I Suck at Succulents

My First Container Garden

Succulents are all the rage these days. While I was never interested in them before, seeing modern and eclectic arrangements pop up everywhere has piqued my intrigue. I especially adore the little ones. 

 Designs by Aggelige

With the encouragement of my friends, I finally decided to start "raising" them. 

These were my excuses for putting it off:

 

Black Thumb

I've successfully killed two snake plants and about a half dozen fresh basil plants. I didn't have the confidence to keep the succulents alive. But, succulents are known to be hardy and low maintenance, so I decided to give it a shot. Plus, I knew my excitement wouldn't allow me to neglect them. 

Cost

Since I saw how expensive some arrangements were at retail stores, I thought I couldn't afford to start a garden. Truth is, it can be a small investment to start, but it doesn't have to break the bank. It cost me roughly $50 for seven succulent plants. I purchased my first five at Lowe's. They were relatively inexpensive--4oz ones under $2, 11oz under $5. It was the clay pot ($15) and saucer ($8) that tipped the bill. 

When I was grocery shopping at Albertsons, I impulsively and helped myself to two more plants. They were slightly more expensive than the hardware store, but offered different varieties. The small one (senecio crassissimus) was $2.50, larger one (Echeveria Perle Von Numberg) was $5ish. 

Time

I thought it would take too much time. Aside from shopping for the plants, which was fun (it's shopping after all), I didn't keep track of the time it took arrange them. It was exciting, rather than a chore. Aside from watering, there is very little maintenance. 

The only time it sucks out of me are the breaks I take to catch some sun on my patio and take a moment to proudly observe the health and progress of the plants. Don't forget to smile. This is voluntary, not required. 

Difficulty

Honestly, I can commit to watering it once a week. I make sure to keep it in a lighted area and out of the direct sun (lest it gets sunburned). I bring it inside when it rains. Yes, I can do this.

No room

If you don't have a backyard, patio, or balcony, you can use a windowsill or area of your house that gets sunlight. I place my pot on the ground in my small patio. 

Still not convinced? If you are still singing the tune to any of my own excuses listed above, you can easily purchase lovely pre-made arrangements at The Camp, Etsy, some Trader Joe's, and select floral shops at Nordstrom.  

I can't wait to share with you new things I learn about my succulent plants.