Planting succulents in birdbaths is a fantastic idea! Before it perished from too much heat, this is the original planted bird bath. I’ll discuss the one aspect of the original tutorial that I would change. The time of year I planted it is actually the main issue with the previous planting.
How can a succulent be planted in a birdcage?
One succulent plant should be used for every two birdcage diameters. For instance, 3 plants can fit in a 6 wide cage. You can experiment with container design for larger cages that are at least a foot wide. Here, the “thriller, filler, spiller rule of thumb is still a wonderful planning aid, assisting with the selection of a focal point, a few low profile fillers, and something to trail out of the cage.
Among the better choices are:
- Thriller: The dramatic architecture you might want for the focal point of your birdcage can be found in varieties like Aloe Vera, Jade, or tall Aeonium.
- Additive: Rosette A birdcage garden must have succulents (echeverias). They spread in exquisite clusters, their variety of colors creating a lovely pattern. Other tiny succulents also function nicely. Also think about utilizing Crassulas or Sedums.
- Spiller: The possibilities for trailing succulents are somewhat limited. For a compact cage footprint with far-trailing habits, String of Pearls or String of Bananas is a viable option. Burrow’s Tail is another option, although due to how slowly it grows, it is less common. Your fillers will eventually send runners that trail, bringing in a natural trailing component.
Putting it Together:
Since you’re effectively creating an open terrarium, many of the rules governing succulent containers that are more widely used apply. Your birdcage will influence your construction strategy in some ways: It is best to have a mesh or open bottom where coco liners or sheet moss can be placed for drainage. Drilling drainage holes is necessary for a solid bottom cage, otherwise extremely careful attention must be paid to watering practices.
How to assemble your succulent birdcage is given below:
- At the bottom of the cage and a few inches up the sides, place sheet moss or coco liners.
- For drainage, add a layer of pebbles at the bottom.
- On top of the rocks, layer activated charcoal. This is a crucial step since it protects your plants from toxins building up.
- To get the necessary soil height, add cactus soil.
- Plant your succulents, working your way outward from the center.
- Fill in any gaps and finish the effect with moss, lichens, and other finishing touches.
It’s also crucial to remember that older cages can have lead-based paint on them. Working in this type of cage poses risks to your safety as well as the wellbeing of your plants. When in doubt, cover your plants with plastic sheeting to shield them from the paint toxins coming from your old birdcage.
What plants may I put in my birdbath?
“A bird bath can be added to a garden area to add decor while also aiding the preservation of wild birds and other wildlife. Bird baths provide a water source for the wildlife that frequents a garden. When you know how to landscape around a bird bath, you can safely attract visiting birds to your garden while also producing an attractive display. Location Suitable for a Bird Bath The best location for your bird bath is next to trees and plants. The wild birds who visit and use the feature will find it easier to access at this location. However, a spot that receives a mix of sun and partial shade throughout the day would be the best option. Placing the bird bath in a sunny location allows you a wide selection of plant alternatives around the bird bath. The Base of Your Bird Bath Setting the bird bath on a paving stone is a wise decision. Your bird bath will be more stable, flat, and certain weeds will be kept from growing up against the base of the bird bath if you set it on a paving stone. Make a Pathway Surrounding the Bird Bath. You can access your bird bath for regular cleaning and maintenance by constructing a trail around it. Place paving stones around the bird bath, and if you’d like them to be level with the ground, dig out a little depression for each stone’s shape. Place the paver there after leveling the ground. To level the stone, add more dirt. Around the Bird Bath, Planting Keep a free area of about 10 feet in diameter around the bird bath to avoid predators that might be seeing your visiting birds as good feasts (domestic cats are the major predator in my yard). Because of the open space, birds can use the water without fear of being ambushed by predators. To give the wild birds food and refuge, add some of your favorite plants. Sunflowers and lilac bushes are a couple of my favorite plants. Seeds from sunflowers will be available, and cover will come from lilac bushes. Select plants for the area around your bird bath that will thrive in the sun. Make feeding stations available close to the bird bath. To hang bird feeders nearby yet keep them away from the bird bath, use tall shepherd’s hooks. Avoid putting bird feeders close enough to your bird bath so that seeds fall into it and need to be cleaned out. For the many birds that may visit—hummingbirds, goldfinches, cardinals, and others—it is ideal to set up a variety of feeding stations at different heights. To draw wild birds to the vicinity of your bird bath, hang suet feeders, platform feeders, hummingbird feeders, and other sorts of feeding stations. Make a Place Where You Can Watch the Birds That Come to Your Bird Bath You should place a bench or seat of some kind at least 10 to 20 feet away from the bird bath. You may observe the birds using your bird bath from this distance without startling them. I sit in a garden swing to observe the creatures that come to my nature garden. I look forward to it every day in the summer, listening to the birds. Needs Unrelated to a Bird Bath The birds will have something to perch on while they drink or bathe if a rock is placed in the middle of your bird bath. Make sure your bird bath’s water is never deeper than two inches, and avoid ever adding chemicals to the water “.
