Vertical Succulent Planter

A few weeks ago I shared a round-up of awesome succulent projects with the promise that I'd get to my own tutorials asap. I'm super excited to share the first - a vertical (hanging) planter! It's insanely easy to put together, and much faster than the many other tutorials that have you building your own frames and boxes. At the end I've included a photo guide to the succulents I used. Happy Crafting!

You need:

• Picture frame – frames with wider borders tend to work better. It needs to be at least as wide as the edge of your box.
• Box base – I used a premade bamboo utensil organizer from Big Lots. The treated bamboo should hold up against the moisture of the soil, but you can definitely treat it with a sealant if you're worried.
• Plastic coated chicken wire.
• Gorilla Glue.
• Scissors/wire cutters.
• Pliers.
• Succuents! A photo guide to the plants I used is available at the end of this post.
• Succulent potting soil.
• Moss. 

 

Step One

First, measure and cut a length of chicken wire that fits just inside the picture frame. This will then be secured with Gorilla Glue around the outside edge. Leave it to dry for at least three hours. *Note: Gorilla Glue is messy, impossible to remove from fingers, and will expand more than you expect. Use caution, use less than you think you’ll need, and protect your hands.

Step Two

After planning where each plant will go, cut out squares large enough to accommodate the roots (slightly smaller than the size of the container in which they came).

Step Three

Once you have made enough holes, you can place a sheet of moss along the inside of the wire – this will help prevent dirt and moisture loss. I secured the moss along the edges with green twist-ties, and then removed moss that was directly above the holes we created in the wire. 

Step Four

Next, fill the box about 2/3 of the way with soil. You should leave enough space to accommodate the roots and attached dirt of each plant. Then you can secure the photo frame to the top of the box with more Gorilla Glue. It’s important to weigh down the frame to ensure that it seals properly.

Step Five

After allowing the box to dry overnight, you can plant your succulents! Make sure to fill in any holes that do not have plants with dirt, and you can slip more moss under the wiring if needed.

Step Six

You should give your plants plenty of time to spread their roots before hanging – at least two months, although it may take longer if you use succulent cuttings instead of already rooted plants. As you can see, not all of my cuttings took, and I’ll need to fill in the gaps with new plants. 
 

My favorite - Graptoveria Olivia

Graptosedum Vera Higgens beginning to blush in the post-rain sunlight

A final note: you should hang your vertical planter from the box, not from the frame. This can be done with standard hanging hardware, chains/rope attached with screws, etc. 

Succulent Guide

      

  Graptoveria Olivia                   Pachyveria Blue Pearl 

      

                                              Donkey Tail                       Anacamperos Rufescens 

      

   Echeveria Green Goddess                  Sedum Clavatum           

                                                             

      

Graptosedum Vera Higgens       Sedum Nussbaumerianum

Some final advice:

• Succulents are generally more fragile than other plants. Be gentle, and make sure to support the entire plant when transplanting them. 
• If you do accidentally break off a leaf or two, don't toss it in the greenery bin. Succulents, unlike most plants, can be propagated, which basically means that new plants will grow from leaves and stems. You can find directions and photo tutorials on the propagation process from big names like Martha Stewart and Better Homes and Gardens, but I've found that the tried and true advice from fellow bloggers has been the most helpful. 
• Succulents need far less water than other plants, and over watering can lead to health problems. As a general rule of thumb, only water when the dirt is dry, which may take a few days to a few weeks depending on your climate. Hanging planters should be taken down for watering, and you should let it sit for a few hours to make sure the water has been absorbed before re-hanging.

Holy Cow! This project was featured on FOURTEEN blogs, which blows my mind and humbles my heart. Thank you to everyone who has been sharing/supporting - it seriously means the world to me. :) 

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