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5 Creative Succulent Containers You Can Find In Your Homes

by Giancarlo Perlas

The great thing about succulent plants is that they are so versatile in terms of styling and planting that there are literally hundreds of ways you can incorporate them into the designs of your homes through beautifully-crafted succulent containers like the 6 In Set 2.5 Inch Owl Pot Ceramic Flowing Glaze Base Set Succulent Plant Pot Cactus Plant Pot Flower Pot Container Planter.

As an alternative, you can also use quite a number of containers that you can find in your household. Whether these are old mason jars or crates, you can easily turn these into something that your guests would go gaga over once they see your succulents in them.

Here are some 5 creative succulent containers that you can easily find within your home:

1. Mason Jars

The past couple of years saw how creative we can be with mason jars. We use them for drinks, as a trinket holder, a dessert container, and even a fish bowl. What’s stopping us from using mason jars to hold together our succulent plants. As long as you drill tiny holes on the bottom of the jars, there should not be a problem with the soil’s ability to “breathe” and “drain.” Mason jars come in various sizes and colors, so you will never lack of options.

2. Crates

If you have old crates of beer or cola bottles but you can’t seem to know how to dispose it off or where to use it, you can turn them into containers for your succulent plants. The crate is best used if you’re planning to grow different varieties of succulents. You won’t have to look for different containers for the different varieties you are going to plant. Instead, you can simply put these all together in one crate. And if they have the same process of maintenance, then all the more better because you can take the crate out under the sun and put it back in the garden in just one go.

3. Canned Goods

Have you ever been so attracted to a canned goods’ design that you buy it without even knowing what’s inside the can? If it’s even edible? Mexican canned goods have some of the most colorful and creative designs on them. If you have ever downed a can of chili con carne, don’t just throw away the can afterwards. Clean it. Dull the edges. Then, plant your succulents in them. There’s no need to re-color the can because that old-school charm is exactly why we like it.

4. Salt & Pepper Shakers

You don’t always need large containers for your succulent plants. You can make use of salt and pepper shakers to start propagating your succulents. Eventually, when they start to grow, you can transfer them into a bigger container.

5. Coriander

You may think this is an ordinary kitchen tool, but a coriander is actually the best container for your succulent because you won’t have to drill holes on them anymore. As household items go, corianders are the most naturally suited for succulents because of their draining capacity.

Top Four Creative Ways To Use Succulents in Parties

by Giancarlo Perlas

What is it with people these days and their love to throw parties for friends and families? Everywhere we look, it seems there’s something hip going around in the lives of our friends. Whether they are getting married, celebrating their Nth monthsary, or throwing a party for their kids’ birthdays, something is always hippin’ and hoppin’ with them that we can’t help but take notice of the styles and designs they use for their parties. Succulents like CAL Farms 36 of 2″ Beautiful Rosettes Succulents are great additions to a garden wedding or any event for that matter that uses a garden as its backdrop.

Do you want an indoor event? Not to worry. Succulents are so versatile and flexible that they can easily be incorporated into the bare backgrounds of a hotel ballroom or a restaurant’s private room. Transforming an event place becomes easier because succulent plants take on a character of their own. Aside from the fact that they look elegant on any table, their leaves also don’t have the tendency to fall off in the middle of a party.

Here are some creative ways on how to incorporate succulents in parties:

1. Centerpieces

Tired of the usual roses, tulips, orchids, sunflowers, and daisies that adorn your tables? Succulents are so easy on the eyes that many event stylists started incorporating them into the flower arrangements for the tables’ centerpieces. You can also use them on their own. Since there are many varieties of succulents, you can experiment with them and find the varieties that would look good on the table when put together. You can use succulents as a candle holder (provided that it won’t directly be affected by the melted candle) or as a table number holder. There are so many ways that succulents can beautify a simple table.

