One of our favorite homemade planters is a coffee mug! You only need a coffee mug and a drill to make a tiny drainage hole in the bottom of the mug to make these. Coffee mugs are ideal for little succulents despite not being as large as other planters.
Can plants be placed in a mug?
Recently, when browsing a nearby store, I stumbled onto these stunning mugs at an amazing bargain. Even though I didn’t actually need any mugs, I did need these mugs. You get what I’m saying, right? So in order for me to purchase the mugs, I had to come up with a strategy. And what’s this? The idea of a teacher appreciation week seemed ideal. I bought four cups and plants for each instructor, then I went home to put the items in the mugs.
It’s not a good idea to just throw a plant into a mug without any ceremony. There is no way for the water to drain from a ceramic mug. Additionally, I didn’t want to make a hole in the mug’s bottom. I filled the bottom of the mug with rocks to aid drainage for the plant. Then I filled each mug with a plant using more potting soil.
Be sure to include this extra layer at the bottom if you want to give a plant as a gift in a nice cup. The following list of objects can be put in the bottom to aid with the plant’s drainage.
WHAT’S FRESH
Succulents are beautiful, vibrant plants that are ideal for those of us without a green thumb. They developed to hold water in arid environments, making them simple to maintain. This indicates that these resilient plants don’t need to be watered frequently. If you can’t find a sunny place, succulents can adapt to lower light levels and do well in most homes.
While it may be difficult to fathom drinking anything other than excellent chai from your mug, this tutorial for converting teacups into succulent planters will motivate both tea drinkers and gardeners.
Materials:
- Teacup
- pre-mixed potting soil or cactus soil
- Fertilizer
- Small rocks or pebbles for drainage
- colored rocks, marine glass, or pebbles as required for ornamentation
Directions:
- For water drainage, drill a hole in the teacup’s base. Drainage might be caught in the teacup saucer.
- Pebbles or small rocks should fill the bottom of the teacup by about a third.
- Make a shallow hole the right size to accommodate your succulent and spread potting soil over the rocks.
- Remove the succulent from its container, then gently pry its roots apart to remove the soil. Give the roots a little stretch by spreading and lengthening them.
- Put the succulent in the little hole and add extra potting soil to the roots. The succulent’s base should be covered with enough soil.
- As desired, decorate the top with colored rocks, sea glass, or pebbles.
- After repotting the succulent, wait a few days before watering it. Allow the plant to acclimate to the new soil for about a week.
- After a week, keep watering the succulent until the drainage hole is dry. Make sure the drainage saucer is empty.
- Continue watering each time, often once a week, that the soil seems dry to the touch.
Reward yourself with a warm mug of sweet, buttery Salted Caramel Chai after doing all the not-so-hard work.
Looking for further home improvement ideas? Consider using one of these cute DIY decorating ideas.
Size
Choose a pot that is just big enough for the plant to grow in, but not too big. The circumference of the appropriate pot is 5–10% greater than the size of the plant. Choose pots with a maximum excess space around the sides of an inch or two. The delicate roots will spread if the pot is too big before the plant has a chance to develop. There won’t be any room for the roots to spread in a pot that is too tiny.
Style
The ideal pot should not only complement your style and decor but also the physical properties of the plant. Tall pots look excellent with upright-growing succulents, like aloe. Low-growing cultivars, like Echeveria, look fantastic in little pots. Not to mention spillers with trailing growth tendencies like String of Pearls. Spillers in shallow pots or hanging plants look fantastic and grow well.
Material
There are many different types of materials for pots. The most prevalent materials are wood, terracotta, metal, ceramic, and resin. Terracotta or ceramic pots work best for succulent plants. Both of these materials allow for proper air and water circulation because they are both breathable. Just keep in mind that both ceramic and terracotta are weighty, especially after adding soil and plants.
Pick resin or plastic pots for larger plants, especially ones you plan to move around. Your back will thank you for using those lighter pots as you move or reposition plants.
Drainage
Before you plant and cultivate succulents, the most important thing to understand is that they don’t like a lot of water. Even before you develop a watering schedule, this is relevant. Without adequate drainage, water that accumulates at the bottom of a container without anywhere to go may cause root rot in your succulent.
The ideal pots for succulents, regardless of design, are planters with drainage holes in the bottom. Since many succulent planters lack drainage holes, you can use any of them as long as you keep in mind to water succulents sparingly and keep an eye on them frequently.
What can I grow inside a cup?
How to Grow 8 Succulents in Teacups and Coffee Mugs
- Jade Tree. Crassula ovata is its botanical name.
- The Zebra Plant. Haworthia fasciata and Haworthia attenuata are their botanical names.
- Echeveria. Echeveria is its botanical name.
- Cacti. Cactaceae is its botanical name.
- Chicks and Hens. Sempervivum is the botanical name.
- Kalanchoe.
- Viper Plant.
- Cactus with bunny ears
How can a coffee mug be used as a planter?
This is how these coffee mug planters work. My son had the chore of doing the dishes once. Do we REALLY need so many mugs, Mom? He queried. He tallied almost twenty. But surely each cup has a tale to tell? You’re aware of the process! I decorated my patio with them rather than throwing them in the trash! With the addition of a little bit of our stunning Arizona desert to my boho-themed patio, these coffee mug planters have done wonders for my setting.
I’m from the southwest, where cactus are very common, especially stunning succulents like these. They fit perfectly inside a mug, so I purchased a variety of them.
SUPPLIES: a variety of ceramic cups a variety of succulents drill ceramics using a bit (I used the Rockwell 3rill 3 in 1 Drill) Cactus Soil water-filled spray bottle Goggles
Making the holes in the bottom of the coffee mugs is the first step in creating these coffee mug planters. It isn’t necessary for succulents; you can just tip the mug after watering to drain any extra liquid. You may need to drill a hole in the mugs though if you wish to use them for different plants.
