https://www.theeasttexasweekend.com/build-your-own-succulent-garden/

One of the newest crazes taking over is building your own succulent garden. Our friends at The Home & Garden Center in Longview are here to showcase two types of plants that are super important when building your own succulent garden, and they’re unique and low maintenance.

The first are succulents and the second is tillandsia, which are also known as air plants.
Both of these can be considered house plants or even be outside most of the year just as long as they’re brought inside during the winter.

“One thing you need to consider when choosing their location is how much light they can handle,” says Michelle Westbrook. “Succulents can take quite a bit of direct sunlight, while air plants do best in indirect light. We’re going to walk you through a really need and different way of showcasing both of these.”

Here’s what you need to build your own Succulent Garden:

• A container

When picking a container to plant in, drainage is one of the most important things to consider. It’s recommended to drill at least two holes into the bottom of your preferred container. If it still doesn’t drain well you can drill extra holes into the bottom and add a small layer of pea gravel before adding your soil.

• Cactus/Succulent Soil

When working with succulents you definitely want to use a potting mix that’s designed for cactus and succulents. It drains a lot faster than normal, and succulents are very susceptible to root rot of the soil they’re planted in stays too wet.

• Pea Gravel

The pea gravel has two purposes. First, it can be used on the bottom of your container before adding soil to help with drainage. And it can also be used on the top of the garden to help cover the bare soil and add some texture to your final product.

• Succulents

These are the star of the show! There are hundreds of varieties, so choose a variety of textures and colors to really make your garden pop.

• Air Plants

Now probably because of their name there is a misconception out there that air plants live off of air. But that is not the cast. Out in the wild they grow off trees and live on rainwater so they do need to be either spritzed or soaked depending on the conditions they’re in, and what variety they are.

• Glue

Make sure it’s non-toxic. A hot-glue gun is also acceptable.

• A few decorative rocks

When building your garden it’s always a good rule of thumb to remember the Thriller, Filler and Spiller rules.

-A thriller is something tall that’s normally showcased. In the above demonstration it’s the piece of cedar that’s placed in the center of the garden. There are also a few taller succulents behind the cedar to add to the thriller affect.
-A filler is something shorter that helps fill the container. So this will be your succulents.
-A spiller is something that will spill over the edge. For this purpose, it was the Sedum.

Now let’s get started:
 1. Drill two holes with the bottom of your container

If using a large thriller like cedar, place it in the container before the following two steps

2. Fill container with a thin layer of Pea Gravel.
3. Add a layer of soil on top of the gravel.

Now, your larger thriller should be secured in place

4. Start adding your succulents to the soil around your thriller

When working with succulents it doesn’t hurt to pull some of the soil away to help them fit the pot you’re putting them in, just as long as you don’t damage the roots.

5. Add your spiller, and other plants you want to include

6. To add your air plants, simply use non-toxic glue to make them stick to your favorite spot

7. Fill bare soil spots with more Pea Gravel

8. Admire your succulent garden!

When planting, you’re only limited by the scope of your imagination. And for those of you whose imagination isn’t there yet, that’s what The Home & Garden Center in Longview is here for.