Best Succulent Arrangements You Have to Make at Home

What Are Succulent Arrangements

A succulent arrangement refers to a collection of different kinds of succulent variants planted in a shared container, which is usually a wide and rather shallow pot. Even though succulents can be beautiful when planted separately, grouping them in a complementary fashion can make them even more eye-catching. This is what succulent arrangements are trying to achieve.

Benefits of Succulent Arrangements

If you are fond of succulents, learning a thing or two about how you can make beautiful arrangements from them is a must. Here are just some benefits of applying the best succulent arrangements right now:

Saves Space

If you don’t have that much space in your residence, having several succulents share a container is a good option. Even if you collect many different succulents, you still have an assurance that they will not consume as much space if you arrange them properly.

Different Plants Can Complement Each Other

Succulents by themselves are beautiful enough. However, if you put them in an arrangement where every plant complements each other, you can expect them to become even more attractive. Pairing different blooming succulents is like having a bouquet that never wilts.

Therapeutic

Picking out which plants go together well can be a relaxing activity. The fact that you can relax from arranging succulents is therapeutic. It can make you feel good even more so when you start arranging them in their containers and see the beautiful results from such an act.

How Do Succulent Arrangements Work

Making a succulent arrangement is like arranging flowers for a bouquet. You need to pick succulents that have contrasting colors, different shapes, and size of leaves. It is also important for you to understand which ones have similar water and nutrient requirements.

Done properly, each component plant will enhance the beauty of each other. For instance, instead of using similarly colored plants, breaking a monotony by adding pink succulents will make the arrangement more eye-catching.

Pros and Cons of Succulent Arrangements

Pros

• Saves space as it allows several plants to share the same container.
• Brings out the beauty of some succulents, particularly those that tend to look better when paired with others.
• Promotes even more ease in taking care of and maintaining succulents.
• Beautiful to look at.
• Relaxing and therapeutic.

Cons

• The containers of the succulent arrangements can get crowded quickly.

Things to Consider When Making Succulent Arrangements

So are you interested to learn more about how to make the most beautiful succulent arrangements? Then ensure that you consider the following once you begin this project on your own:

Colors

One of the things that make succulents so appealing is their individual colors. Note that these succulents come in almost all colors. Some species can even change their colors depending on the climate conditions, making them even more stunning than before.

One way of arranging succulents beautifully is to use basic color concepts. For instance, you can put together succulents that have complementary colors. This means that their colors are opposite the color wheel, like green and red or purple and yellow.

Thriller, Filler, Spiller

This is a concept used in flower arrangements but also works quite well when used with succulents. The thriller is the plant that serves as the main focus of the arrangement. Planting tall succulents in the center of the container can grab the attention of the viewer. You can use the world’s best rare succulents if you want, but anything that you find beautiful will work as well.

Filler plants are smaller plant varieties that are for filling in space inside the pot. These plants have smaller, densely packed leaves. Even though they can be beautiful independently, their main function is to bring the eyes towards the thriller plant/s.

Spiller plants are succulents hanging over the edge of the pot. These feature flexible stems that droop as they grow. The purpose of these plants is to soften the edges of the arrangement and bring the eyes towards the center.

Light Needs

You will need to choose plants that have similar sunlight requirements. For example, many succulents need several hours of direct sunlight every day. Others, on the other hand, get burned easily and would much rather have indirect sun. Do not put these two kinds of plants together in an arrangement.

Leaf Thickness and Watering Needs

Succulents that have thick leaves can thrive even if you water them every other week. However, the ones with thinner and more delicate leaves require you to water them a bit more often. Therefore, it is best to group succulents that have relatively the same watering requirements so you can avoid the risk of overwatering one plant or underwatering another.

Drainage

Almost all kinds of succulents need fast-draining soil. With that, you should never encounter problems putting together an arrangement using different varieties. Ensure to cover the container’s drain holes with a bit of mesh to prevent the potting mix from getting out while still allowing excess water to drain.

Pots and Containers

Of course, you will want to use a beautiful container for a succulent arrangement, but you should not just base your choice on looks alone. Use pots that have more than enough room for the plants, drainage holes to get rid of excess water, and easy to access for watering and fertilizing.

How to Make Succulent Arrangement

Step 1 – Choose your plants

As mentioned earlier, choose succulents that go well together. They should complement not just their colors and appearance but also in terms of growth requirements.

Step 2 – Choose your container

Your succulent pot should have enough drain holes to get rid of excess moisture. In addition, it can prevent the plants from rotting.

Step 3 – Prepare your pot and potting mix

Once you have chosen your pot, place a bit of mesh fabric or a plastic screen over the drain holes. It can prevent the potting mix from falling through. Speaking of the potting mix, choose fast-draining soil. You can make a well-draining DIY soil by mixing garden soil with loose sand and some pumice. Fill the container to around an inch below the brim.

Step 4 – Arrange your succulents

Remove the succulents from their nursery pots carefully. Be mindful of the root bulbs. Transfer the plants into the pot. Make sure that you space them properly to prevent their roots from getting tangled. Properly transplanting succulents will ensure that they can survive the transfer.

Step 5 – Allow the plants to settle before watering

After repotting the succulents, use a soft brush to remove any soil that got on the leaves of the plants. You can also place a layer of pebbles on top of the soil to keep them from blowing off and deter the growth of weeds. Wait for a week or so before watering the plants thoroughly.

 

4 Most Popular Succulent Arrangements

If you are looking for ideas regarding the kind of succulent arrangements you should make, then here are four of the most popular recommendations and suggestions:

Trailing Succulent Arrangements

This refers to an arrangement that you can do using a hanging planter. Plant trailing succulents, like String of Pearls, String of Hearts, Burro’s Tail, and others, around the edge of the planter. The center should serve as your focal plant, which can be your choice of echeverias or rose-shaped succulents. Place the larger ones in the center with a couple of smaller varieties surrounding them.

Multi-Textured Succulent Arrangement

This arrangement uses plants that have different textured leaves. This means that you will also get drastically different-looking plants in the same container apart from having contrasting colors. For instance, you can place a Tiger Aloe in the center because it tends to grow tall. You can then plant succulents that grow low to the ground, like Tigers Jaw and Jade plants, around it.

High-Impact Arrangement

Just as the name suggests, this arrangement entails using a plant to serve as a focal point. You can use a brightly colored plant of your choosing and then arrange a couple of elegant black succulents around it to create a sort of border. After that, you can put lithops (living stones) around the edges. You can use any plant. Just make sure that there is an eye-catching plant in the middle.

Perfect Outdoor Arrangement

You can also make succulent arrangements for your garden. A good arrangement will be to plant underneath a tree a couple of adaptable succulent ground covers that spread quickly close to the ground. It can prevent the plants from getting exposed to too much direct sunlight.

Do’s and Don’ts With Succulent Arrangements

Do’s

• Place your succulent arrangement in a place with a good amount of indirect sunlight for a couple of hours a day. If your house does not get enough natural light, you can use a premium succulent grow light to ensure that your plants can grow properly.
• Provide the plants enough space to grow. Spacing them apart also provides better ventilation, which will make them grow better.

Don’ts

• Do not water your plants every day. Succulents do not need a lot of water. This means that watering them once a week should be more than enough. Ideally, wait until the soil in the pot is completely dry before watering.
• Do not use containers that have no drainage holes. If you want to use a certain container, drill a couple of drainage holes at the bottom.

FAQ About Succulent Arrangements

Can you plant all succulents together?

Technically yes, but it is best not to plant succulents with different watering requirements. For instance, if you want to put together succulents with different water requirements, you will need to water them separately and do so carefully.

How many succulents can you plant together?

It will depend on the size and depth of the container. Ideally, you should space the plants, so they have enough room to grow. You also have to make sure that the air can circulate between the plants better.

Can you plant cacti and succulents together?

Yes. However, you need to use a potting mix made specifically for cacti. Do not worry about the succulents. The reason is that most succulents have the ability to adapt to the soil after a while.

How long do succulent arrangements last?

They can last indefinitely if you take care of them properly. The length of time they last also depends on the types of succulents you have. Some are capable of living for decades. On the other hand, others can enjoy a lifespan of 6 to 8 years with proper care.

Do succulents like to be crowded?

Just like other plants, succulents need room to grow, but you can still expect them to thrive when crowded. Note, though, that they will concentrate on having deeper roots instead of growing outward to get more nutrition.

Conclusion

Succulent arrangements are like everlasting flower bouquets. Aside from looking truly beautiful, they also come in many colors and are very low maintenance. If you want to make your arrangement, consider the growing requirements of the plants you plan on grouping together. If you understand your plants, then you will be fine.

Photos from: panattar / depositphotos.com, MillaFedotova / depositphotos.com, selinairina / depositphotos.com and kittima05 / depositphotos.com.