Five succulent container displays

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 31 July 2019 at 7:58 am

Follow our five recipe suggestions for growing succulents in pots.

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Succulents are the perfect plants for growing in pots and containers, making for a stylish, low-maintenance display.

Place succulents in a sunny spot, in a compost mix with sharp drainage – a blend of 70 per cent John Innes No. 2 and 30 per cent horticultural grit is ideal.

While succulents are robust in many respects, their fleshy leaves can bruise or break off if roughly handled. Hold them gently by the rootball and plant at the same depth they were in the pot you bought them in, making sure leaves are proud of compost.

Simple symmetry

Succulent plants (echeverias) in a concrete container

Breaking the convention of planting in odd numbers, this formal scheme in a square container is a great way to display echeverias. The 20cm concrete cube sets off the vibrant greens and a crushed shell mulch is the perfect finishing touch.

We used: Echeveria agavoides, Echeveria x bombycina, Echeveria setosa, Echeveria 'Captain Hay'.

Succulent scenery

Terracotta trough container planted up with sedums and echeverias

This low terracotta trough is ideal for creating a mini succulent landscape. The echeveria rosettes form the heart of the composition, while the various sedums soften and colour up the display.

We used: Sedum 'Cherry Tart', Sedum sexangulare, Sedum sieboldii 'Mediovariegatum', Echeveria elegans.

Upcycling cool

Growing houseplants – five succulent container displays

An old tin bucket is perfect for planting up with succulents, as the colours go together so well - just be sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom. The dark aeonium will quickly branch out and contrasts nicely with the spiky aloes.

We used: Aloe rauhii, Aloe aristata, Aeonium 'Zwartkop', Crassula 'Bluebird'.

Graceful greens

Green glazed container planted up with different aloe species

This tall, green glazed pot mirrors the tall habit of these elegant aloes. Their varied heights and subtleties in colour and texture work well together.

We used: Aloe vera (spotted and unspotted forms), Aloe rauhii.

Baked red tones

Succulent container display planted up with aloes, aeoniums and kalanchoe

This glazed pot has lovely warm tones that pick up on the foliage colours of the plants. The aeoniums can be potted on once they've outgrown the container, and are here interspersed with striped aloes and pebble-like pachyphytums. It's finished off with lightweight expanded clay (hydroleca).

We used: Pachyphytum bracteosum, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Aloe variegata, Aeonium arboreum 'Atropurpureum'.

Keeping leaves clean

If, while you're potting up succulents, you find compost getting stuck between the closely structured leaves, keep a soft paintbrush handy so you can brush it away. If left it could encourage fungal diseases.

Faux terracotta pot

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