I’ve been preparing my gardening equipment in preparation for spring. Now is the perfect time to create your first succulent container garden, if you’ve been thinking about it. Here, I’ll show you how to start your very own succulent container garden and provide you lots of other helpful potting advice.
It doesn’t take much planning to grow a succulent container garden, but you should take the following factors into account before you start planting:
Either utilize a single succulent plant or group a number of different plants together. Everything is dependent upon your goals. Your choice of pot should be based on the size of the plant or plants you are utilizing, and vice versa.
Does the pot’s size matter? Yes. Succulents don’t need particularly deep pots or a lot of soil to flourish because their roots are shallow. Succulents actually favor a somewhat shallow pot or just enough dirt to help the roots and the plant to spread out.
You want the size of the pot to match the size of the plant(s) you are using, whether you choose the plant first and the vessel second or choose the pot first and the plants to go in the pot later. The container shouldn’t be too big for the plant, but it should still allow for some growth.
The pot should have a diameter that is 1 to 2 inches larger than the nursery container the plant is currently in.
The decision of what kind of pot to use is largely subjective. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. Here is a piece I published about selecting the ideal pot that you might find useful: “Choosing The Best Succulent Pot: Advantages and Disadvantages.
Your own preferences will determine a lot of the plant varieties you employ, as well as the color schemes, color combinations, forms, and sizes. Combining succulent plants actually has no right or wrong technique. When placing multiple plants in a single container, I just consider their growing requirements.
Plants with comparable growing requirements should be combined in one container as much as feasible. If a plant’s growing requirements are unknown to you and the label does not include basic instructions, you can easily research the requirements online.
The plant’s fundamental requirements for growth include:
Put plants that require the same amount of light together. Put plants with similar lighting requirements in the same container, whether you’re putting them indoors or out. Plants that require the sun together, those that require partial shade together, those that require low light together, etc. This will make it simpler to locate the ideal location for your container plants and to move them around as necessary to meet their lighting requirements.
Fortunately, the most of succulents have very comparable watering requirements, so I don’t stress too much about watering requirements when combining plants. However, you should be aware that different succulent plants require extremely varied amounts of water, therefore it is advisable to place them in different containers. For example, Lithops (Living Stones) have extremely different watering requirements from other succulents and won’t grow well if planted next to them or irrigated at the same time.
Learn about the hardiness zones of the plants and the ideal setting for that specific plant. Avoid combining plants that are cold-hardy with those that are not, or tropical cacti with desert cacti. It will be simpler for you to care for the plants in different seasons if you group plants with similar growing requirements together.
Finding these three items may seem like a lot of work, but most of the time, a fast internet search is all that is required to learn about a specific plant. Or, if you buy the plants from a garden center, they typically have a tag or label that describes their fundamental growing requirements. Additionally, you can enquire in the garden center about the requirements for the plant’s growth.
Do succulents favor shallow or deep pots?
Succulents should be planted in pots that are about 10% broader than the plants themselves. Choose the shallow pot whenever the choice is between a deep or shallow pot. The pot’s depth should be 10% greater than the plant’s depth.
Let’s clarify using instances from real life:
- Grab a 2.5 (the best option) to 4 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal outcomes if you have a 2 inch succulent.
- Grab a 4.5 (the best option) to 6 inch pot (the exact maximum size) for optimal results if you have a 4 inch succulent.
How far down into the ground must the soil be for succulents?
You can add additives to up to three-fourths of your succulent plant soil. Pumice has been used alone in some tests with successful outcomes, however this is in the Philippines, where regular watering is required. Those of us who live in less ideal climates might need to try new things.
Along with coconut coir, pumice, perlite, and Turface, coarse sand is frequently employed (a volcanic product sold as a soil conditioner). For this project, use Turface, and purchase the medium-sized stones. For outdoor succulent beds, expanded shale is used to improve the soil.
Additionally, pumice is a component of the intriguing product Dry Stall Horse Bedding. Some people use this directly into the ground when making a bed for a succulent garden. This product should not be confused with another one named Stall Dry.
Although river rock is occasionally added to the soil, it is more frequently used as a top dressing or decorative element in your garden beds. As an amendment or mulch, horticultural grit or a variant is utilized, just as aquarium gravel.
Consider the layout and have a plan when setting up a succulent garden bed, but be flexible once you start planting. While some sources advise preparing the soil three inches (8 cm) deep, others advise doing so at least six to eight inches (15 to 20 cm) down. When adding outdoor succulent soil to your bed, the deeper, the better.