Start by practicing on a cheap cup first. Turn it over and place it on a towel. Spray water on the place where you plan to drill. Start at an angle and cut a small notch in the middle of the mug’s bottom using a glass or diamond tip bit. Continue until you have your hole, then spray the area once more.
Once your hole has drilled, halfway fill the mug with the cactus soil mixture. It’s time to include the plant now!
Add more dirt to the mug until all the roots are covered after placing it inside on top of the soil. Use the water bottle to mist the area. Excellent, hardy plants are succulents. They enjoy sunlight and don’t require a lot of water. Continue with the additional mugs.
I adore how these, when put together, make a really strong and vibrant statement. They are fantastic gifts to give house guests as well!
Can succulents be grown in just rocks?
It should be obvious that succulents will thrive when planted in rocks given these circumstances. They drain very well and do not retain water, which eliminates the possibility of root rot. This does not include another component of soil, though, since all plants need nutrients.
Although succulents are not particularly hungry plants, they do need certain nutrients to grow. Other micronutrients like zinc or iron are needed in smaller levels, whereas macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are essential. The plant won’t grow at all or last very long without these nutrients.
By their very nature, rocks don’t release nutrients quickly enough to keep the plants alive. They are composed of minerals, but since they decompose so slowly over time, they are not appropriate for growing on their own. Additionally, they often don’t retain enough moisture, allowing the roots to quickly dry out after draining practically instantly.
Sadly, this means that succulents cannot thrive permanently without soil in rocks. If not given regular care, they may survive for several weeks or even months on the nutrients found in the stems and leaves.
Do succulents grow in saucers?
Beautiful succulents with rosette-shaped leaves are aeoniums. The succulent saucer plant is a great illustration. A saucer plant: what is it? It is a rare yet simple to grow houseplant, or in warm climates, a specimen for a rockery. Here are some instructions on how to grow a saucer plant, should you be fortunate enough to get your hands on one.
A native of the Canary Islands, aeonium is a type of saucer plant. As a result, it has little to no tolerance for cold temperatures and needs warm but not hot temperatures to grow. When fully grown, it can grow to a height of 6 feet (1.8 meters), making it one of the tallest specimens in the species. The saucer plant succulent has a beautiful architecture and a vibrant inflorescence with pastel colors.
Can a cactus grow in a mug?
You probably have somewhere around a million and one mugs, half of which have Disney themes, if you’re anything like me. I don’t actually need so many Disney cups, even if I adore them. Therefore, I will demonstrate to you today how to turn your mugs into a Disney planter for a succulent.
It’s very simple to convert your mugs into planters, but I have a few pointers for you that will make it easier for your plants to flourish in their new cup residence.
Picking Your Mug
One of my favorite souvenirs from a Disney vacation I took a few years back was this cup.
There is a tiny break in the handle toward the bottom, if you look closely. I stopped using it as a mug because I genuinely did not want it to break through.
I advise against utilizing the favorite mug you use to sip your morning coffee. Choose an item that you don’t use much but that you adore for its aesthetics!
The cactus I planted in the particular mug I’m using today have outgrown it, but I made it into a Disney planter about a year ago.
They really grew a little bit more than I had anticipated, so I had to re-pot them. It’s recommended for potted plants to receive fresh soil once a year, so this was the ideal opportunity.
What You’ll Need
I’ll walk you through the process of putting a succulent in your Disney planter. Similar plants may require differing soil and drainage requirements.
- Potting soil for succulents and cacti
- little rocks
- Gloves
- Shovel
- If you’re working with a cactus, tongs
- Disney Cup
- Your delicious
If you don’t have gloves, a shovel, or tongs, those items are not necessary. You will need gloves and tongs, though, if you’re planting a cactus (or any other spiky plant).
Prepare Your Disney Planter
There won’t be a drainage hole in the bottom of any good, functional mug. As you can see, although drainage holes are ideal for succulents, they are not necessary for survival.
You can add a drainage hole to your mug if you have the appropriate equipment (specific drill bits and a drill).
If you are comfortable using power tools and have the proper bits for drilling into ceramics, I advise you to try this. Be mindful that your cup might crack at this point. I’d suggest trying it first on a cup or pot that you don’t have any relationship to.
I’m passing on the drainage hole for the time being because I don’t have a drill or the proper drill bits (until I get a drill, that is…).
Rocks should be used to line the bottom of your planter in place of a drainage hole. Use tiny pebbles because cups are so little. They don’t even have to be nice; some from your backyard or garden will do.
The use of the rocks will improve soil drainage and prevent standing water from getting into the roots and soil.
Planting Your Succulent!
Start by adding your fast-draining succulent soil to your mug. For succulents, the right soil mixture is absolutely crucial!
Use tongs to delicately move the cactus you’re working with, as I did. When you are pressing the earth down, your gloves will also aid in protecting your hands.
If more soil is required around the margins, add some. Your new plant needs to be safe.
The rocks on top, referred to as “dressing,” do more than just complete the aesthetic of your planter (though it helps).
Additionally, the rocks aid in drainage and keep the soil and plants in their right locations.
Caring For Your New Disney Planter Succulent
If I were you, I would research the best ways to take care of the specific plant you put in your planter. The needs of each succulent vary only a little.
The majority, however, require some daily exposure to direct sunlight and must to be irrigated after the soil is entirely dry.
You need to water your planter more carefully because it lacks a drainage hole. Avoid overwatering, and always wait until the soil is completely dry before watering it once more.
Although it’s up to you, I also give my succulents some Miracle-Gro Plant Food.