2. Souvenirs

Many event stylists now use succulents as party favors. Guests love receiving something that they can use to decorate their places or offices with. Although technically they would have to take care and maintain succulent plants, it involves nothing but making sure they get the right amount of sunlight and water, making them the perfect plants for even the most non-green-thumb person. Instead of choosing to give away souvenirs that would most probably go straight to the bin, try to incorporate succulents into the overall theme of your party and give them away as souvenirs to your guests. They would love the creativity and the thoughtfulness, and they would be “forced” to take care of the plants.

3. Backdrops

Do not be contented with having a simply registration table. Make the most out of your succulent plants by installing a vertical garden as the backdrop of your registration table. Instead of the usual tarpaulin bearing the name of the event, you can also opt to have a succulent vertical garden with the plants spelling out the event’s name or theme. You can also use succulents as the background for the photos the official photographer will take of your guests. Don’t simply let them stand in front of a blank wall or God forbid, a giant photo of your face.

4. Ceiling Treatment

Bare ceilings are a no-no. What use would all the flowers and props be on the stage, tables, floors, walls, etc., if your ceiling will be left bare. There are gorgeous varieties of succulent plants that could hang down the rim of a container and cascade down beautifully. Be creative on how your ceiling could catch the attention of your guests. If you think vertical gardens are cute, how about creating a hanging garden? Your guests will surely appreciate the effort.

Understanding The Different Materials Used For Succulent Containers

by Giancarlo Perlas

Having succulents like CAL Farms 36 of 2″ Beautiful Rosettes Succulents Weddings or Party Favors or Succulent Gardens in or outside of your house is cool enough. What makes it cooler, though, is the pots that they come with. The different colors and textures could make everyone, even the most anti-plant person in the world, fall in love with. The common materials used for succulent containers are ceramic, plastic, wood, metal, and glass.

Which material for succulent containers do you like best? Which material is ideal for your garden? In order to determine what kind of material you must choose, you must first identify the climate in your location and the arrangement of the succulents in the pot.

1. Ceramic or Terra Cota

Ceramic and terra cota pots like 6 In Set 2.5 Inch Owl Pot Ceramic Flowing Glaze Base Set Succulent Plant Pot Cactus Plant Pot Flower Pot Container Planter are both breathable materials, which means that they work best in areas that do not get a lot of air flowing. You can use them both for indoors and outdoors. However, if you’re going to use it for outdoors, you must be careful about putting it under direct sunlight because ceramic can get very hot and might dry out the plants. The hard thing about using terra cota or ceramic is they can be quite heavy, so it’s difficult to move them to other places in your garden. These types of pots are also fragile, so you have to be careful moving them around.

2. Plastic

Plastic is another option for succulent pots. Unlike ceramic, plastic pots are lighter, though they are a lot less breathable. Water does not evaporate to well in plastic pots. If you use a well-draining soil, that is one solution to the “breathable” problem of plastic pots. This shouldn’t be a big issue for planters because plastic pots have a range of colors and sizes and designs that it’s hard to ignore them.

3. Wood

Another interesting material to use for your pots is wood. You can use a driftwood to house your succulents. This is one of the best options for outdoor gardens because it can survive under direct sunlight since it stays cool and retains water. However, if you’re planting in an area with less sunlight and airflow, you will notice that wood can easily rot or keep your soil wet for too long. It may also break down over time. Wood may not last as long as ceramic, plastic, or other kinds of pots. But if you choose the area for it well enough, it can make your garden look gorgeous.

4. Metal

You can use metal, yes, but you have to be extra careful about this material because it changes temperature and can heat up the soil quickly. Metals can also rust, unless the pot was specifically made for planting. If it is not, the rust will be unhealthy for the succulents.

5. Glass

Using glass as decorative piece for your succulents is a great idea. However, you must remember that glass doesn’t have drainage holes. You’ll have to drill holes in them. It is not as breathable as other materials, too, meaning that unless your container has a wide opening to allow a lot of airflow, glass may not work as a material for your succulent pot. It can also get dirty easily, so you’ll have to clean it every chance you get.

