Succulents have called my name. I am so intrigued by them-- both for their beauty and their toughness. They can store water in leaves, stems, or roots. The word succulent means "full of juice." My words are not needed to describe their beauty. The visual speaks for itself.
Over the weekend, I purchased some Hens and Chickens variety {Scientific name: Echeveria glauca} and three other unidentified varieties. I decided to experiment with them. I knew I desired a small container of a mixed selection. I wanted to use a container I had purchased last summer that held votive candles. The challenge was to come up with a way to display six different succulents without using the glass holder.
After a quick search in our garage, I came up with some materials to work with. A spare coconut liner, some plastic, and a pair of scissors did the trick. I cut six rectangles from the liner and six squares of the plastic.
Two of the plants I had purchased were in single very small pots that were the perfect size for planting in my container. For the first one, I simply popped it out of the little pot. Then I wrapped plastic around the soil and then rolled a rectangular piece of the coconut liner around it-- very similar to making manicotti with lasagne pasta.
I continued with the other three purchased plants in the same way. For the last two, I used succulents that were already growing in our gardens. One of them is Stonecrop in the photo below. The name is so fitting-- they thrive growing in a hot rocky area. They are so tough they tolerate foot traffic!
I simply pinched a stem off, dipped the bottom one-inch into dry powder rooting hormone, and then placed it in a little pot of soil. I pressed the soil down very firmly for the purpose of getting the soil shaped, and then proceeded as with the others.
Number six was a cutting from my Autumn Joy Sedum-- prepared as above.
Here's the sextet from above:
And now from the side:
I was so thrilled with this group, I had them model for me! :)
.... And then I brought them inside... where I deemed them fit to be served up on a silver platter!
4 comments:
So, so, pretty. My husband just told me we should get some succulents for our home. We get very little light in our northern facing living room, and I'm not know for keeping houseplants alive. Maybe I wouldn't kill these ; )
Of course your artful arrangement makes them all the more lovely.
they look adorable
Thanks so much, Erin and ARod for your comments! These plants truly are so fun to work with! Wishing you both a great day! :)
What a clever and creative idea. They were beautiful on their own, but you dressed them up and gave them the spotlight and they are too sweet in the coconut liner (brilliant!). They deserve that place in the center of attention. I found you at Made U Look Thursday. Stop over for a visit at Quirky Vistas!
Liz
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