How to Plant a Succulent Garden

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plant a succulent garden

How to Plant a Succulent Garden

My attempt to build a beautiful succulent planter with the assistance of my lovely gardener friend Devon Claire Flannery.

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Step 1 of 17
Materials: a planter box with soil, pair of scissors, trowel (I only had a spoon), Tupperware to hold soil, and of course your selection of 5-6 succulents.

Materials: a planter box with soil, pair of scissors, trowel (I only had a spoon), Tupperware to hold soil, and of course your selection of 5-6 succulents.

Step 2 of 17
Arrange your succulents before taking out of their pots and start digging.

Arrange your succulents before taking out of their pots and start digging.

Step 3 of 17
Fill soil close to the top, and turn around the soil if you used just whatever you had laying around like I did. I found it was much more moist underneath, so this helped even it out.

Fill soil close to the top, and turn around the soil if you used just whatever you had laying around like I did. I found it was much more moist underneath, so this helped even it out.

Step 4 of 17
Pour half the soil into a container like this Tupperware I had.

Pour half the soil into a container like this Tupperware I had.

Step 5 of 17
This is what your planter box should look like before planting: half way full.

This is what your planter box should look like before planting: half way full.

Step 6 of 17
Start by cutting a slit down the side of the plastic pot your succulent will come in to remove it.

Start by cutting a slit down the side of the plastic pot your succulent will come in to remove it.

Step 7 of 17
Loosen the roots so the plant is no longer is the stiff shape of the pot.

Loosen the roots so the plant is no longer is the stiff shape of the pot.

Step 8 of 17
Set plants right on top of the half layer of soil. No need to dig individual holes.

Set plants right on top of the half layer of soil. No need to dig individual holes.

Step 9 of 17
...one by one... I love this little guy! So unique!

...one by one... I love this little guy! So unique!

Step 10 of 17
All plants are set into the planter. Some of the smaller ones I thought might get taken over by the larger ones, I placed a bit higher by adding just a bit more soil under.

All plants are set into the planter. Some of the smaller ones I thought might get taken over by the larger ones, I placed a bit higher by adding just a bit more soil under.

Step 11 of 17
Pour the rest of the soil back to fill the planter.

Pour the rest of the soil back to fill the planter.

Step 12 of 17
Press down around the base of each plant to keep in nice and secure so that they may root.

Press down around the base of each plant to keep in nice and secure so that they may root.

Step 13 of 17
Liberally water once over, but do not continue to water until about a week later. The succulents will be in shock from the transfer.

Liberally water once over, but do not continue to water until about a week later. The succulents will be in shock from the transfer.

Step 14 of 17
Step 15 of 17
Insert labels next to each species if yours came with them. Since some of mine didn't come identified, I will do some research and make my own labels for them.

Insert labels next to each species if yours came with them. Since some of mine didn't come identified, I will do some research and make my own labels for them.

Step 16 of 17
Ready to soak up the sun and grow! You can add decorative rocks or moss, but I think much of the soil will be covered as some of these babies grow!

Ready to soak up the sun and grow! You can add decorative rocks or moss, but I think much of the soil will be covered as some of these babies grow!

Step 17 of 17

If you're curious to see their growth over the weeks and the potential for your own succulent garden, I'll be updating weekly photos on my blog at sweetanythings.wordpress.com. Thanks and enjoy!

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Santa Barbara, California
sweetanythings.wordpress.com
Kittehs, noms, design, learning, and lady independence. Instagram: chershi // Tumblr: chelsealyon // Pinterest: calyon

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2 Comments
Supplies

Trowel (or spoon)

Planter with some sort of drainage

Soil

Scissors

Tupperware container

Desired small varieties of succulents

🌵Ñàtürë🌾 Łövęr🍄

I love cacti and succulents, but am still getting the hang of potting them, thank you for putting this up!

🌵Ñàtürë🌾 Łövęr🍄 4 months ago

Donna-Faye Power

Very nice....I'm going to plant some!

Donna-Faye Power 11 months ago

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Devon Claire Flannery

Don't forget to wash your scissors thoroughly after you've cut all the pots so you don't get dirt on whatever you cut next time.

Devon Claire Flannery last year

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Devon Claire Flannery

If you live in a very hot or dry climate, you may need to water the container sooner than a week later. Just keep in mind that in a home garden, overwatering is the leading cause of death in succulents/cacti so you want to use restraint. Only water if the soil feels dry when you stick a finger one inch deep into the soil. (If it still feels moist, test the soil again in two days.)

Devon Claire Flannery last year

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