Succulents 101: A Beginner’s Guide

Browse any home décor magazine or Pinterest board and you will see that the hottest plants in the greenhouse right now are succulents. People are going wild for these stunningly beautiful cactus-like plants and the trend is speeding its way into homes and gardens everywhere.

Now either everyone has suddenly grown a “green thumb” or this new succulent craze is popular for other reasons—such as the diverse range of different species available and their low maintenance upkeep. Succulents are easy to keep and make for a fun DIY project no matter what your skill level. So jump on the bandwagon and create your own succulent terrarium to brighten your office or home. Simply follow these steps and you’ll be a pro in no time.

How to Make Your Own Succulent Garden

Ingredients You Will Need

To make a succulent garden you will need:

• Small pebble rocks for drainage

• Potting soil mixture for cactus or succulents

• Sphagnum moss for filtration

• Activated charcoal for filtration

• Various succulent plants of your choice

• Moss, gravel, rocks or marbles for decorating

Building Your Garden

1. Choose a container. Succulents can be planted in anything—from a mason jar to a glass terrarium, and even a vintage tin! Have fun picking your container to suit your décor.

2. Fill it up with your ingredients! First put in the pebbles, then charcoal, followed by the moss and soil last.

3. Plant your succulents. Get creative! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different arrangements.

4. Add decorative flare.  Have fun with this part. Experiment with neon hued moss and textured rocks to compliment your home or office decor.

5. Experiment. Succulents are extremely versatile so don’t be afraid to try out different ferns and combinations of plants—the possibilities are endless!

You can eliminate the hassle of finding ingredients and starting from scratch if you are using a succulent kit, which is great for beginners since it comes with all the ingredients you will need and detailed instructions for making your own stylish piece.

Tips on Caring for Your Succulents

Don’t overwater your succulents.

Because these are such low maintenance plants, there really is only one thing that can harm them—too much water! A safe rule is to water once per week until soil is wet to touch but not soaked.

Bright, filtered light is best.

Succulents are fantastic for both indoors and out. Wherever you decide, make sure they have bright, filtered light while avoiding direct sunlight for long periods of time.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to try out different types of ferns and arrangements.