Monday, March 16, 2015

diy simple hanging succulent garden


I had a pretty hanging basket that held a flowering plant last year that sadly didn't make it due to the harsh sunshine and heat blasting it all summer...and I may not have watered it as often as I should have :/ I really liked the basket so I decided to reuse it and this time plant some succulents in it because I've found they do well on my front porch in the desert-like environment :) This is a simple project that takes about 20 minutes to complete. 

You will need:
  • a hanging basket with coconut fibers, a decorative birdcage would also work (lined with the coconut fibers to keep everything contained)
  • small pebbles
  • cactus soil (sold at places like Walmart and Home Depot in the garden section)
  • small rake or fork
  • an assortment of small succulent plants (I got mine for $2 each at Home Depot)


Directions:

1. Add a layer of pebbles about 1" deep to the bottom of the container you will be using. This ensures that the soil will drain and the plants won't rot.

2. Add at least enough soil so that the plants can be at the same level of depth they were in their original pots, probably about 3-4" thick.

3. Remove a succulent from it's pot. Using a small rake or fork if you don't have one, gently break up the roots a little, knocking off a good bit of the original soil.

4. Dig a small hole in the soil in your basket, place the succulent inside and push soil up around it, and pat it down a little.

5. Continue adding the succulents the same way, filling in the basket and leaving about 2" in between each plant so they have room to grow.

6. Place the basket in a sunny spot and wait about a week to let them settle in their new soil before watering them. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Succulents should be watered more often in the spring and summer, I water mine about once every two weeks during this time. In the winter, watering can be cut back to once a month or even once every 6 weeks.





3 comments:

  1. I unfortunately do not have a green thumb at all. I've tried several times to grow pretty flowers outside and even in the boxes/flower beds. I always seem to kill them...I'm pretty sure one time it was definitely my fault though because I forgot to water them. And another time my husband ran them over with the lawnmower thinking they were weeds...poor flowers

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    1. I feel your pain! I've killed plants for years, tried unsuccessfully to have vegetable and herb gardens many times and just recently discovered that zinnias and succulents actually stay alive, yay! They appear to be pretty tough and can live through the drought and neglect I put them through lol. I recommend giving them a shot! :)

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  2. This is such a cute little planter! I miss seeing succulents--they don't grow too well in Colorado!

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