Cacti Creations

Hey Guys!

Another hot week has come and gone. - *sizzle* yep, it is still July.

Check this out!! No, it's not quite flower related but, it is!!

I've been dabbling a little with cacti and succulent arrangments, also growing my own at home and I wanted to share a few tips and tricks to help you create a stunning living tabletop or patio arrangement of your very own!

What you will need:

*Assorted cacti (Can be found at your local nursery or larger home distribution center, lowes/home depot etc.) 3-5 for a small arrangement or more for larger grouping depending on the container and size of your cacti.

*A low ceramic/terracotta or wooden dish or terracotta pots, depending if you want to group them in one container or individually. - you do you!

*Cacti potting mix

*Leather or puncture proof gloves

*popsicle sticks

*decorative rocks (optional)

How to:

Start with a clean work space. Large tabletop or plenty of counter space ...

[Cacti planting is messy.]

Next you will need your plants. Be sure to select plants with the same care guidelines.

If you aren't sure what your plants "thriving requirements" are, you can read the lable or Google lense research the plant in question, before you bring them home!!

Or.... (can't believe I'm sharing this...but PINTEREST! ) or your preferred way to research.

Try to get plants that share the same requirements for best results.

Prep:

Once you have compatible Cacti and they have made the journey home with you. Set them out and commence gloving.

I can't stress this enough.

Collect the other items and set them within easy reach. [Unless you have Larms.. "Long Arms" reach for the Stars Baby!]

Anyway

From here move them around next to each other till you are happy with their placement. Just on the counter for now.

Do not remove them from their plastic pots yet, if they are all going to live in one container.

*Do not water! (We will get to that in a bit)

Next... if they have plastic- hot glued- fake flowers on top, carefully remove them. You will not harm your prickly baby.

Leave them set for a few.

Next:

Prep the container. For this you will need cacti potting mix. This is very important. Regular potting soil holds too much moisture and will cause root rot and not allow the cacti roots to drain or breath.

Once you have your pot/container picked out fill with soil about 2/3. We want just enough to cover the bottom but not let the plants touch the very bottom.

With gloves on, carefully remove one plant from their plastic pot. Test by setting inside the container. Check to see if the top of the original soil is visually lined up with the edge of your pot. If it is less than 1/4 inch below add more soil to container. We want the plants to be sitting about the same height to the edge of their new home as they were in the plastic pot

Once we've made sure everything lines up , continue to add the rest of the plants in the order that's pleasing to you.

Add fresh soil being careful not to go above their original soil line. You can use a popsicle stick to poke down any soil.

(See, why I invited you to have a popsicle in the last blog post. "Hats off to Sucess")

Read it if you haven't!

Once everything is in place, still with gloved hands carefully press down each plant to get any air pockets out, as well as to firmly seat them.

Give your prickly babies a small drink to settle them in their new pot/container.

Top the soil off with optional decorative rocks.

Enjoy:

Place your new cacti in a spot with plenty of bright light and up to 6 hours of direct sun.

I have mine on the south side of the house and they are Blooming!

They get rain water and thats about all the care I give them in summer.

When the weather changes and daily high's are no longer above 65* its time to move them indoors.

They can sit on a windowsill with full sun, check for moisture often. Cacti can go weeks without water, so try not to water too often, however small amounts every 10 days should be sufficient.

Share your cacti arrangement on our Facebook Page!