For making your own succulent Christmas trees, you'll need a variety of supplies. Make sure your monkey tail gets plenty of sun and has well-draining soil to thrive. That's important aesthetically and practically---the arrangement will look the same for years (crested plants grow slowly). It's better to keep your succulents outside than worry about whether your pet might be harmed by them. Ingesting it can lead to severe poisoning in both humans and pets. Learn about plant-care techniques to help you understand the wide variety of plant textures, from succulents with variegated or beautiful flowers to those with tougher skin. Debra explains how succulent plants grow and propagate, and demonstrates how to trim sections off without harming the plant. Debra shares traditional and unusual container ideas as she demonstrates techniques for planting gorgeous floral-style arrangements. Above: Laura Eubanks of Design for Serenity demonstrates her succulent-topped pumpkin method. Explore more design ideas on this site.

Upon closer inspection, I was very happy and relieved to see that the plants are healthy and bug free. Succulents are able to thrive in bright sunlight. However, Debra has helpful tips to help you choose plants that can thrive in dimly lit areas like the patio or inside of your home. These enhancements allow water to be channeled from gutters into the yard and can provide easy access to areas that are difficult or impossible. Garden clippers and wire cutters. 22-gauge florist's wire. I purchase it prepackaged and 18-inch longs at a craft retailer. A roll green florist's tape. You can hold the tape to the base of your succulent with your thumb. Are you wondering if long-stemmed succulents are possible? MCG has some beautiful air plants and succulents that I purchased. Make sure to add drainage holes into the bottom of your pot. Also, be sure to choose a large enough planter or garden pot with sufficient soil that can hold cacti like perlite and sand. She then shares some basic ideas on how to potting single-plant containers. You can create unique, stunning floral bouquets by trying a different design. Colored sand is a great choice for succulent bouquets.

Echeverias, graptosedums, crassulas and kalanchoes lend themselves beautifully to bouquets because of their colorful leaves and rosette shapes. Wrap the stem by twisting the rosette. Each rosette will require one length of wire. For each rosette, you will need one length of wire. If your pot does not have a drainage hole you can easily drill one if you have the right tools. There are plenty of options for office plants thanks to succulents' adaptability. Daniel's Specialty Nursery offered a great selection of plants, giving these unique looks. Although I had more stems than needed, the half-dozen rooted cuttings from the nursery easily allowed me to pull them apart. Debra shares her method for creating beautiful mossy wreaths that are dotted with a variety of plant cuttings, buds and more. Debra will show you how to make ordinary arrangements magical by planting succulents into glass terrariums. Although succulents do not require heavy feeding, they will still need nutrients.

When using a spray bottle, make sure to spray the soil or medium instead of just the top of the plant. You can create beautiful arrangements that look like flower bouquets by using different plant shapes and heights. At any time, you can remove the succulents and plant them in a pot or the ground. This project is also featured in my book Succulents Simplified. You'll finish the class with dozens of new ideas for arrangements that can be used all around your yard and home, in addition to knowing how to keep your succulents healthy and thriving! Height and size don't matter, but keep in mind that your bouquet should be at least half as tall as its container, and agave blue ember the taller the arrangement, the more succulents you'll need. Bright light is important to ensure that the cuttings don't lose their color. Assorted colorful succulent cuttings. I would not place a succulent in any pot that is larger than its height. Roots may become brittle if they are in moist soil. You can cover up the soil under your succulents to enhance the design. It will also help the succulent standout and be noticed. Debra Lee Baldwin is your instructor as you dive into the amazing world of succulents.

Debra shares top tips from professional florists. These include wrapping the stems of your plants in floral tape or flexible wire. 4. Cut off approximately 8 inches of floral tape. The tape can be gently stretched using your other hand. For the soil to grow faster, you can use the same cut end to stick it in. The soil will show through these compositions so we covered them with white crushed rocks and white stone. Some cacti species grow in clusters like ladyfinger and the Mexican torch. The cross-breeding of two or more species can create incredible hybrids. Breaking away from the offset from the mother is beneficial since much energy and nutrients are used to support the chick. You can simply brush off the topsoil to see the roots and then use your fingers or fingers to pull the offset from the mother. Incredibly, hot glue doesn't harm the succulents, which eventually root through the dried glue into the moss. Most succulents, when left on their own, multiply and propagate naturally. You can certainly use the flowers of succulents, too!