How to Make a Dish Garden From Succulents
Succulent plants, such as hen and chickens and aloe vera, contain water in their leaves. Well-adapted to desert conditions, succulents grow easily from cuttings. You can plant several types together in shallow pots.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Collect cuttings of succulent plants such as jade plant, hen and chickens, donkey's tail, pork and beans plant or string of pearls.
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2
Allow the cuttings to dry in the sun for a few days. Drying will seal the cut ends and form a scab.
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3
Select a shallow container. You can use a large saucer as long as you are careful not to overwater.
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4
Place gravel in the bottom of the container to improve drainage.
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5
Fill the container with cactus potting mix. This soil is a special mix for growing cactus and succulent plants and has excellent drainage. You can also use turkey grit, which is sold in feed supply stores.
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6
Place the prepared cuttings in the cactus mix up to the first sets of leaves. Arrange the cuttings so that the tallest plants are toward the back and the shorter, trailing varieties are near the front of the container. Do not water the dish garden for at least 10 days.
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7
Place the dish garden in a sunny location. Water when the top 2 inches of soil feels dry to the touch (after about 10 days).
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8
Fertilize lightly with fish emulsion in the spring.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If rainy weather persists, tip the dish garden on its side to drain excess water.
Decorate your dish garden with a few attractive stones, shells or pieces of driftwood.
Protect from frost. Succulents are very susceptible to cold weather.
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Comments
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this site is very helpful thank tou :)
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debraleebaldwin
Jan 27, 2009
This is unnecessary: "Place gravel in the bottom of the container to improve drainage." Re using turkey grit, yes, it's an excellent amendment, but the way this is written implies succulents can be planted in turkey grit alone. Re: "If rainy weather persists, tip the dish garden on its side to drain excess water" -- succulent container gardens should not be allowed to become sodden; when rainy weather persists, move the containers indoors or beneath an overhang.
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debraleebaldwin
Jan 27, 2009
This is unnecessary: "Place gravel in the bottom of the container to improve drainage." Re using turkey grit, yes, it's an excellent amendment, but the way this is written implies succulents can be planted in turkey grit alone. Re: "If rainy weather persists, tip the dish garden on its side to drain excess water" -- succulent container gardens should not be allowed to become sodden; when rainy weather persists, move the containers indoors or beneath an overhang.
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debraleebaldwin
Jan 27, 2009
This statement is misleading: "Allow the cuttings to dry in the sun for a few days." Cuttings should be placed out of direct sun, lest they scorch (they're especially vulnerable when first severed from the plant). -- Debra Lee Baldwin, author, "Designing with Succulents" (Timber Press, 2007) and "Succulent Container Gardens" (2010)
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debraleebaldwin
Jan 27, 2009
This statement is misleading: "Allow the cuttings to dry in the sun for a few days." Cuttings should be placed out of direct sun, lest they scorch (they're especially vulnerable when first severed from the plant). -- Debra Lee Baldwin, author, "Designing with Succulents" (Timber Press, 2007) and "Succulent Container Gardens" (2010)
