Christmas Succulents

« Garden Update, November 2012

Christmas Succulents

November 23, 2012 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

The succulent mania continues! (My ever patient husband is sighing in the background..)

This year for Christmas, I’ve decided to pot some up as gifts. I’m starting early, in the hope that they’ll have grown in a little by the end of December.

I began with a $4 terracotta bowl from Bunnings – this one was 15cm/6″ wide. I also had some mini pebbles, potting mix, shells for decoration, and succulents – a couple were bought very cheaply, and the rest were foraged from friends’ gardens…

I began by putting a little mesh over the hole of the pot, and then covering it with an inch or so of pebbles. Drainage is very important to these plants…

The pot was filled with a premium potting mix (this one had coconut fibre in it), and then the cuttings were artistically planted. Design isn’t my strong point, but these plants are fairly forgiving. I gave the pot a thorough but gentle watering to clean off the leaves and settle in the roots…

Finally, the pot was “top dressed” with pebbles and a strategically placed shell…

A note on costings – I bought the pebbles and shells from Bunnings – a large bag of shells was $5, and the pebbles were $10 for a five kilo bag. When finished, these small gift pots will end up costing about $10 each.

Here’s my second attempt…

And here’s a larger one that I’ve planted up for my mum…

In our hot Sydney weather, the pots need morning sun and afternoon shade. I’ve been advised by the folks at Hamilton’s World of Cacti to give the pots a generous watering once or twice a week, ensuring that the soil dries out completely inbetween.

Debra Lee Baldwin, a US based garden designer, recommends treating potted succulents as long lasting floral arrangements. I’m hoping to make one that I can use as a Christmas centrepiece this year!

PS. If you’d like more ideas, have a look at Alison’s archived post at This Blooming Life.

Posted in Frugal Living, Garden | 54 Comments

54 Responses

on November 23, 2012 at 12:07 am heidiannie

Very pretty, Celia!
I love plants and food for gifts. But you probably already knew that! :)
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:10 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Heidi! I might need to skype you for tips – I’m still a bit new at this!
on November 23, 2012 at 12:09 am lindasgarden

lovely idea
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:11 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Linda!
on November 23, 2012 at 12:16 am Sous Chef

Great! when will you be posting mine? :)
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:12 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Oooh, how I wish I could, Sue. I WAS wondering if I might be able to drill holes in the small enamel pie tins and use them to plant in…but then I came to my senses and realised I’d rather have them for pies.. ;-)
on November 23, 2012 at 12:43 am thecompletecookbook

Such a beautiful and thoughtful gift – love it!
:-) Mandy
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:12 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Mandy! Fingers crossed they live until Christmas! :)
on November 23, 2012 at 1:54 am niasunset

so beautiful dear Celia, I noted, I want to make this in spring… Thanks and Love, nia
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:13 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Nia! They’re great fun to put together, and quite cheap too!
on November 23, 2012 at 4:13 am sallybr

Beautiful!
You do everything you set your mind to do extremely well!
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:13 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  That’s kind of you Sally, thank you! Not always true though.. ;-)
on November 23, 2012 at 5:37 am Garden Correspondent

Oh this is the best thing ever. And I think they are artistic as all get-out. The pebbles make such a difference — they look so tranquil.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Siobhan, I borrowed a couple of great books from the library – some great ideas out there! Thank you for saying they look artistic – I must have moved the shells a dozen times to try and get them in the right spot. I’m not particularly good at getting it right, but I do know when I’ve got it wrong! :)
on November 23, 2012 at 7:29 am cityhippyfarmgirl

They look lovely Celia :-) I’ve often thought they would make great gifts for kids terrarium style in an old fish tank. Add some toy dinosaurs or other little toys to set the scene and hey presto!
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Brydie, I’ve seen some lovely dioramas done with these! They often involve spikey cacti though!
on November 23, 2012 at 7:41 am e / dig in hobart

what a groovy gift idea! how creative! i love the addition of the shells.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks E! I love them too – I tried planting a tiny cutting INSIDE a shell today!
on November 23, 2012 at 8:52 am Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

You have such a green thumb. This looks great!
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Greg, thank you – my thumb isn’t very green, but Pete’s is. My job is to just bung everything into containers, but it’s up to Pete to keep them all alive!
on November 23, 2012 at 9:26 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

Great gift idea Celia and unlike flowers they’ll stay alive well past Christmas! I tried to pot up some herbs for gifts last year but sadly they didn’t make it to Christmas :-(
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, I wonder if you could do something with cuttings from your jade plant? I saw great bonsai pots from bunnings for only a few $ each – would look great with miniature jade plants in them!
on November 23, 2012 at 10:22 am EllaDee

There will be some very fortunate gift recipients on Christmas morning – your potted succulent arrangements are lovely both in thought and execution :)
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  ED, thank you! I hope they like them. I have very honest friends though (and I adore them for their honesty) – a couple have seen this post and rung and said, “gee they look lovely, but can we please still have chocolate?” :D :D
on November 23, 2012 at 11:23 am Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen

You’ve so many talents, Celia.. what a lovely gift for your friends. I can just imagine them thinking of you each time they water these pretty little pots. xx
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Barb, thank you! The nice thing is – if it’s regarded as a long lasting flower arrangement, then no-one feels bad if the pot dies off after a while! Guilt-free gift! :)
on November 23, 2012 at 11:45 am hotlyspiced

I love your succulents. You have so many varieties and these are wonderful Christmas gifts. I’m sure your mother will be thrilled with her pot xx
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Charlie, I hope so! I might need to pull the rambling one out, as she doesn’t really like those and has told me so, but I think she’ll like the rest! :)
on November 23, 2012 at 11:54 am Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

Gifts made with love are always the best. These are beautiful.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Maureen, thank you! We try to make all our gifts, but we’re a bit slow off the mark this year!
on November 23, 2012 at 1:38 pm Liz

Lovely pots of succulents. The pearly grey one is one of my favourites. I really like the idea of these being ‘long lasting floral arrangements’. I seem to let mine go and then they’re just overgrown.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:22 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Liz, overgrown is wonderful, because then you’ve got heaps to plant into new arrangements! (Can you tell I’ve got it bad?) :D
on November 23, 2012 at 4:04 pm Thetoymaker (@Thetoymaker)

Succulents are the coolest. What a thoughtful present. :-)

Maz
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:22 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Maz! So many of these plants come from down your way!
on November 23, 2012 at 4:07 pm lambsearsandhoney

Clever you – I think these look very nicely arranged. And what a great planting to have on the outdoor table – something that doesn’t require too much care. I’m a bit over pot plants. I gave up on them when I had the kids. I put the plants outside to fend for themselves, figuring I had enough inside to take care of.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:23 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, thank you – I’ve spent the weekend trying to plant teeny tiny arrangements, just for fun. It’s nice to have an excuse to fill up all the empty terracotta pots lying around!
on November 23, 2012 at 4:28 pm Frances

Bags of stones are often thrown away in council cleanups and old scoria rocks from barbeques and sauna’s are good too. Twisty bits of wood and banksia pods work with succulents and little buddhas and other things are often tossed. If you are short on stones then finely broken up dry sticks looks good. Kind of forest floor mulch. Depends how serious you are about buy nothing day/month/year. Christmas should be about making do…sleeping on straw in stables …..mangers and so on!
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:23 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Great tips, thanks Frances!
on November 23, 2012 at 4:50 pm Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

And the best thing? They don’t die as quickly as others! :P OK that’s a big thing for a black thumb like me :)
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:24 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  I certainly hope they don’t die too quickly! :)
on November 23, 2012 at 7:23 pm Jo Smith

They look lovely, Celia. It’s a great gift idea.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:24 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Jo! They’ve been fun to make!
on November 23, 2012 at 10:27 pm Spoon Feast

I love succulents! Such a nice idea, Celia, the pebbles really finish it off well.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:24 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Pamela, thank you – I think you’re right about the pebbles too!
on November 24, 2012 at 6:44 am Karen

The recipients of your succulent gifts will be thrilled, I’m sure.
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:25 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Karen! Although as I mentioned above, I’ve already had a couple of calls from friends saying, “hmm..we’d actually prefer chocolate, if that’s ok..” :)
on November 25, 2012 at 9:23 am J Cosmo Newbery

“Deck the halls with pots of cacti,
fa la la la la la la la….”
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:26 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Ha! Not cacti – I’ve had too many bad experiences with giant spiky ones. But succulents, maybe.. :)
on November 25, 2012 at 1:50 pm Sally

Grinning at the last comment – can’t top that!
- on November 25, 2012 at 2:26 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  It really is festive when we start making gifts, isn’t it, Sally? Do you have anything planned for this year’s gift giving?
  - on November 26, 2012 at 2:10 pm Sally
    
    In my head – whether they’ll actually get made is another matter! Actually I do have an annual gingerbread making get together. And the quince ratafia is coming along nicely – can’t drink all that quince infused brandy myself.
on November 26, 2012 at 6:10 pm theintolerantchef

Very cute indeed Celia! What thoughtful and lovely gifts, I’m sure they’ll be a big hit sweetie :) xox
on November 26, 2012 at 7:07 pm Joanna

These are such fun, I have various neglected succulent sorts of plants indoors and the tough little sempervivums outdoors who get drowned, pecked at and dismembered by the blackbirds and even are cheeky enough to root elsewhere in the garden. They are wonderful gifts, though I understand the dilemma of your chocolate loving friends ;)
on December 3, 2012 at 6:20 pm Christina

Hey, I have succulent mania too. Bought some Orange Grove on weekend. Am starting a garden. I haven’t forgotten too that I owe you for vanilla. Are you around for coffee?