Troll Doll Planters

Troll Dolls are toys that date back to 1959. They were first made in Denmark by a Danish woodcutter, Thomas Dam. The original troll doll was carved as a Christmas gift for Dam’s daughter, Lila. When the kids in town saw the doll, they wanted one. too, and the company “Dam Things” was born. The dolls were made from plastic instead of wood, and were called “Good Luck Trolls”.

Still popular today, the Troll dolls are being used as planters, often for succulents. They are so cute!

Troll Doll Planters

I don’t know for sure how they are made, but my guess is that you would remove the hair, and maybe remove the plastic base of the hair, so there would be more room for the potting soil. Then add your soil, plants and water.

The larger sized troll dolls could hold a larger plant, as in this picture:

Large Troll Doll Planter

Image Source: GardenChick

They’re just so cute!

Beautiful Succulent Projects

Now that I am having success with many of my succulents (thanks to their summer growth spurt!), I am in search of ways to make them really stand out in my garden.

I looked through some vacation photos of mine from about a year ago. When we were wandering some of the beach shops, we came across one shop that had a cute little ball of moss with a couple flowery looking succulents attached to the top. It was hung by a bow from the shop sign. I had never seen anything like it, and it is probably the time I first started to see succulents in a different, pretty way.

Though that photo reminded me of our family vacation, it didn’t answer an obvious question: How in the heck do you make that so the plants stay alive?!

So after a little research, I found a couple amazing tutorials to show us how to do just that!

Pine Cone Succulents
Photo Source: theinspiredhomeandgarden.com

This adorable pine cone project would make for a fun way to hang plants from patio rails, porch lights and even fence posts! I just love how the use off all natural items looks so beautiful and fresh! I wonder if a little battery operated tea light could be added to the center to make for stunning backyard party decorations?

Succulent Ball
Photo Source: Martha Stewart via www.apartmenttherapy.com

Visit this site for a VERY simple tutorial in creating this amazing ball of succulents. The concept could work for other items like wreaths, topiaries, etc.

I am very excited to try my hand at these projects – if I can get them made and growing now, they would make for some cheap, expensive-looking hand-made holiday gifts!

My New Love – Propagating Succulents

I have never been a huge cactus fan, mostly due to the crazy amounts of spikes and prickly fuzz.

succulents

However, I recently began to enjoy the beautiful blooms and flower-like shapes of the succulents at a home on my running path. The garden is full of poke-free, drought-tolerant, beautifully colored plants. They arranged in such a nice manner that the yard looks absolutely stunning. Expensive, even.

I had the opportunity to speak with the home owner, who was extremely kind and gave me a quick tutorial in succulent growth and propagation – even sent me home with a few leaves in my running shorts pockets to give it a try! I have since been hooked!

The greatest thing about succulents is the minimal amount of water they take. I currently water 2 times a week, depending on the heat. This is because most succulents grow more in the spring and summer months. In the winter, I have read that you should water just once a week, maybe even every other week as the plants go into a dormant phase during colder seasons.

I have had mostly great luck in propagating from leaves. I started with the few I was given, then got more from a couple plants I found outside a few restaurants and homes I run by. If I see the homeowner, I be sure to ask first… but if I don’t, I guess I figure they won’t mind me taking just one or two leaves, so long as I don’t damage the plant and it is large enough they won’t miss 1 leaf! Give me your opinions on this, as I don’t know the proper succulent-leaf-taking etiquette!

Propogating Succulents

Photo Source: needlesandleaves.net

To refresh my memory, I found a very simple tutorial (see image link above) that has a method I have found to work very well with most plants. I find that some leaves like more water than others (or maybe I am giving them too much sun, so the soil just dries faster?), and some that prefer to have more sand in the mixture. Visit Needles + Leaves for the great tutorial.

One type of succulent that I have yet to be able to propagate is Aloe. I have actually read many tutorials, watched many videos and am embarrassed that many people say it is the easiest to work with! I can’t believe I have tried a dozen leaves and can’t seem to get one started – the EASIEST ONE?!

I have tried so many methods, from laying pieces on top of the soil as shown by Needles + Leaves, to burying the leaf upright in the soil, no water, moist soil, dipped in honey (that idea seemed weird, but I gave it a shot…), fresh off the mother plant, allowing the end to dry/scab over, and even buying a rooting powder. Not one method has worked for me!

