I’m taking pleasure in our home’s ongoing process of expanding our plant collection. I immediately recognized this large, shallow circle vase as the ideal place for a little cluster of cactus. Because they never die, I adore cacti. They have a vast diversity and are also adorable. Here is a brief explanation of how I created this lovely miniature garden.
You’ll need a wide, shallow vase (mine is about 10 inches wide by 5 inches high), rocks, dirt, your favorite cactus plants (you can even mix in some succulents and aloe if you like! ), a spade, and your favorite cactus plants. It takes roughly 20 minutes to finish this task.
Succulent and cactus plants hardly ever require watering. The majority of individuals advise watering them once or twice per month or if the soil seems fully dry.
Step 1: Fill the vase’s base with some rocks. The drainage when you water them will be aided by this.
Next, add soil. I filled mine to a height of approximately an inch, but because it wasn’t tightly packed, there was still room for plants.
Step 3: Sow a number of little plants in the ground. Any vibrant cacti should be separated by space.
Step 4: Lay a thin layer of rocks on top of the soil. Just for show, really! Cute… finished
How are you doing? Have you recently planted anything? Please share a link to your project with me. xoxo. Elsie
How should I show off my cactus?
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 >
Cacti can be grown in glass vases, right?
Fill the glass jars’ bases with potting soil once they have been cleaned and dried. Succulents should be taken out of their plastic containers and placed in the glass jar. To prevent the succulent from moving around, fill the remaining space in the jar with potting soil.
Pick the Right Size Pot for Your Plants
To assist you in selecting the proper size pot for your plants, consider the following general guidelines: Look for containers that are at least 12 inches wide if you want a variety of plants. Annuals typically require at least 8 inches of soil depth, whereas grasses and shrubs can require twice as much or more. For easy access, the ideal container has straight sides or ones that flair out at the top.
Decide on the Aesthetics
It’s advisable to choose the pot before deciding what will go inside it, unless you have your heart set on particular plants. Find several that fit the design of your house. Classical urns look fantastic on stone patios or flanking the entrance to a formal home, while geometrical designs with clear lines go well with contemporary decor.
While colorful hues give more emphasis to the containers themselves, muted neutral hues highlight the plants. An odd number of pots looks better in a grouping than an even number of pots, in general.
Consider the Placement and Material of Your Pot
Look for lightweight materials, such aluminum or composite, if you plan to put pots on a deck or rooftop. These and other glazed ceramic pots have the benefit of being nonporous, which helps to keep the soil more wet. Terra-cotta that is porous and unglazed develops a lovely patina over time, but it also permits soil to dry out more quickly.
Any pot must have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging of the roots; these holes should be covered with broken pottery, stones, or a small piece of screening to prevent soil evaporation.
Consider using pot feet or a plant stand to elevate pots that are on a hardwood deck so that the decking doesn’t remain damp, which could cause rot.
What complements cacti well?
Cacti plants are adored by gardeners for their intriguing textures, drought resistance, vivid colors, and lovely shapes. They are also a joy to have in your house. These succulents can hold water in their stems for longer periods of time, making them suitable for environments with limited rainfall and rather high temperatures. The majority of them are simple to grow and resistant to illnesses and pest issues. However, don’t just stick to these succulents when planning your cactus garden.
What wonderful plants and flowers can you grow with your cactus? There are many different types of flowering plants that can coexist peacefully with your cactus and bring out the best aspects of it. The red valerian, African daisy, autumn sage, hummingbird plant, trailing lantana, and various varieties of Euphorbia are among these plants and blooms. These flowers and plants can enhance the shape and color of your cacti and require practically identical upkeep.
Step 1: Insert foam, and fill in empty spaces with moss.
You’ll see that I didn’t use all of the desert foam in the container. Instead, I filled in the gaps with moss and angled the stems of my succulent plants into the foam.
This green Spanish moss was picked because it doesn’t compete with the vibrant artificial succulents.
Step 3: Insert faux succulent stems into foam bricks.
I used wire cutters to trim the stems of the succulents so that they were flush with the foam foundation. Try alternating hues (reds, greens, and blues) and styles for greater aesthetic appeal (cascading versus upright).
Based on the succulents and planter you select, the finished item will resemble this…
Here is how the succulent arrangement currently appears in my living room:
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.
A cactus can I place in a jar?
