Make The Perfect Holiday Gift With Succulents
Creating a unique gift for your next dinner party doesn't have to be difficult, especially if your host is a wine connoisseur. Planting succulents in an old wine bottle is a great way to easily create a memorable gift. You can find a variety of empty wine bottle planters online or check locally as well. If possible, look for options with a drainage hole to help the arrangement last longer.
Supplies
Here's what you'll need to make this beautiful arrangement (click the links to purchase the products online):
- Wine bottle planter
- Succulent soil
- 3-5 succulents
- Top dressing and tools
Design
You'll want to start by planning out your arrangement. I like to place the succulents in their approximate locations while still in their pots so I can move them without making too much of a mess.
Remove soil
Once you know how you want the design to look, it's time to prep your succulents! Pull the succulents out of their pot and gently remove as much of the soil as possible. If you happen to pull off some of the roots in the process don't worry! Your succulent will survive just fine
Fill the planter with soil
Fill your planter almost to the top with soil. This will ensure you have enough soil to fill the planter without adding more later, but also allows some wiggle room to put the succulents in without the soil spilling over the edge.
You can fill the neck of the pot completely with soil to make sure the soil doesn't shift after you water a few times. If your bottle doesn't have a stopper, you can add one or just fill the bottle so that it doesn't come out the end of the neck.
I highly recommend using a well draining soil for succulents, especially in a glass container, to prevent the roots from rotting.
Start planting in the center
I've found it's easiest to start an arrangement by planting in the center. In this case, I planted the larger Echeveria in the center and nestled the roots until the soil until they were completely covered.
Add other large succulents
At this point you'll want to add any other large or focal point succulents. If you plant a lot of succulents close together, you'll find that they can stay smaller and don't require water as frequently. This means your arrangement will look similar to how you planted it for several weeks, even months.
Fill in the rest
Add smaller succulents around your focal point to fill up the rest of the planter. Again, you can add as much as you'd like here. A tightly packed arrangement can stay looking great for quite some time. Just make sure the roots are buried in the soil to prevent them from drying out too quickly.
Add top dressing
Finish off your arrangement by adding a layer of top dressing. This helps the arrangement look complete and more professional. It also helps keep the soil in place. Instead of a rock top dressing, you could also use moss. Just be careful as moss often stays wet too long which can cause problems for the succulents.
Care
Once your arrangement is finished, leave it for 2-3 days without water to allow the roots time to heal. After the 2-3 days, water like you would any established arrangement.
The great thing about these planters from Looking Sharp Cactus is they have a drainage hole. This will make watering and care so much easier!
Keep your arrangement in an area with bright, indirect sunlight to help it stay looking compact.
These wine bottle arrangements will look great in any setting. You can use them as a wedding centerpiece, as windowsill decor, or anywhere else you can think of! They also make great gifts.
Don't miss these important tips for planting succulents
After you purchase a new succulent, it's important that you replant it to ensure it stays live in your home. Taking a few minutes to learn how to plant succulents will start your succulent growing journey off on the right foot. You'll want to make sure you have the right supplies, including soil and pottery, to give your succulent (and yourself) the best chance at success.
12 Popular Plants to Absolutely Avoid Growing In Your Garden
While gardening can be fun, make sure you avoid the plants on this list unless you want a headache. Some plants can become quite invasive, and others have roots that can destroy the foundation of your house or break up sidewalks. Keep these plants out of your garden, and you're on your way to a more pleasant and low-maintenance gardening experience.
Save Your Succulents With This Critical Watering Technique And Look Like A Pro
A big part of keeping succulents healthy is providing them with the right environment. You'll want to pay attention to the soil they're in, how much sunlight they're getting, and most importantly, how often you're watering them. The method and frequency of watering succulents are critical to preventing rot while encouraging lots of new growth.
Expert Tips for Creating Stunning Succulent Arrangements
Figuring out which succulents to combine together to make a beautiful arrangement can be daunting. But with these tips from succulent design experts you'll be able to put together crowd-pleasing arrangements easily, whether it's in pots or in the ground.
Is Your State On The List? 18 States Where Succulents Can Grow Outside Year Round
Many people think of succulents as beautiful house plants but don't realize they can be grown outside year-round in many parts of the United States. Not every succulent is suited for outdoor growing in every state so here's a list of states and some of the succulents you can expect to grow outside year round there.
This article originally appeared on Succulents and Sunshine.