When you buy a new succulent plant, it will likely be planted in a plastic pot. You may like to transfer your little succulent into a nicer pot or container. Creating a lovely display in a glass container or terrarium is a popular choice, especially if you have more than one small succulent. Succulents can be grown in glass jars, containers, or inside a fishbowl.
Succulents are relatively easy to care for, thrive in dry soils, and don’t need much water. There is a large selection of succulent species to choose from, and they make attractive house plants.
How to plant succulents in glass containers?
First, buy everything you need to make your display, including a glass vase, bowl, or jar and a selection of small succulents. You’ll also need potting compost that’s suitable for succulents. This is sold at hardware stores or garden centers as it is sold as succulent and cacti compost. You can also collect some gravel, stones, rocks, bark, or other decorative materials. These can either be bought or collected in nature. If you’re collecting stones for your display, it’s best to wash them well before use.
You’ll also need mesh tape, a watering can, and some fertilizer that’s suitable for use with succulents. Follow these steps to plant succulents in glass containers:
1. Take your succulent out of the pot it came in
Gently remove your succulent from the pots it’s in and check how wet the soil is. Often succulents are overwatered in stores and florists; if the soil surrounding the succulents’ roots feels very wet, you can prise some of it away from the roots. Be very careful when you do this. It’s very unhealthy for succulents to be growing in waterlogged soil, so you may need to completely remove the soil before transferring it to a glass container.
Also, remove any dead leaves from the plant and check to see that it looks healthy. Always handle young succulent plants very carefully as most varieties are delicate.
2. Use mesh tape on drainage holes
If your glass container has a drainage hole in the bottom, you can cover them with mesh tape to prevent soil and water from escaping.
3. Filling your glass container
Add a layer of stones and then gravel to the bottom of your glass container. This will not only look nice but will also help with drainage. Then add two or three inches of good quality potting compost. A high-quality soil will help your succulents stay healthy. Remember that succulents aren’t air plants, so they will need enough soil to cover their roots. If you’re using stones and gravel or other decorative items, you’ll need to ensure there’s enough soil in between.
When you fill-up your glass container, it’s best only to fill it about halfway so that you have plenty of space to plant your succulents and cacti. This will also give you the option of adding more soil, gravel, or decorative items later on.
4. Plant your succulents
Now’s the fun bit! Place your succulents in the glass container and arrange them in such a way that looks attractive. If you just have one succulent, you can plant it in the middle of the pot.
Many succulent displays have two or more succulents, and some also include cacti. You can experiment with the style and positioning to make your container look nice. You may like to plant the succulents around the outside of the pot, in the middle, in a specific pattern, or spread them out. You are only limited by your imagination. Think about the plant’s structure, as well as their height, before you plant each one. If the succulents are a slightly different color, you can move them around your pot to see which look good together.
Don’t plant your succulents too close together, as they need enough room to grow. Some succulents also produce babies by dropping leaves that will grow or spread.
When planting your succulents, you should ensure that the roots are lightly buried and have enough soil. Press the plants down firmly so that they don’t lean to one side or look bent. You’ll also need to ensure that the bottom leaves on your succulent plants are above the soil, don’t bury any of them, or your succulents will likely start rotting.
5. Add decorative materials
Once you’ve planted your succulents, you may like to add a layer of gravel to the topsoil or place some rocks around the plants. You may want to add some pebbles, colored gravel, or black and white sand to make your display stand out.
Some people like to paint the glass container with glass paint. Perhaps you can paint a friend’s name if you’re making a gift, a motivational quote, or the word ‘home’ if you’re making a housewarming gift.
6. Water your succulent
Once you’ve finished your succulent display, you can give your plants a little water. Be careful not to overwater as you don’t want the display to become waterlogged. Succulents are easy to care for and generally only need water every one to two weeks, depending on the variety, the climate you live in, and how many succulents are in your display. Some plants are considered to be semi succulents, and these require more water than succulents and cacti.
Bottom Line: Hot to Plant Succulents in Glass Containers
Succulents need the right amount of water and sunlight and require a good quality fertilizer once annually. Succulents can look stunning if they are planted in glass containers.
Be careful not to overcrowd your display as the plants will not grow. It’s a good idea to do your research about the type of succulents you’ve bought, as each species has slightly different needs when it comes to water, nutrients, and sunlight. Some succulents like the full, hot sun.
Mason jars, vases, and even fishbowls make cheap and stylish displays that make the perfect housewarming or birthday gift for friends and family. Kids also love helping make succulent displays, but this activity is best for older children as succulents have delicate roots and should be handled with care.