Let's start with the assortment
Let us describe groups of suitable plants and some specific “heroes”. Of course, the entire set of cultures cannot be covered in one article:
- Cacti. But not all of them are suitable for compositions.
- Aloe, various forms.
- Lithops (they are rarely used in compositions with other plants, because the agricultural technology of these plants is very peculiar). As a rule, different types of lithops are arranged in one pot, without other plants.
The most popular plants in compositions:
- Sedums.
- Rejuvenated.
- Aeoniums.
- Echeveria.
Sedums are a huge group of plants. In the photo below, on the left, there is a prominent sedum - plants 30-40 cm high, with bright decorative flowers, on the right - blue sedum - its height does not exceed 5-10 cm:
Young - well known under the name “stone rose” also includes a lot of hybrids:
Aeoniums are plants 25-30 cm high. There are many varieties and varieties:
Aeonium Arborium 'Schwarzkopf'
Aeonium Haworthii Variegta
Echeverias are very popular for creating continuous surfaces, especially flowing effects:
There are many varieties of echeveria. They are actively used for wall planters:
Miniature finestraria with cone-shaped leaves are good for tabletop compositions. Their agricultural technology is similar to that of Lithops: complete absence of watering in winter, careful and meager watering in summer, well-lit place.
Fenestraria Rhopalophylla
Finestraria with lithops.
Ampelous succulents
Rowley's ragwort - original ball leaves. Unpretentious.
Morgan's sedum is a fairly powerful plant with long stems densely covered with leaves. Hanging shoots resemble thick sausages.
Of course, the plant is highly decorative and solo, but it is also actively used in compositions. True, in the photo below there is a Burito sedum very similar to it:
Sedum Burrito:
Sedum Burrito
It is also worth looking at other representatives of the Crassulaceae family: cotyledons, pachyphytums, Kalanchoe, sedums, crassulas, graptopetalums . From other families, the following are suitable: euphorbia, peperomia, senecio, some species of agaves, haworthia, gasteria , representatives of the families Mesembryanthemum and Lastovnevye . Euphorbiaceae family may be suitable .
It makes sense to try your hand at arranging individually planted plants first:
How to create a composition of succulents using scrap materials?
If you don’t want to buy special pots or glass containers to form exquisite combinations, you can use improvised means. We've put together a few ideas that you can easily recreate yourself:
Compositions of succulents in glasses
Instead of glasses, you can use any glass container.
Take old and unwanted containers, fill them with drainage and soil, and then place small exotics in them.
Planting in wooden products
If there are old wooden stumps or logs that require decoration, then fill them with soil and also plant exotic representatives there.
Alternate the color and shape of plants.
Compositions of succulents and seashells
Surely, each of you put shells to hear the sounds of the sea wave.
In this case, these holiday memories can be turned into beautiful decor. Take shells, place a suitable substrate there, and plant succulent crops.
Imitation of landscapes and landscapes
The use of houses, stones imitating rocks, and miniature bridges makes compositions with succulents charming, but you should not take on such a composition without experience - trial options can be so far from the desired image that disappointment cannot be avoided. In addition to a carefully thought-out composition, preferably in advance and on paper, you will need to spend money on high-quality decor, or find natural materials for it, in addition, you should be well acquainted with the selected succulents.
Simpler in terms of planting are houses with overgrown roofs:
Just below, in a picnic basket, is a village landscape made by a Japanese craftswoman for sale. You can see how finely the details are worked out:
Preparing the pots
I bought the hexagonal box from a hobby store. Exactly the same blanks can be called shelves and are sold in construction supermarkets and decor departments. You need to screw a small loop onto the back wall of the tray using self-tapping screws; fittings for wall photo frames are suitable.
The wood box has a beautiful natural color, but making an accent to match some of the decor in the living room was necessary. So I painted the end of the planter with turquoise acrylic paint, and the outer sides were treated with wood oil.
In order for the decor to serve for a long time, it must be prepared for use. Cut the required amount of plastic film. It should be enough to completely cover the bottom and sides to the middle of their height. Apply a few drops of glue to a solid base and glue the polyethylene, it will protect the wood from moisture. Wait for the glue to dry and cut off the protruding ends of the film.
Phyto-paintings
Wall paintings made of succulents are an original and unusual decoration for a room. But it is recommended to create them if you are already familiar with these plants and know the growth characteristics of different species.
The main rule is that you should not choose succulents that will quickly grow up.
To create a phyto-picture you will need a deep frame with a bottom. Young plants are planted in it and covered with a lattice. The composition is set aside for a period of several months to a year, until the succulents intertwine with each other through the root system and grow through the twigs.
Succulents go well with almost any material: sand, gravel, shells, moss, wood and others. They thrive in limited conditions and tolerate drought well. Thanks to this, you can create a wide variety of compositions from them, which will become an excellent decoration for any corner of the apartment.
Succulents as an original table decoration
If you want to surprise your guests using custom table settings and natural materials, decorate the table with succulents. You can lay out wooden cutting boards as a base and place compact potted succulents on top.
Thanks to their small size, the plants will not block people sitting opposite them and interfere with the meal, and at the same time will create a cozy and pleasant environment.
Ball and other three-dimensional hanging figures
This is a more difficult task. Ready-made succulent balls cost about 50 Euros on Etsy.
A ball is made from wire with a diameter of..., wrapped with the same mesh, but not completely, a little space should be left so that you can work with the inner surface of the ball. to lay out the surface with a very thick layer of moss and coconut fiber, then fill it with soil suitable for succulents, perhaps looser; a small diameter foam ball can be inserted into the center to prevent dampness and not make the composition too heavy. Close the grid. You can start planting plants.
