Gifting Plants: 101

Succulents are the perfect no-nonsense plant for everyone. They are super hardy, don't require a lot of sunlight or water, and are really hard to kill. This Christmas I decided to make a couple cute little terrariums for some of the awesome people in my life. 

SUPPLIES: 

-Clear or interesting planter

-Soil quick-draining is best, but any will do

-Rocks of varying sizes, shapes and colours

-Charcoal  recommended

-decorative sands,figurines, etc recommended

Hint: when shopping for succulents, look for planters with multiple plants reaching out. Succulents create offspring like crazy and it can be a big money-saver to get two, or even three plants for the price of one! 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place rocks along the bottom of the container you are planting in. Succulents and cacti retain water and therefore need to be planted in dry, well-drained soil. The rocks give excess water a place to go when it is not being used. 

2. Layer soil, sands and rocks with a thin layer of charcoal near the bottom of the planter- this is to sweeten the soil for the succulents. Only about 1 inch of soil is required in the top layer and many succulents can survive without any soil. 

3. Plan out where you want plants and other items to go. When ready, dig a small hole with a spoon and insert the roots of your plant into the hole. Pack extra soil around the base of the plant to secure it in its new home. Ensure to loosen the "cube" of soil around the roots before planting. This allows the roots to grab a firmer hold of their new surroundings.

4. If desired, add a final layer of sand or rocks and anymore final touches. The personal touch is the best part, look for little figurines at thrift stores and around, find things that your friends love and make a terrarium around them. Remember the Hobbit terrarium I made a while back, don't hold back- get creative! Give your plants a little watering, and voila! A perfect and personal gift for a friend or loved one. 

I had so much fun creating these terrariums, although there were frustrating times trying to get big plants into small planters- some things just aren't meant to be. I have a lot of plants leftover :p 

Anyone on your list that you can't quite figure out yet? Get them a personalized terrarium made by you! Trust me, they'll love it! If you need some inspiration, I have a wonderful and ever-inspiring pin board to get your gears in motion.

Thanks for reading, and I'll let you in on a little secret, I'll be hosting a giveaway before the year is through!!

XO_BITS