These cradle style planters worked out well at the breakfast room windows because the feet sit securely in the window frames and drilling into the stone for standard window boxes was out of the question.
The last two years I tried annuals here but there's not enough room for soil to keep annuals watered. It's no problem for succulents with their small root system and limited water needs. We enjoy seeing these green plants from inside and most of these will eventually bloom as well.
Strawberry jars with their interesting little planting pockets are a favorite of mine. The problem is it's especially difficult in our hot, dry climate to keep many types of plants growing in them. That may be why I find so many at garage sales around here. I picked up these two in April for just $2 each.
This year when I planted strawberry jars, I took inspiration from my friend Ragna and went with succulents all around. Succulents work so much better than annuals and I don't have to worry about the plants drying out. I like mixing varieties of plants, mostly from plant swaps.
A welcoming grouping works at the top of the deck stairs where it's been difficult to keep plants growing. These are planted with Aloe 'Blue Elf', Kalanchoe, and Portulaca. Deer love these so all succulent planters stay on the deck,
I enjoy making my own pots from concrete and hypertufa mixes. Concrete will dry out plants and soil quickly, so succulents are the answer here too.
Three planting problems solved with succulents and I'm still looking for opportunities around here.
Head on over to Digging to see how other garden bloggers celebrate the importance of foliage in their gardens in July 2012.
Your window planters full of succulents are very, very nice. The interior designer in you is coming out there...perfect. Your point about all the garage sales with strawberry and other small pots is well-taken - but perfect for succulents. They really are problem solvers...I will never look at them the same way again!
ReplyDeleteI resisted the trend for a while and then decided to try more of them this summer and they are working well.
DeleteDesign works pretty much the same inside out.
Outstanding work! I really like those planters along the windows. I imagine that they would be easy to water when needed:) And I love how you organize how the various succulents into the pots.....you certainly have the eye!
ReplyDeleteThey are fun to work with and I think it's easy to organize them with the variety available.
DeleteGreat post, Shirley. This could be a magazine article. BTW, I love your homemade concrete pot!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam, very nice to hear from someone who actually does write magazine articles.
DeleteThe concrete pots are messy fun and the results are practical.
Love the pots and succulents (no surprise there)! The Haworthia venosa ssp tesselata (3rd last pic) looks great and in the top of that planter is what looks like Huernia? Ever flowered?
ReplyDeleteNo flowering yet, when it does I might get a better idea of the variety. Almost all of these plants were acquired at a city-wide plant swap six weeks ago and tagging info was limited. I appreciate your helping with the ID of some of these.
DeleteThose planter boxes on your stone window sills look so elegant!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate ans agree with your point about succulents in containers being nice because they don't need as much water. With my, err, container addiction the only way we get to leave home for a weekend in the summer is to have them planted with succulents, otherwise who would water?
Your recent container post was quite revealing DG. I'm slowly replacing annuals and perennials in containers to cut down on the care involved.
DeleteI need to figure out the winter care issue because some of these don't like cold.
Whats your nutrient regiment? I have a tendency to over water my succulents.Nice groupings.
ReplyDeleteI haven't applied anything to them yet since they are so new here. I'd need to check that out for next year though.
DeleteI really like how you designed with the succulents. Very inspirational post.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Mary.
DeleteLove your hypertufa! It really does look nice with succulents. I like the contemporary/rustic mix you've got going on.
ReplyDeleteContemporary/rustic mix, I like that. A style dictated as much by the house as my thrift shop/garage sale habit.
DeleteGreat ideas.
ReplyDeleteLove those window planters. Those type planters do dry out fast. Good to grow plants that can tolerate that.
It has worked out quite well so far this summer. The winter will be another matter though.
DeleteWhat a great idea for strawberry planters! I have never had much success with growing strawberries in them so I shall give this idea a try. Thank you for bringing my strawberry planters out of retirement!
ReplyDeleteGood to know that strawberry planters are being restored to gardens across the pond as well.
DeleteWow! What a clever idea! I really like all the variety of pots you have and the display. We have almost the exact same tastes in pottery. I need to find some square pots! Happy Foliage followup.
ReplyDeleteP.S. That last aloe you have pictured HATES the humidity here in Houston. I've lost it several times even when the soil is dry. You must have figured out the mystery to growing it plus SA might have lower humidity than Houston.
David/:0)
I made the square ones from plastic nursery pots and cement.
DeleteThe aloe is from a swap probably a year ago so it made it through our wet winter and humid summer so far. We are usually less humid here though this summer has felt a lot like Houston. Not complaining since the rain is needed.
Beautiful window boxes and a clever idea to use succulents. I'm always amazed at their endurance.
ReplyDeleteThis is working out so well I'm going to switch over some of my hanging baskets next year too.
DeleteWe're starting to use more succulents here too. It's nice to have some plants that don't need as much attention during the heat of the summer. Love all of your containers! I think succulents look so good in pots. Such statement plants.
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and am enjoying it very much. A tip on watering strawberry jars- cut a piece of pvc pipe slightly taller than the pot, drill holes along the pipe, cap the end and insert down the center of the jar. Water through the pipe, the water will get to the bottom and to the center of the jar.
ReplyDelete