Cement and Pumice containers

Succulents can be grown in a great assortment of creative containers. Some of my favorites so far are simple concrete cinder blocks, recycled cement blocks and pumice stones.

Cinder blocks are cheap, locally a little over $1.50 each. Push a square of fine gauge wire inside to keep the soil in. Many people have made cinder block container walls which are nice looking. We decided a more sculptural container would be fun. The blocks are glued together with construction adhesive.

Single cinder blocks are fun too.

Pumice stones are cheap at Rock Yards. Take the pumice stone and hammer out a bowl. They are really light and can easily be moved around for a different look or to change growing conditions. I make sure to add a lot of gravel into the soil to keep the roots from sitting in water. Water lightly.

Make the hole any size you want, but deep enough to hold the plant in.

Cement blocks recycled from removing our shed makes a nice looking tall sculpture.

Easy Propagation of Succulents

     Succulents are very easy to propagate. Some leaf attachments are very fragile and will drop off with the lightest touch. Those leaves however will drop and root where they fall. If you are trying to spread a plant around you can pull some lower leaves and stick them in the ground. They will also grow. I have read to let the ends seal up for a day or two before planting, but I am too impatient, and just stick them in the ground.

a fallen sedum nussbaumeranium leaf sprouting

Sedum robrotinctum leaf sprout

old dead leaf sprouting in rocks and leaf mulch

    Stem cuttings will also grow roots. I have a graptopetalum paraguayensis (ghost plant) that I accidentally broke off a large branch of. I stuck it in dirt and it grew. That is how I always add additional plants now. Sedum, echeveria, aeonium, cactus etc... Be careful not to overwater causing rot. If rot happens, cut off the rotted tissue and replant.

Cactus pad that fell off, already rooted.

broken bit of graptopetalum

     Aloes and Agaves will send "pups" up from the base. Those are easily separated by pulling them out at the base. They will already have roots and are ready to be planted.

aloe with a lot of pups

easy removal of pups

aloe saponaria and pup

nice roots on this aloe saponaria pup

      Sedum of various sorts is an easy ground cover. It spreads by shallow roots. You can easily pull up pieces to add elsewhere in your garden. Even large chunks can be cut out and moved. Just take your shovel and lightly cut about an inch into the dirt under the piece to be moved.

sedum angelica