DIY Succulent Planter

My friend Nikki’s birthday was Tuesday, and I wanted to make her something fun. I decided to use succulents–they’re fun, organic, modern and best of all, easy to take care of. With just a few supplies and some lovely little plants, I made her a simple succulent planter. I took pictures along the way so you can make your own (as a present or just to spoil yourself).

.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

You’ll need the following:

• a variety of small to medium succulents (3 to 5 plants works best)
• a container to plant them in (mine was from the thrift store, it was originally a light fixture)
• a bit of soil to fill in the planter
• small rocks or pebbles (I used natural fish tank gravel–very inexpensive at your local pet store)

.

2. Arrange the succulents and fill in the soil

Remove the succulents from their containers and place them in your container. Move them around until you have an arrangement that you’re happy with. Try to vary the heights and sizes to add interest. Once you’re set, fill in the gaps with your extra soil (use an old spoon to get in the sides or odd angles.

..

3. Cover the top with rocks or pebbles

Use a small amount of your rocks/pebbles to cover over the bare top soil. This keeps the soil from getting too moist, along with preventing weeds (and making it look more polished).

.

4. Add a special note and enjoy!

Use twine, yarn, or rope to attach a note (if it’s a present). If it’s staying with you, use a toothpick or half of a wooden skewer to place a whimsical sign in the planter.

Instructions for care:

Lightly spritz or water once every two weeks. Keep in as much sunlight as possible! You may encounter some dried or brown leaves every now and then, just remove them and more will grow.