3 Things to Remember When Starting a Miniature Garden Of Succulent Plants

by Giancarlo Perlas

Plants like CAL Farms 36 of 2″ Beautiful Rosettes Succulents are such wonderful addition to any home garden or a miniature garden you have in your living room and in the lobby of your office building. These robust and fleshy plants can survive in the harshest environments and they require very little maintenance for them to be healthy.

Starting your very own miniature succulent garden is very easy. All you need are some gardening tools, succulent plants (of course), and these tips right here.

1. Gather Your Materials

You can find all the materials you need in the gardening department of a local hardware, home improvement store or here in Cal Farms.

What you need are the following: a small and compact container like 6 In Set 2.5 Inch Owl Pot Ceramic Flowing Glaze Base Set Succulent Plant Pot Cactus Plant Pot Flower Pot Container Planter, gardening soil, small stones or pebbles, and the succulent plant of your choice. These would cost you $20 to $30 or sometimes, even less than that. Try and go when it’s the sale season, so you can maximize your money and purchase more decorative pieces for your mini garden. When you have all of these things, you can finally start your succulent garden.

2. Choose the Succulents You Want to Plant

When we talk about succulents, what springs to people’s minds is cacti seeing as they are the most popular succulent plants known to us. But there are many different types of succulents that may be lesser known but are equally gorgeous and relaxing to look at. These are Echeveria, aloe, cotyledon, sempervivum and agave. Keep in mind that you should choose succulent plants that will fit your personality, as well as the kind of garden you have in mind. Though all succulents are great to look at, not all of them fit the lifestyle and the look that you want for your garden.

Some other things you need to consider when choosing the succulents to plant is the climate in the place where you live in, how much sunlight do you get in a year, and how much time can you devote taking care of the plants. Succulents are very easy to maintain and take care of, but they wither and die when they don’t receive the proper amount of sunlight and water. You should also consider how large the plants will get once they start to grow. Remember that you are aiming for a miniature garden. This means you cannot purchase and choose succulents that will eventually grow in height.

3. Pick the Right Container Size

It’s easy to get lost in the many options you will see in the gardening department. You have to pick the right container size, though. That’s vital if you want to meet the miniature garden that you are aiming for. Ceramic bowls are a good place to start, and you can choose from a variety of designs and colors that these are available in. Remember that since you want to have a mini garden, you must choose a container that would be no larger than a houseplant pot. You may also opt to keep things simple by choosing a basic flower pot.

To make your garden more unique, you can choose to plant in mason jars, fish bowls, bird feeder, wheelbarrow, and even an old pair of rubber boots. It’s all in the arrangement, really. You can be very creative and imaginative in the containers that you choose.

Remember, though, that whatever container you choose, make sure that they provide proper drainage and spaces between plants. This will allow the plants to grow out faster and better.

Top 5 Succulents For The Home And How To Take Care of Them

by Giancarlo Perlas

Succulent plants are trendy because they look good in homes, offices, businesses, etc. It’s an easy choice for people who are busy with their everyday lives because succulents’ juicy leaves, stems, and roots allow them to thrive even in hot weather and minimum supervision. It does not hurt that they look stunning placed on your windowsill, counters, fireplaces, and terraces.

The color variation of succulents is almost endless. They come in blue-green, chartreuse, pink, red, yellow, white, burgundy, almost black, mixed, and more. They sometimes come with rounded, needlelike, ruffled, berrylike, or spiky leaves, but that doesn’t matter because they look good no matter what.

Here are the top five succulents for the home and how to take care of them:

1. Burro’s Tail (Sedum Morganianum)

Burro’s Tail looks better if you will place it in a hanging basket and hang that over your porch or your home garden. Their leaves will look like waterfalls since they grow up to three-feet long. It’s a native of Mexico and prefers medium to high light for best performance.

Keep the soil dry during winter season and fertilize once during summer with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. Pink or red flowers may appear if you managed to take care of them. The leaves of Burro’s Tail easily fall off, so make sure to place them in a location where they cannot be disturbed.

2. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)

The Jade Plant is very easy to grow. It’s a native of South Africa and grows thick stems and thick glossy green leaves with a tinge of red. To take care of Jade Plants, allow the soil to dry completely before watering again. Fertilize three times during summer with 10-10-10 fertilizer. For good air movement through the soil, you have to plant it in a terra-cotta.

