, you can still plant succulents in the ground and have them thrive there. Here’s how. 

Till the soil (and replace it)

Most often, garden soil is predominantly a clay and loam mix. Though plants like Hydrangea and Honey Suckle will thrive here, the same can’t be said about succulents. 

If your garden has anything but sandy soil, then consider tilling and replacing it. Skim off the top 1-2 feet of soil and replace it with a cactus soil mixture. 

This will ensure that your succulents don’t sit in wet soil, which will eventually kill them. 

Select a sunny spot

Don’t plant succulents under the shade of an oak tree. Especially if you live in a cool climate, to begin with. 

If you live in a place with a hot climate, then select a spot that gets partial sun. Direct sunlight for too long can burn your plants. 

Don’t be over-zealous with watering 

Excessive watering is the main reason why succulents die. These desert plants need water only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. 

If you live in a humid place, then reduce the watering sessions. The waxy leaves are designed to capture moisture from the atmosphere. So be mindful of humidity levels when watering too. 

In the fall and winter seasons, most succulent species enter into dormancy. During this time, the succulents should be watered even less. 

Give them space

Succulents are slow growers, but they grow nonetheless. So don’t cramp too many plants within the same space. 

Initially, your succulent garden may look too bare. But you can add accents like pebbles or large rocks to fill in the gaps. As your plants grow, it is easy to remove these features. 

Succulent Walls 

Walls are one of the newest surfaces where gardening is done. Succulent walls are fancy installations that up the ante of your room. 

Succulent wall installations are most popular in dining rooms. They are a good alternative to hanging paintings or tapestries. 

Maintaining succulent walls is pretty identical to the steps needed for container gardening.

Succulents are the best ways to start for novice gardeners whether it’s in containers or in the ground. Get started now. 

Alternatively, you can visit a sod store to explore soil options tailored for various plants, including succulents. https://prnt.sc/aW6UVcre8S38

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