Desert Design - Planting and Caring for Succulents

Equipped with garden gloves, planters of all shapes and styles, and their creativity, close to 100 adults of all ages gathered at Hoen’s Garden Center on a recent Saturday afternoon for a free workshop to learn how to create and care for succulent gardens.

A variety of succulents are arranged in a wreath.

Call it spring fever or succulent fever, enthusiastic guests listened to garden center owner Theresa Hoen present planting ideas and tips on how to care for succulents.

“There are no gardening mistakes, only experiments,” she said, urging participants to use their imaginations when designing their containers gardens.

Theresa Hoen presents tips on planting and caring for succulents. 

For the remainder of the two-hour workshop, guests wandered the greenhouse to choose plants for their gardens, received planting advice from garden center staff, and enjoyed lively conversation with other succulent fans.

Workshop participants shop for succulents to include in their arrangements. 

Succulent Planting Tips from Theresa Hoen

·        If it can hold soil, you can plant in it. Choose unusual items to plant in such as watering cans, bowls or old shutters.

·        Finish off with toppers. Tuck in moss or add texture with stones. Let the color and style of the container inspire you.

·        Fill clear glass containers with colored or regular sand. You can literally plant succulents inside the sand.

·        When designing your container, incorporate three components: thrillers, the showstoppers or attention getters usually taller plants; fillers add mass and fill up the pot; and spillers, plants that overflow the pot.

Valerie Moffitt creates her succulent container garden.

·        When planting, don’t use potting soil which is usually a heavy mixture and tends to hold too much water. Use a peat-based soil made from decomposed sphagnum moss plants instead.

·        The number one mistake people make with succulents is overwatering. Give plants a good 2 ½ to 3 weeks between watering.

·        Let the soil dry out before adding more water.

Linda Grant and Patty Golden are hard at work on their arrangements.

·        Pinch leaves when plants get too tall. With your thumb and forefinger, nip back the tip of a stem. Pinching helps to produce a bushier, fuller plant.

·        Avoid watering over the top of the plants. Always water at the base.

·        Give the soil the chocolate test. If the soil looks like milk chocolate, it’s dry. If it looks like dark chocolate, it’s wet.

Incorporate thrillers, fillers and spillers into arrangements for visual impact.

Hoen’s Garden Center is located at 1710 Perrysburg-Holland Rd., in Holland, Ohio.