Container Gardening Complete

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Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
#175 Dtp: 229 Page: 53

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

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Succulent plants have become very popular in the last few years, and

deservedly so. They’re low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant,

and absolutely gorgeous. Succulents are plants that store water in their

thick, fleshy leaves. These plants thrive in dry conditions and can survive

extended periods without water, making them perfect for gardeners in

dry climates or for those who sometimes “forget” to water. But because

these plants evolved in areas where moisture levels are low, they don’t do

as well in very humid climates or in gardening zones with a lot of rainfall.

Most succulents are not winter hardy, and in some climates they’ll

need to be moved indoors in the autumn before frost arrives. This project

uses the specialized cacti and succulent potting mix described earlier to

grow a variety of succulent plants in a repurposed cement mixing bin.

In addition to this project, you’ll find many other ways to use succulent

plants in your container garden in the final chapter of this book (Chapter 6).

Some popular plant candidates for a cement bin succulent planter

include:

• Adromischus spp.


• Aeonium spp.


• Agave spp.


• Aloe spp.


• Crassula spp.


• Dudleya spp.


• Echeveria spp.


• Euphorbia spp.


• Flapjacks (Kalanchoe
  thyrsiflora ‘Flapjack’)
  
  
  • Graptopetalum spp.
  
  
  • Haworthia spp.
  
  
  • Jade plants (Crassula ovata)
  
  
  • Ox Tongue (Gasteria
    liliputana)
  
  
  • Portulaca spp.
  
  
  • Sedum spp.
  
  
  • Sempervivum spp.
  
  
  • Senecio mandraliscae,
    S. serpens, and others
  
  
  
  

MATERIALS NEEDED

Old cement mixing bin

or a wheelbarrow bin

with the handles and

tire mount removed

Enough cacti and

succulent potting mix

to fill the bin

12 to 15 succulent

plants

A few handfuls of

smooth, ornamental

rocks

Seashells or other

decorative items

(optional)

TOOLS NEEDED

Hammer

Scratch awl

Eye Protection

CEMENT BIN

SUCCULENTS

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HOW TO MAKE A SUCCULENT CEMENT BIN

STEP 1 Begin by placing the empty bin in a location

that receives a minimum of 6 hours of full sun per day.

Remember, most succulents like it hot. Once the bin is in

place, use a hammer to pierce the bottom of the cement

bin with the scratch awl in several places. Pivot the awl

around in the holes to enlarge them to^1 ⁄ 2 -in. diameter.

Make at least five or six drainage holes in the bin.

STEP 2 Fill the bin to within 2 in. of the top edge with

the well-draining cactus and succulent specific soil

mix outlined in the previous section of the book. The

mix consists of 3 gallons of potting soil, 2 gallons of

coarse sand, and 1 gallon of perlite.

STEP 3: Plant the succulents in the bin, using extra

caution when planting anything with sharp spikes or

thorns. Arrange the plants in a way that allows for

maximum air circulation—wet succulents are prone

to rot. If the plants have roots circling around inside

their pot, be sure to gently loosen them before planting

them. Be careful not to plant succulents too deeply.

They should be planted to the exact soil depth they are

inside their nursery containers. If you plant them too

deeply, it could cause their fleshy stems to rot.

STEP 4 After all the plants are in place, top the soil with

some decorative rocks, seashells, and other accents,

if desired. Water the bin in well and enjoy your new

succulent planter.

NOTE: If you want to enjoy more succulent plants in

the future, know that most of these plants are easy

to propagate. Many naturally spread; young plants

develop off the side of the mother plant and can be

dug out, separated, and replanted into a new location.

Succulents are also easy to propagate via stem or

leaf cuttings. See Chapter 5 to learn how to propagate

plants via stem cuttings.

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