Easy Succulent Container Gardening Ideas for Beginners

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

• Scissors
• Soft-bristle brush (optional)

Materials

• Container with drainage holes
• Plastic window screening or landscape fabric
• Succulent plants
• Cactus or succulent potting mix
• Decorative stones, gravel, glass, or marbles (optional)

Instructions

1. Cover the Drainage Holes

   Cut a piece of plastic window screening big enough to cover the container drainage holes. This will keep your soil in the container while letting excess water escape. Alternatively, you can use a piece of landscape fabric or a commercial pot screen to cover the holes.

   

2. Add the Potting Mix

   Cover the bottom of the container with enough potting mix so that when the plants are in place, the soil line will remain about 1/2 inch below the rim of the container. This will make it easier to water the plants without overflowing the sides of the container.

   

3. Test Fit the Plants

   Place your plants, still in their nursery pots, into the container to get a general idea of spacing. Move the plants until you are satisfied with the arrangement.

   

4. Plant the Container

   Take the succulents out of their nursery pots and place them back into your container one by one. Then, gently pack additional potting soil around each plant. Keep the soil at the same level at which the plants were growing in their nursery pots. Make sure that you have filled in all spaces between the plants. If you leave air gaps, the roots might dry out and kill the plants.

   Tip

   The soil in the nursery pots might be coarse and loose, so be careful when removing the plants. Hold each succulent gently at the top with the stem between two fingers. Turn the pot on its side, and gently tap the bottom to ease out the plant.

   

5. Avoid Overcrowding

   It's important to take into consideration the mature size of your succulents when spacing plants in your container. Plants in an overcrowded container will likely grow more slowly than normal. And they might not be as healthy because there will be more competition for moisture and nutrients.

   In addition, air circulation will be poor in a crowded container, and light won't be able to reach all parts of every plant. This can lead to mold growth and other fungal issues because some areas of the container might become too dark with conditions in which fungi thrive.
   

   

6. Add the Finishing Touches

   Gently remove any soil that is covering the leaves and stems of the plants. You can do this with a soft-bristle brush or even by gently blowing on the plants. To give your container a finished look, one option is to cover the surface of the potting soil with a top dressing of coarse material, such as stones, gravel, glass, or marbles. The top dressing material can be brightly colored or neutral, depending on the look you want to achieve.