Cacti and succulents make for naturally appealing home decor thanks to their distinctive shapes and vivid blossoms.
There is no disputing that our obsession with succulents and cactus plants has gotten out of hand. They are the best indoor plants, require very little care, and are appropriate for all levels of gardeners (yes, even those of you with less-than-green thumbs).
There are so many inventive and fashionable ways to display cacti and succulents at home that they become decor in their own right thanks to their distinctive shapes and vibrant blossoms. Continue reading to learn some inventive ideas to incorporate cactus plants into your home’s interior design, from a beautiful table centerpiece to a miniature succulent Christmas tree.
On the shelf: Why not think about using cacti as bookends to dress up your bookshelf?
Tea time: A kitsch option for repurposing strange ceramics or op-shop finds is to put a cactus in a favorite old tea cup (or maybe you have an heirloom cup and saucer laying around). This is a wonderful present idea, too!
Looking for a unique center piece for your next table setting? Check out these table toppers. A crystal bowl filled with carefully arranged cacti will form an eye-catching and durable display.
Tiny succulents and cacti don’t require much water, which is why they aren’t restricted to living in pots. Plants on spoons or in tiny ceramic vases can be used to create a still life similar to this one.
Cactus cluster: We appreciate the notion of potting miniature cacti and grouping several pots together, as in this arrangement, as opposed to just planting one huge cactus.
Consider using baskets instead of pots to design a chic space for your collection of cacti. The textured cactus plants pair well with the organic, woven materials.
Look no farther than this brilliant mini Christmas tree you can construct solely from succulents if you’ve been looking for the ideal Christmas tree for a small home or apartment but haven’t yet found it.
Learn how to create your own >
How can a fake succulent wall planter be made?
- Prepare your shadowbox frame in step one. You’ll need to completely remove the glass from the shadowbox frame and remove the back for this succulent wall art.
- Cut flowery foam in step two.
- 3. Begin with the moss.
- Plan roughly in step four.
- Work in manageable pieces in Step 5.
- Step 6: Compile everything.
- Step 7 is to hang it.
How can I create a succulent planter out of a wood log?
This project is for you if your yard has a pile of logs that you need for firewood or other purposes. Succulents or other small plants thrive in this shallow wood log planter, which also makes a striking outdoor display. It is constructed out of a genuine wooden log and was carved out using a drill press, hole saw, and chisel. The best part is that this project can be completed in an afternoon or less for less than $40, making it one of our favorite wood log crafts.
How to hollow out a log
Choose a log that you like to start with. We picked a log with some character, some moss, and some discolouration. The fact that it is dry and not moist in the middle is crucial in this situation. Then, there are numerous techniques from which to choose in order to hollow out the wood log. There are two methods you can pick from: using a chainsaw to cut out the center or drilling holes with a Forstner bit and then using a chisel to remove the edges. However, because we used a hardwood, we decided to use a 3-in. diameter hole saw in a drill press to carve out the center of our log planter.
Stabilize the Wood Log
Locate the log’s most stable position, then fasten the base side to a board. The length and width of this wood board should be slightly larger than the log. The board should then be fastened to the log using long screws. In order for your hole saw cuts to be consistently parallel across the wood log, it is crucial to position the log further back on the wood board so that it may ride against the drill press fence. However, provide enough space so the log won’t be pressing up against the fence, peeling the bark off in the process. When cutting through the log with a hole saw and drill press, the board on the log will help support the log.
Cut Into the Wood Log
It’s a good idea to approximately mark the area where the opening will be before you start cutting into the log. We calculated that the opening should contain two inches of bark on either side. Clamp the log firmly to the drill press table so that you can begin carving the wood. We sliced into the timber with a 3-in. diameter hole saw in a drill press. To get the length of the aperture you want for the log planter, make a series of overlapping cuts with the hole saw as deep as it will go. We’ll need to make a second pass after roughly chiseling out this top layer of hole saw cuts because the maximum depth for our hole saw was 1-1/2 in. and the necessary depth for the planter aperture is 3 in.
Carve Out Planter Opening
When the hole saw has finished its work, use a chisel and a mallet or hammer to remove the cuts. The most time-consuming step is rounding the corners, but since the log planter will be stuffed with soil and succulents nonetheless, it doesn’t have to be flawless. Avoiding chipping off the bark is the hardest issue here.
Add Charcoal to the Base of the Planter
The base of the wood log planter should be equally covered with a layer of activated charcoal. Most garden centers sell activated charcoal, which aids with air filtering. This drainage layer assists in preventing root and log rot caused by too much water remaining in the soil.
Plant Your Succulents
Transfer the succulents to their new location in the wood log planter by removing them from their plastic containers. To give the planter visual interest and dimension, we selected succulents in a range of textures, heights, colors, and widths. When purchasing succulents from your neighborhood garden center, decide and prepare the appearance you want to achieve.
Add Soil
Add extra dirt around the plants so they won’t move once all of your succulents have been placed in their ideal spots. After carefully patting the earth around the plant with your hands, water the succulents. Because it offers succulent plants excellent soil structure and drainage, we utilized cactus mix potting soil.
Additionally, it’s crucial to keep in mind that succulents don’t thrive in soggy soil, so avoid overwatering your plant. Never water the succulent when the soil is damp or moist; just water it when the earth is dry. And if you’re concerned about overwatering your plant, fill the base of your planter with stones or gravel to allow for drainage (like mentioned in step 5).
Finishing Up Your Log Planter
This succulent log planter can be given as a present, but construct one for yourself as well. They look fantastic as the focal point of a patio table or as window sill decor. Check out these 14 succulent decorating ideas for your home right away!
Succulents can you hot glue on them?
Your closest buddy while dealing with succulents in unconventional pots will also be floral glue. This glue from the Oasis brand cures rapidly and keeps succulents firmly in place. The support needed to keep a succulent in place is minimal. This is something you should have on hand whether you’re making a wreath or a planter out of driftwood.
Hot glue is another option that is equally as effective and affordable. Although I used to use this a lot for my crafts, I’ve found that the floral glue holds its shape better. However, if you already have it, go for it!
What about hot glue?
Actually, using hot glue on succulents is acceptable. On the location where the glue is, it does burn a tiny bit, but the rest of the plant is unaffected.
There are still spaces at the leaf nodes (where the leaves join to the stem) at the stem’s base where new roots can grow despite the bottom of the stem being completely covered in hot glue.
Even though it is now more challenging, your succulents may still send out roots at the end of the stem that, as they grow, may either push the hot glue off or just push up around it.
Crazy! But it’s possible. Your succulents will still grow successfully in either scenario.
Since floral adhesive tends to stick to succulents better, I prefer to use it.