3. Medicine Plant (Aloe Vera)

The reason why many people choose Aloe Vera is because of its medicinal qualities. For centuries, the healing sap of this has been used to treat wounds and sunburn. The problem is that the plant has sharp teeth, so make sure that it is placed in a location where it would not accidentally cut someone.

Allow the soil to dry out in between soaking. Remember not to allow the plant to stand in water. Keep it under direct sunlight and fertilize three times in summer with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer. Do not fertilize during winter.

4. Panda Plant (Kalanchoe Tomentosa)

The Panda Plant is the most common of the Kalanchoe family. It is a native of Madagascar and mostly grown for its foliage.

Between watering, allow the top two inches of soil to dry out. During winter, water just enough to keep the soil from drying out completely. Like many succulents, fertilize three times with a 10-10-10 fertilizer during summer. Panda Plants rarely need pruning and grooming, except to remove dried out stems.

5. Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea Recurvata)

If you want to have palm trees inside your house, then choose the Ponytail Palm. The feathery mops of green leaves sit atop a leathery-looking trunk. It is related to the agave plant, and is also commonly referred to as the Elephant Plant because of its swollen and bulbous base. This succulent plant can grow 12 to 20 feet indoors.

The Ponytail Plant does not need a lot of watering. Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering and keep the plant in the lowest humidity as possible. You may grow it in high light, though it would also adapt in medium light. Fertilize only once a year with a 10-10-10-fertilizer.

How To Properly Grow Indoor Succulent Plants

by Giancarlo Perlas

 

Indoor succulent plants are a nice choice for home gardeners. If you live in a high-rise apartment or in a condominium, this could be the one décor that you can thrive on. Succulents can survive for long periods in poor conditions, meaning not being able to go out under the sun or not being watered for a long period.

Although they are the most low-maintenance plants you can find, succulents can be the most beautiful plants in the world if given proper care. There are many varieties of succulents, and almost all of them are very low-maintenance, requiring less water, less sun, and less attention than ordinary and regular plants.

Here are ways on how to take care of your indoor succulent plants properly:

1. Putting Them Under the Sunlight

It is very easy to position succulents such as CAL Farms 20 of 2” Beautiful Rosettes Succulents under the sunlight. Although they will remain dormant during shipping and they may appear dull in color, they can immediately gain that color and look you are after once they are put under the sunlight. Most varieties of succulents will need at least half a day of full sunlight. If you are living in an extremely hot area, afternoon shade is recommended instead.

2. Re-planting the Succulents

If you want to transfer the succulents from their original pots to a decorative one, make sure to slowly remove them, so that the soil level will remain the same. You have to use the same level of soil in the new decorative pots, so it’s better to buy that kind of product with the same size as the original pots. Once transferred to the decorative pots, you can put pebbles or pea gravel on the soil surrounding the plant. Aside from being decorative, your succulents will also benefit from the pebbles or pea gravel.

3. Use Soil with Good Drainage

In order to grow succulents successfully, you need good draining soil. If you are going to plant the succulents in the garden, make sure that the soil in the area has good drainage and don’t plant the succulents in a low spot because they will remain wet all throughout the day. If you are going to plant the succulents indoors, buy cactus soil or mix together sand, gravel or volcanic rock. This will help promote the proper circulation of water in the soil. The container must also have a drainage hole or crushed rock on the bottom, so air will come in and the water will not stagnate.

4. Interval Watering

Succulents do not need much water. However, when you do water them, you need to make sure they dry up before watering them again. Succulents hate being watered again and again. But when you do water them, make sure to do it thoroughly.

5. No Need for Fertilizers

Succulents are very hardcore plants. They don’t need much water or fertilizers. If you want to put fertilizers, you can do so once a month. Make sure to use a well-balanced fertilizer.

Once you follow these tips, you can expect your succulents to remain in good health for many years. They can become the centerpiece of your living room too.

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