Cacti and other succulents are suitable for jar or bowl gardens, terrariums, and other low-maintenance environments. They require little water as they develop slowly. Children can learn about planting and growing by using jars, which offer succulents a contained but visible growing environment. Because succulents don’t require the humid atmosphere of a closed terrarium, a jar used for a succulent habitat can be utilized without a lid.
Sand and potting soil should be poured into a bowl in equal amounts. With your hands or a spoon, combine the potting soil and sand. Over the crushed charcoal, pour the soil-sand mixture into each jar until it forms a layer that is about one-half inch thick. The soil-sand combination should be given a modest amount of water. Put just enough water in the jars to wet the mixture without leaving a pool of water there.
The ideal plant arrangement for each jar can be determined by placing succulents in front of you. If a jar will be seen from all angles, place the largest succulent in the middle of the container. Plan to place the tallest succulents in the back and lesser plants in front if an arrangement will only be seen from the front.
By pressing a dowel rod or the handle end of a wooden spoon into the soil-sand mixture where each plant will be put, you can make starter holes in the soil-sand mixture in each jar. One by one, plant the succulents in the soil-sand mixture’s starter holes, then cover the roots of each plant with the mixture. Egg tongs can be used to set plants in position if you are unable to reach into a jar with your hand. Use the tongs to move the soil-sand combination around until all of the roots of each plant are submerged and the plant is stable in the mixture.
If desired, place ornaments on top of the soil-sand combination. Put the jars somewhere that gets some indirect light. Plants within the jars may be burned by direct, strong sunlight.
Succulents can they survive in a confined jar?
The following also applies in this case: You can plant succulents in nearly any container you want. The mason jar works just as well for growing succulents as a planting bowl or a hanging glass ball. There is only one prerequisite: the glass must be able to be opened. Because of the excessive humidity inside, succulents in closed glass perish fast.
Succulents are consequently more suited to open containers with a top opening instead of a bottle garden, like semicircular glass bowls. The square terrarium’s succulents are also a stunning eye-catcher. However, it also applies in this case because for the succulents to flourish, it must be open upwards or at the very least have a hole for evaporation.
Can a succulent grow inside a coffee mug?
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.
How should a little cactus be displayed?
Let’s get right to the point: cactus and succulents are currently the most popular indoor plants in the interiors industry.
From small Aeonium succulents to big sculptural Saguaro cactus there are various ways to make the most of the versatile and hardy plants. Check out these chic suggestions for displaying succulent and cactus plants in your house.
Along with natural Mexican-style linens and materials with a desert theme, a fiery orange sofa pierces through this scene of magnificent sculpted cacti positioned at various levels like the noonday sun. Huge plants in the room give other inanimate objects in the space life and character. All of these plants, whether you like it or not, are fake. For comparable, see Abigail Ahern (opens in new tab).
These spiky creatures come in a huge variety, and they may be just as bold in their statements as small heroes. These three little ornaments will add humor, color, and happiness to a shelf.
To get ultra-luxe looks Put succulents and miniature cacti on shelves made of gold or shiny metal. The finished appearance is glitzy and entirely tropical. Oliver Bonas has terrariums that are comparable (opens in new tab).
Use the color of your cactus as the foundation of your color scheme. Smaller plants can be made a focal point with the help of terrariums and glass domes. Walls that are a solid green and botanical prints complete the look.
In contrast to the swirling emerald wallpaper background, these hanging copper terrariums with their terracotta pots look stylish and magnificent.
For a spectacular appearance, transform a vintage kitchen cart into a mobile living display of vibrant plants. Use a variety of unusual shapes and colors to keep it adaptable. Throwing in a bromeliad, with its vivid pink leaf, looks amazing.
Tiny glass cloches will appear incredibly dainty as they nestle over tiny pots filled with lovely succulents and cactus. Group an odd number of glass cloches for an eye-catching and straightforward display. Make sure the plants in their miniature greenhouses don’t dry up.
With several miniature succulents and cacti kept in terrariums and bell jars, create a lovely botanical dinner table centerpiece. Then, carry the idea over to your table linens with leaf pattern china and plain white plates.
By giving plain storage jars a fresh look, you can make your own terrarium. It’s so easy to fill with sand and pebbles, add low-maintenance plants like succulents, and then replace the top. Every few days, unscrew the lid to prevent condensation and give the plants a chance to air.