Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 14 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play & Stay This Summer

      14 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play & Stay This Summer

      Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. Read More
    • Out Now: Best of the Midwest 2022

      Out Now: Best of the Midwest 2022

      Find your summer adventure with our new bookazine, available now in the magazine store! Read More
    • This Family's Garden Farm is a Nature-Filled Paradise

      This Family's Garden Farm is a Nature-Filled Paradise

      On land passed down through generations, a Wisconsin family experiences—and shares—the glory of gardening. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Urban-Pop Art, a New Boutique Hotel and More—Here's What to See and Do in Fort Wayne Right Now

    Urban-Pop Art, a New Boutique Hotel and More—Here's What to See and Do in Fort Wayne Right Now

    On a trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, catch a colorful wave of fresh development, plus a new hotel from the cofounder of Vera Bradley.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Mango Toast with Prosciutto

    Mango Toast with Prosciutto

    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    5 Clever Tips for Repurposing a Potting Bench as a Bar Cart 

    5 Clever Tips for Repurposing a Potting Bench as a Bar Cart 

    With smart accessorizing, a potting bench becomes a celebration station for summer soirees.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    Expert Tips for Growing a Window Box Garden

    Expert Tips for Growing a Window Box Garden

    Casey Lawrence’s lush window boxes were a revelation to her online followers. Use her tips to grow your own.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Festive 4th of July Dessert Recipes

    Festive 4th of July Dessert Recipes

    Get out your red, white and blue for these patriotic dessert recipes.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing

    These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing

    Don't toss those orange peels! Instead, use them as vessels for our super-simple and fragrant candles.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2022

    Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2022

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Garden
  3. Container Gardens
  4. Creative Containers for Succulents

Creative Containers for Succulents

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com Updated August 13, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
mint condition

Give your succulents a home in planters with character. Just add soil, water and plants.

Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Mint condition

mint condition

This mint green Buddy L. Ranch horse truck carries a load of bronze-tinged succulents that pick up the rusty hues of the hubcaps. Search for vintage-looking toy trucks at yard sales or in the depths of your attic. If you find one, spray it with clear acrylic to preserve the paint. If the truck bed is solid, drill drainage holes and add soil. Put taller plants next to the cab, adding smaller plants the farther away you go.

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tune in

Tune In

A vintage radio makes a creative succulent container. Using a tiny screwdriver, remove the radio's back panel and pull out as much of the inner workings of the radio as possible. To make room for a planting vessel-a loaf pan works well-cut a rectangular opening out of the top of the radio (a stencil cutter may work best). Place a container inside, screw the back panel on and get to planting.

2 of 11

3 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tea time

Tea time

Gather a handful of vintage coffee, tea and/or egg cups. The more variety, the better. Plant a single succulent in each container, making sure to balance the shape and scale. Display your charming cup garden on tiered cake plates or pedestals.

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Enlightened idea

Enlightened idea

Turn the metal shades of a desk lamp into a wall planter. First, remove the bulbs and wiring. Drill two holes in the lamp's base plate and use anchor screws to attach it to a wall, keeping the shades upright as mini pots. Add potting mix to the shades and tuck in the plants' root balls. Tuck succulents in so that their bottom leaves touch the soil.

4 of 11

5 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

On a roll

On a roll

This metal cart contains plenty of bristling, uniquely-shaped plants such as golden barrel cactus (Eichinocactus grusonii), Texas sotol (Dasylirion texanum), prickly pear, agave and ghost plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense). 

5 of 11

6 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Colorful container

Colorful container

In this vintage Canadian Mountie cookie tin, you can find a sweet variety of succulents: string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus), 'Neon' stonecrop (Hylotelephium spectabile), string of buttons (Crassula perforata), and pinkish Graptopetalum superbum. The metal lid tucked in back adds an extra pop of color.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Potted charm

potted charm

Coral aloe (Aloe striata) anchors this colorful potted garden. A deep burgundy hybrid echeveria planted along one edge contrasts nicely with the trailing jade's green leaves. The upright stems of tall slipper plant (Pedilanthus bracteatus) feature reddish flower bracts, providing as a bright accent.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cup of green

cup of green

Enjoy this mug full of succulents, morning or night. For plants in nondraining containers, keep them in bright light, protected from frost and give them just enough water to keep the soil moist.

8 of 11

9 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Ladle planter

ladle planter

Grouping these ladles in a display create an eye-catching effect. You'll need succulent cuttings, a large nail and hammer, a few soup ladles (at least 8 ounces), scissors, potting mix and a chopstick. Follow these steps for a picture-perfect display:1. Using the large nail and hammer, create a drainage hole in each ladle. Fill each ladle three-quarters full of potting mix.2. If your plants have roots, make sure to snip cuttings. 3. Tuck in cuttings until lowest leaves touch the soil. Use your fingers or a chopstick to fit the cuttings in tightly. Make sure no soil is showing.4. Lightly water to settle the soil and tilt each ladle to drain any excess water.

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Planted funnels

planted funnels

These funnels prove to be practical when watering-the top funnels drain into the lower ones. Hang them on a wooden pallet for rustic charm.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Simple but stylish

Simple but stylish

A uniquely shaped container provides the perfect home for cacti and other succulents. Keep the arrangement simple: tall plants in the back, smaller succulents in the front. Place this minature garden in a patch of sunlight.

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 Mint condition
    2 of 11 Tune in
    3 of 11 Tea time
    4 of 11 Enlightened idea
    5 of 11 On a roll
    6 of 11 Colorful container
    7 of 11 Potted charm
    8 of 11 Cup of green
    9 of 11 Ladle planter
    10 of 11 Planted funnels
    11 of 11 Simple but stylish

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Creative Containers for Succulents
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.