Sassy Mama DIY with Kids: How to make your own succulent planters

One of my favourite places to linger around on a sunny afternoon is the nurseries along Upper Thomson Road. I could spend hours going into each store, breathing in the fresh blooms and enjoying an eye buffet of vibrant colourful life. It’s always neat to see what’s in season whenever you make a trip to the nurseries. A noticeable green trend on Pinterest, Instagram and other social media recently are pictures of Succulent Plants and with most apartments lacking a huge outside space it’s a great way to add a bit of green to small balconies.

Succulent plants are essentially the family name for cacti. They resemble plump and thickened plants that thrive on warm weather and are probably the easiest to take care of, making them the perfect introduction for budding green thumbs. For those of you who have a history of killing any plant you’ve ever cared for but are still keen to inject some natural greenery into your home, succulents are the plants for you!

This simple DIY is perfect for a field trip out to the nurseries with your little ones, followed by an afternoon planting session (that won’t take longer than 10 minutes).

Materials you’ll need: 

• A variety of succulents
• Indoor potting soil (if you can find cactus soil that’s even better!)
• A container (glass, terracotta, plastic – succulents are not partial!)*
• Spray bottle
• Decorative stones (optional)

*Side note, I have seen a lot of people plant their succulents in a terrarium (enclosed vessel) which makes for an adorable succulent planter and stylish addition to the home. However this is strongly discouraged as it’s very easy for the succulents to overheat and wither, especially in Singapore’s warm climate. Keep the container for your succulents an open one to provide optimal air circulation, which is vital for these plants. 

Directions: 

1. Decide which order you would like your succulents to be planted in before removing them from their containers.
2. Fill your container 3/4 full of your indoor potting soil and spritz with water to moisten it.
3. Using your hands, make a small hole to place your first succulent plant in. Don’t worry about being too gentle as succulents are quite resilient! Continue this step until you’re happy with the arrangement.
4. Add more soil around each plant and gently pat in to make sure they’re in securely.
5. Spritz the soil with water one more time. You can also spritz the succulents to clean off any excess soil.
6. For an added touch, place decorative stones to where the soil is exposed on top.
7. Voila! Your very own succulent planter!

Tips for keeping your succulents happy and alive:

1. Place the succulent planter near the window or bring it outside every now and then for some good ol’ sunshine.
2. You can water your planter once a week or whenever the soil needs some moisture.
3. Be careful not to overwater – the soil just needs to be moist to the touch.

Where to buy succulents:

• Far East Flora, 555 Thomson Road, Singapore 298140. Tel: (+65) 6251 5151.
• Ikea, 317 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159965. Tel: (+65) 6786 6868.

Good luck and happy planting, mama!