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Like so many people, I have developed an affection for succulents.
They are so easy to take care of!
The endless colors, styles and varieties make them addictive!
I had a handful of different succulents that were outgrowing their pots or had fallen over, so I thought I would combine them into an indoor succulent garden.
As cute as each one was individually, collectively they make a beautiful home decor piece for my dining room table.
The steps and video below will help you create an indoor succulent garden too!
Step One- Select a Container
Pots are available in a myriad of colors, designs and styles.
For this project, I recommend selecting a shallow container.
Succulent roots don’t grow as deep as traditional houseplants, so a deep pot isn’t necessary.
Also, shallow pots have less soil so there is less opportunity for excess moisture to linger.
This is ideal for succulents as the soil should dry-out between watering.
Similarly, select a container that has drain holes.
One of the critical aspects of succulent care is proper soil drainage.
If you find a pot you love that doesn’t have holes, consider drilling several.
Step Two- Succulent Soil
Succulents need a special potting mix that is designed to drain quickly.
These mixes are readily available online and at garden centers.
I don’t recommend using a traditional houseplant soil mix for succulents.
It won’t drain quickly enough to sustain the succulents’ health.
Before adding the potting mix to the pot, place a piece of tight mesh screen over the drain holes.
An old piece of window screen or a coffee filter work well.
These prevent soil from falling out.
If the pot doesn’t have holes and you don’t feel comfortable drilling,
I recommend placing a small amount of horticultural charcoal in the bottom of the container.
I usually add less than the recommended rate as overwatering isn’t an issue for me.
This will keep the soil “sweet” by eliminating bacteria, fungus and odors that may develop from overwatering.
Add the potting mix directly on top of the charcoal.
Fill the pot approximately half full.
Step Three- Designing Your Succulent Garden
There are many ways to design a succulent garden.
Ultimately, arrange the plants in a way that is pleasing to you!
My preference is to place taller, cylindrical varieties toward the back of the pot and plant shorter, wider succulents towards the front.
Another option is to place taller succulents in the middle of the pot and surround it with shorter varieties.
Before planting, I arrange the succulents so that I know approximately where each one will be planted.
I can always make changes once I start planting, but it helps make the process smoother.
Generally, succulents are slow-growing, so they can be planted closely together to create a full look.
If your garden will have accessories such as large rocks, driftwood or figurines, be sure to consider their placement as well.
Step Four- Planting the Succulents
Since succulents are kept dry, they can be difficult to remove from their grow-pots.
A tip is to gently squeeze each side of the pot.
This will help release the plant’s roots and make it easy to remove.
Gently loosen the root ball to encourage growth in the new pot.
Place in the new container and add potting mix to secure it in place.
Continue adding succulents to create your garden.
There are great miniature gardening tools that can help you add soil and firm the plants in place.
Plastic spoons, forks and knives work just as well!
A small craft-sized paintbrush is useful for removing any soil on the leaves.
If cacti are a part of your garden, their spines can make planting them a challenge.
There are several ways to make this painless.
First, there are specialized gardening gloves that will prevent spines from piercing your skin.
Leather gloves will work as well.
I have also seen horticulturists wrap duct tape around the fingers and palms of ordinary garden gloves to create “cacti gloves.”
Be sure to wear appropriate protection on your hands when handling cacti.
Kitchen tongs are a great tool to use to pull the cactus out of the grow-pot.
Step Five- Decoration
I like to add a topdressing of small rocks to make the garden look finished.
There are many colors and shapes available specifically sold for plants.
However, aquarium stones and decorative sand are great options.
This is an opportunity to show your style and be creative!
The topdressing also has a functional component as it will help stabilize the cacti in place.
Add any decorative pieces to complete the garden. Enjoy!
Succulents make great houseplants, especially if you tend to forget to water!
I hope you will create a succulent garden for your home’s décor!
See the video below of the indoor succulent garden I made!
For succulent and cactus watering tips, click here!
Succulent Garden Supplies:
