A neat and original composition of cacti and succulents will be a real decoration of the room. The plants that make it up, as a rule, are already unusual and decorative in themselves. When planted together in the original bowl or vessel, the effect is enhanced many times over. To make such a composition is within the power of everyone and everyone, the main thing is to show a little patience, imagination and allocate time for preparation and landing. We will tell you what to look for, which plants to choose, how to arrange them and how to maintain a mini-garden in proper condition.
Correct dishes
One of the main advantages of the selected plants is a small root system and low growth rate. This allows you to create spectacular small compositions of succulents with your own hands, which will not take up too much room space. Wide and low bowls, which can be in several tiers, with decorative elements, are best suited for these purposes. In terms of color, preference should be given to neutral shades that will not visually distract from plants, but only emphasize bright greens. Remember one thingrule: the height of the bowl should be about 1/3 of the entire composition. The material of the dishes can be anything: plastic, ceramics, glass and even wood, but always with a drainage layer and holes at the bottom to drain excess moisture when watering.
Use decorative powder
It is not only beautiful, but also beneficial for plants. Since the composition of succulents and cacti is located in a small container, moisture evaporates faster, the roots may be exposed. Powdering with fine stone chips, glass decorative elements, small expanded clay, etc., these processes will slow down and protect the root system from overheating. The latter is likely due to the fact that such mini-gardens require direct sunlight, only in this way they will maintain maximum decorativeness and not stretch, do not turn pale.
Choose your cacti and succulents carefully
A master class is the best thing that can help you in this matter. Especially if you had no previous experience with plants, their taxonomy. Seek help from specialists, study thematic literature, as the modern variety of succulent species is very large. Of the general recommendations, it should be noted that plants should be selected as similar as possible in terms of care (watering, transplanting, growth rate, lighting, etc.). The neighborhood of cacti and succulents in this respect is not entirely true, but it looks impressive. To somehow neutralize the imbalance, choose the most hardy species: mammillaria, rebutia, echinopsis.
The composition of succulents and cacti of the same genus looks very nice. They are in harmony and unity, but meanwhile differ from each other in shape, color. For example, lithops, or living stones. Amazing hoof-like plants grow very slowly, so you won't have to repot them for a long time.
Don't go overboard with variety. In a low pot with a diameter of 15-20 cm, it is best to plant 5-7 species, no more. Otherwise, the composition will be overloaded, and the plants will develop in tight quarters.
Set the accents
A mini-garden in which each plant "screams" about its uniqueness, brightness and unusualness looks strange. Let them all be amazing, but only a few types should come to the fore, and the rest should harmoniously emphasize them. If your composition is made of succulents, then bring a tree-like plant into the background, for example, crassula, euphorbia, slipway, columnar cacti. The middle tier should be somewhat lower, and the lower one can generally be made up of ground cover species, which will gradually hang over the edge effectively (it is worth considering a pot on a stem in the shape of a glass).
Timely care is half the success
Once the selected plants are planted in the right order, the question arises of how to maintain this unique mini-garden. In fact, there is nothing complicated, and the care process consists of several main points. First, removing the redundantgrowth, which begins to interfere with neighboring plants and spoils the decorative effect. If the arrangement of succulents is done correctly, then the need for a transplant will not arise for at least 2 years. Second, watering. It should be regular (in the case of cacti, do not forget about the dormant period in winter) and neat. Direct the jet of water at the largest leaves or stones so that it gradually reaches the soil surface. You can use a drip system. To remove excess moisture, there should be drainage holes and a pan.
The best views for creating a mini-garden
Before you make a composition of succulents yourself, we recommend that you pay attention to the plants listed below. This selection of the most interesting in terms of decorativeness and ease of care for succulents:
- Krassula, or Crassula, is a beautiful plant with fleshy, leathery leaves. It grows quite slowly, care is minimal.
- Aloe - home "healer", known to all, can be useful in landscaping. Spectacular elongated dense leaves with thorns will decorate any composition.
- Echeveria is a rosette plant that forms a green rose from small leaves. The hue ranges from rich emerald to bluish or lilac. In room conditions, it can bloom unusually and brightly.
- Sedum is a succulent with drooping shoots that forms dense green cushions in the open field, and in pot culture it will elegantly accentuate cacti and lithops. Shades and shapes of leavesvery diverse.
- Stapelia will delight not only with its spectacular tree-like appearance, but also with large star-shaped flowers up to 5-7 cm in diameter.