What kind of soil is best for succulent plants?
Succulent soil is the basis for a plant’s ability to thrive, whether you are planting succulents outside or indoors. Larger soil particles are necessary for succulents to have a well-draining soil that allows water to enter quickly and drain away from the roots without compacting the soil. Use a soil test kit to verify the ideal soil for succulents and adjust the soil to a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5 before planting.
- Succulents prefer well-draining soil and have short root systems.
- The ideal soil is one that is nutrient-rich, loose, and rocky.
- Use a potting mix designed specifically for succulents and cacti when planting in containers, and place the plant in a pot with drainage holes at the bottom.
- Succulent plants could die off if their soil is too alkaline.
- Add soil amendments to the existing soil to make it more suitable for succulents’ needs.
A bird bath can you drill holes in it?
I started by drilling a drainage hole in the bird bath’s bottom. I used a drill bit with a diamond tip. Here is a video guide to walk you through the process if you’ve never done it before.
To begin, add a small amount of water to the bird bath to keep the drill bit and surface moist. As you go further, the drill bit will initially be angled.
The hardest part of installing this bird bath was by far this. It’s essential to have at least one drainage hole.
Because the bird bath is so shallow and likely dry out rather quickly, I only dug one hole. Water won’t be able to pool for too long because of the one hole.
I added the soil after drilling the drainage hole. To add height, I advise piling the soil up in the center.
I didn’t want the design to be flat because I’m primarily utilizing cold-hardy Sempervivums and Sedums, which don’t grow very tall. By piling up the soil, I was able to make a lovely succulent hill.
I got a bigger Sempervivum to be the center of attention. I was able to choose a large specimen accompanied by numerous chicks because I purchased it nearby.
How is a birdbath filled?
The easiest technique to attract birds to your garden after installing feeders may be to just add water. To drink and bathe, birds require a steady supply of fresh, clean water. By installing a birdbath in your yard, you might entice birds that don’t consume seeds and wouldn’t normally visit your feeders. (Other strategies for attracting birds include providing a roost box and nesting materials.)
Traditional concrete birdbaths available at garden centers are lovely lawn decorations but aren’t the ideal kind for birds.
They’re frequently too deep, the glazed ones could be too slippery, and they’re frequently challenging to clean. Additionally, if the temperature falls below freezing, they might fracture. The best birdbaths are shallow with a moderate slope so that birds can wade into the water, just like puddles and small pools of water in slow streams in nature. Choose a product that is both durable and simple to clean.
A trashcan lid, a snow sled shaped like a saucer, a shallow pan, or an old frying pan can all be used to create your own birdbath.
Setting up your birdbath
Given that this is where they generally find water in nature, birds seem to prefer baths that are located at ground level. Birds who are bathing may be more exposed to predators, particularly cats. Keep your cat inside if you have one. Make sure there is a reasonably wide open area between your birdbath and the closest dense vegetation if cats are even somewhat likely to be hiding in your neighborhood so birds have a greater chance of spotting and avoiding a cat in time.
If at all feasible, place your birdbath in the shade to keep the water colder and more fresh. Having trees close by will also give them branches to groom on.
