DIY: Potting Succulents

I have an affection for succulents. They come in so many varieties and are super easy to care for - I just throw a handful of ice cubes in the planter once a week. In fact, we love them so much we used them as place cards/favors at our wedding and I love hearing from our family and friends that they are still going strong in their homes.

We kept a few from the wedding as a reminder and I'm just now getting around to potting them. Since I had such success with the succulents I scooped up from Home Depot last year (literally they grew at least 5 times in size) I thought I would show you step-by-step how I pot them.

I picked up three ceramic pots from Ikea (for 1.99 each!). I thought the glossy white finish would look great in our kitchen once we install the white subway tile back splash. Make sure you buy pots that have enough room for your succulents to grow (for every space a succulent takes up, there should be an extra space from them to multiply/expand).

If your pots don't have holes in the bottom for drainage it is important to place rocks in the bottom - at least an inch deep. This allows for drainage and prevents over-water. Over watering your plants = dead plants. The plants will "drown" and mold will form in the soil.

I add potting soil on top of the rocks and insert my 1 inch by 1 inch succulents (these are actually tops from my original succulents that grew to be humungous). Just like planting regular plants, pat down the soil around the succulents. I like to water the plant at this point - it helps the plants feel at home.

I like to add another thin layer of rocks on top of the soil to finish it off. Now sit back and watch your succulents grow! I've found that my succulents do really well in a sunny spot - so I recommend keeping them on a window sill or sunny spot for at least a few days (if not permanently).