Fill your indoor spaces with low-maintenance plants and bask in the lush green hues complimented by intriguing spikes of color. An easy and trendy way to accomplish this is with your own desert themed container garden! Bring home the textures, colors, and character of the vast and hilly oasis with this easy care creation.
STEP 1: Supplies
Gather your supplies. This will vary depending on your creation, but here are the basic items you will need:
- Calloway’s Premium Potting Soil or Black Gold® Cactus Mix
- Succulents and Cacti
- Calloway’s Premium Pottery
- Pebbles
- Decorative stones
- Sand
- Gardening Gloves
STEP 2: Soil and Pottery
The soil you use is very important to the health and success of your container garden.
Calloway’s Premium Potting Soil is formulated specifically for your containers. With moisture retaining minerals, Calloway’s Premium Potting Soil provides the ideal balance of air and water to foster healthy root growth for thriving plants. It is ideal for all potted plants and container gardens.
Or, you can try Black Gold® Cactus Mix! This quality blend of horticultural grade perlite, pumice, earthworm castings, compost and bark, is made specifically for cacti and succulents! It helps provide the proper soil structure and drainage that these drought tolerant plants love.
Pick out a great container to really get into the spirit! We have many to choose from in various sizes and styles. Your selection of Calloway’s Pottery or whatever container you are using must have a drain hole. If there is too much moisture, it will cause root rot and that can be easily avoided with the draining system in your pottery. Especially with these types of plants, proper drainage and moisture control is very important!
To get started, place stones in the bottom of your container to help prevent the soil from leaking out, making sure water can still flow through. Then, fill your container with Potting soil and mix together.
STEP 3: Adding Your Plants and Décor
Pick your selection of succulents and cacti. Explore and experiment with the different shapes, sizes, colors, and volume. Select succulents to fill the front spaces of the container and choose tall and dynamic cacti as the focal point.
Once you select your plants, add in some large stones. Put the largest of the stones in the back of your design and the smallest towards the front. This will help keep your design well balanced and full.
Watch the video below for a quick tutorial on placement of your plants and to help you with setting up your container.
Once you have added the stones, time to add in your plants. Be sure to wear protective gloves when handling the different cactus plants. Pick up a cute pair while you are at the store if you don’t have one!
Add the plants in clusters next to the rocks or along the rim of the container. Leave some natural and organic spacing around the groupings.
Top with sand and decorative stones or pebbles. Be careful when adding the sand and try to avoid the cactus plants.
Now tuck in the roots and set your creation. Simply, mist your plants at least once a week to keep them properly moist during the summer. When the weather cools for winter, a light, monthly watering should do the trick.
Give your plants proper sunlight and proudly display it on your desk, table, or whenever you need a little touch of nature in your indoor space.
Feel free to add in any extra touches of your personality to your creation and make it your own little desert oasis. Have fun and enjoy the easy care of your new container creation!
Stop by our store nearest you for all your planting needs!