So that birds can stand on them to drink without getting wet, place stones (or branches) in the water (this is particularly important during freezing weather).
At the perimeter of the bath, the water shouldn’t be any deeper than 0.5 to 1 inches, sloping to a maximum depth of 2 inches in the center.
Dripping water is one of the best methods to enhance the beauty of your birdbath. The sight and sound of running water attracts a lot of birds. Use a professional dripper or sprayer or create one on your own by upcycling a plastic bucket. In order for the water to drip into the birdbath, poke a little hole in the bottom, fill it with water, and hang it over the birdbath.
Winter birdbaths
Birds will frequent birdbaths all year long, and fortunately, it’s not as important to keep yours free of ice in the winter as many people think. Birds can typically receive enough water from snow or falling icicles and have many physiological strategies for saving it.
Winter water provision is made easiest by leaving a plastic dish outside at the same time each day and bringing it inside when ice starts to build.
Manufacturers now provide birdbaths with thermostatically controlled heaters built in if you do wish to keep a birdbath ice-free on subfreezing days. In most stores where bird feeders are sold, immersion heaters are also an option. If the bath’s water runs dry, the majority of modern models turn off. To prevent electric shock, it is ideal to connect your heater to a ground-fault interrupted circuit (available at hardware or electrical supply stores).
How are plants grown in bird cages?
Use an old, empty birdcage to add a unique feature to your yard. The results are more beautiful than you’d anticipate, and it makes for the ideal simple DIY project with a vintage theme.
This decorative birdcage has been transformed into a living floral arrangement, making it a showpiece that fits in anywhere. You only need a cage, coconut fiber lining, peat moss, and a variety of gorgeous planted colors.
If you don’t already have a birdcage, try visiting your neighborhood thrift shop or weekend market (and pick up some flowers while you’re there). You’re sure to find one there. Local online trade groups and social media rarely let you down, so use them if all else fails.
Here’s how
- Cut the fiber liner to fit the birdcage’s base and sides, making sure the side pieces are 150mm high.
- Peat moss should be soaked in water, squeezed to remove excess, and then used to fill birdcages to the height of the lining.
- Keep plants in their containers and place them decoratively around the birdcage, tucking the containers into the peat moss.
- For a wonderful look, let the leaf of trailing plants fall through the bars.
Why is my succulent expanding vertically?
We adore cacti. They look very charming in any room of your house, are simple to care for, and are understanding to those of us who lack a green thumb. They can withstand extreme dryness and heat both indoors and out, making them adaptable. They work well both individually and together in a container garden. It would be difficult to find someone who doesn’t gush about how lovely and simple these tiny plants are to maintain indoors.
However, nobody warns you that your succulent might begin to alter shape. Here’s some information on why your succulent might be growing taller if you’ve seen it.
Why It’s Happening
Etiolation is the process through which a succulent begins to develop a longer stem and paler, less densely packed leaves. Etiolation is most frequently brought on by a plant not receiving enough sunlight, which results in a change in the plant’s development, shape, and color. This happens most often with indoor succulents, since they are not in direct sunlight for very long, but it can happen to any succulent.
How To Fix Succulent Stretching
There are strategies to control the growth of your lanky plant even when it is impossible to make it again compact. Start by attempting to add extra light to its regular routine. Your succulent won’t be able to grow much longer if you do this.
Pruning your plants is the best technique to try and “recorrect” the growth. Take a sharp pair of shears, and make a cut directly above a row of leaves. Depending on the kind of succulent you own, the precise place will vary. You should leave the plant with a sufficient number of strong leaves so that it can continue to photosynthesize and survive. By doing this, you may get rid of a lot of the undesired, leggy growth without damaging the current plant. In addition, you can use the clippings to produce a fresh, healthy plant. After trimming your succulent, you should allow the cut end to completely dry in a well-lit place so that a callus can develop over the exposed end. Usually, this takes two to three days. The clipping can then be placed straight in the ground to produce roots over time.
For these new clippings and the freshly cut succulent, you can apply what you’ve learned about etiolation and how to prevent it in order to avoid repeating the same growth pattern.