Create hills and slopes where you can plant various specimens. Elevated planting not only provides your garden bed a unique aspect, but it also elevates the roots of your cacti and succulents even more.
Are the roots of succulents deep or shallow?
Strong roots support the plant’s position and shield it from adverse environmental factors. Additionally, they preserve it within the soil. In addition, roots supply succulents with vital minerals and water. Your plants are more likely to perish quickly if their roots are unhealthy.
Succulents have shallow roots, therefore placing them in a deep plant container will stop them from expanding. Additionally, every time you water them, the water will collect at the bottom, causing the roots to rot from an excess of moisture. To avoid water collecting at the bottom and to maintain the health of your succulents, keep them in a shallow pot.
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.
Can succulents be grown in small containers?
Shallow pots work perfectly for succulents. In low pots, many succulent plants fare well because they tend to stay smaller, especially when grown inside. Today I’ll show you how to grow succulents in a shallow succulent planter and provide helpful advice.
Typically, succulents come in 2, 3, and 4 grow pots. Because of their modest size and compact root systems, these plants are simple to plant in a shallow container. The handcrafted bronze metallic dish that you can see in the post’s thumbnail and farther down is only a little over three tall.
Watch the video below to learn how I fill a shallow succulent planter with succulents:
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.
Do cacti have deep roots?
When succulent plants are shown in unusual containers on the covers of books and periodicals, I think it’s a cruel scam. I discover them buried in seashells, wood, repurposed metals, and just about any other object with a depression big enough to accommodate a tiny seedling. Succulents don’t require a large root zone because their leaves and stems can store moisture.
Because of this, one can be placed inside a shot glass without it wilting. But with little to no root zone, how is the stored moisture supplied when it eventually runs out? The plants always coil up and end up in the compost pile.
Contrary to popular belief, succulents are far more variable than you might imagine. Many people are born in South Africa’s tolerant coastal climate. In succulent epicenters like San Diego, with its mild seaside environment, these adapt well to dampness. Other succulents can be found in the Namibian desert, where it rarely rains and they rely mostly on interior fogs from the Atlantic coast to survive. Include the equally varied preferences of agaves and cacti from the Americas. With so much variation, how can we carelessly cram succulent plants into incredibly tiny containers and expect them to survive?
If you’re prepared to join the succulent plant craze, avoid following in the footsteps of these unreliable specimens. They might be useful for party favors or garden exhibits, but this is not a sustainable approach. If you want your succulents to become large, blossom, and generate offset “pups that produce unlimited new plants for free, treat them like actual plants.
Succubuses require a root zone. A mature field-grown succulent will have a sizable root system when dug up. To collect the little rainfall that falls, thick roots delve deep and travel far. Some varieties root quickly, quickly filling a 6-inch container.
If you don’t provide a plant enough root space, it won’t get bigger. As their inner moisture slowly evaporates, plants have the amazing capacity to remain motionless for an extended period of time. The generally tough stems and leaves become more pliable to the touch, and you can tell they’re running low on gas by the minor surface creases. The roots will take up moisture when it returns if they don’t get too dehydrated to operate. If they dry out to the point that the root cells die, introducing water encourages rot, which spreads quickly through the tissues. The end outcome is a squishy, dark gooey object where a succulent once flourished.
Succubuses require drainage. They cannot, in essence, be planted in any container without a drain hole. That means that despite their popularity in these enclosed glass environments with little to no opportunity for moisture evaporation, the majority are poor terrarium prospects. In an undrained container, a layer of pebbles can help keep the root zone dryer, but what happens when this reservoir is completely filled? Although the pebbles ought to function in theory, this ultimately turns into an unsightly bacterial soup of diseases that adore attacking succulents.
Succubuses require oxygen. When compared to conventional soil, most cactuses and other succulents thrive in extremely permeable soils that are more akin to sand or gravel. They are frequently found in southern Africa’s dry lake and stream banks, where the soil is so arid that no other plant can thrive. Water should never fill the spaces between soil particles because it displaces oxygen and leads to anaerobic conditions. When succulent plants are grown in the incorrect potting soil, this is not unusual. Additionally, it might happen if the drainage pores are too tiny or clogged with organic waste.
Succulents are simple, but avoid decorating with non-plant science-based ideas. Give them a place to call home with a root zone, well-drained soil, and extended dry spells. Your plants will grow and bloom as nature intended if you do it correctly.