 

Propogating Aloe

Photo Source: www.wikihow.com

My next attempt will be to try this tutorial from WikiHow, partly shown above. PLEASE, if anyone has a tried and true method for Aloe, be sure to let me know by email or in the comments to share with everyone!

Just a quick shout-out to my friend, who has been kind enough to let me slice a dozen or more aloe leaves off the plants in his backyard for practicing each failed method! Thank you!

Succulents In A Tool Box

Succulent plants are very easy to care for–just water them once every week or two, depending on how often it rains, if they are outside. Succulents in a container like this would make a great gift for those who have just moved into a new apartment or home, as the cactus and succulents require very little maintenance. Plus it’s a great way to recycle a rusty old tool box.

Succulents in a Box

Succulents are easy to care for and don’t need much water since they’re from dry climates.

Terrariums

Terrariums are a cool way of growing plants in a closed environment. They are usually used for decoration, as they can be very pretty and interesting to look at.

Terrarium Typically, terrariums have a few layers: soil at the bottom, gravel on top of that, then moss or another type of ground cover on top of that, and finally the decorative plants.

Terrariums can range from very large to quite small; the key is usually keeping them in a closed container with no holes (and making sure everything stays moist and doesn’t dry out).

One of the most popular plants for terrariums are mosses, since they can easily become attached to rocks or other decorations that hold onto them. I like to use succulents in my miniature terrariums, since they’re very low-maintenance and pretty.

Terrarium Under Glass

Succulents can be found at most garden or home improvement stores, and you don’t need a lot of them to fill up a good-sized container. Because succulents are so hardy, they’re really easy to take care of — even if your terrarium is left alone for a week or two, they’ll still look fine. Most succulents also do well with indirect sunlight, which is convenient if you want to keep your terrarium near a window.

You can make your terrarium more attractive by putting in some soft-tissued plants like mosses and ferns on top of the soil. When you’re ready to decorate, put down a layer of rocks or pebbles in the bottom of your container for drainage, then put some gravel on top.

Blue Succulents

Blue Succulents come from the desert regions of Northern Africa. The high salt content in their soil gives them their blue color, which is caused by high concentrations of ionized chloride ions. Their distinctive shape helps them absorb moisture quicker than other plants during rainfall or when watered with a garden hose. This enables them to retain water for prolonged periods when no rain falls.

Blue Succulents

Blue Agave

Agave tequilana “Blue Agave” is a magnificent evergreen succulent native to Mexico that is probably the most well-known of all blue succulents. It has blue-grey lance-shaped leaves with a brown center spine and sharp tiny spines at the edges that are four feet long. The leaves form a six-foot-tall rosette.

agave tequilana

Blue Bird Echeveria

Absolutely love the look of this blue succulent.

EcheveriaImage Source: SucculentCity.com

To help bring out the color of your succulents, whether they are blue, green, or any other color – keep them in bright, direct sunlight.

Spectacular Succulents

You probably know by now how much I love succulents and these are just spectacular! So, I would like to introduce you to some magnificent succulents that will look amazing in your garden or on that empty space on the balcony. These plants also make great gifts for a gardening enthusiast friend!

Spectacular Succulents

Many succulents will grow beautiful flowers during the spring and summer, so if you would like some pretty flowers in your home it is possible!

Colored Sand Terrarium – 21 Simple Ideas for Adorable DIY Terrariums

Terrariums are fun, self-sustaining little ecosystems where you can grow various plants. They are usually glass containers full of soil or sand, although plastic can also be used.

Recommended plants for terrariums are succulents, air plants, mosses, ferns, small cacti. Avoid large cacti or trees as these tend to grow bigger than the space allowed in a closed terrarium. Also avoid poisonous plants as well as ones that need direct sunlight exposure.

DIY Sand Art Terrarium

To Make This Sand Art Terrarium You Will Need:

  • Different colors of sand – if you want to do multiple layers of the same colors, I recommend buying 2 of each!
  • Clear bowl, vase, or jar
  • Plants of your choice (of course I chose succulents)
  • Handful of rocks
  • Stick or pencil

DIY Terrarium

Terrariums can be used to house plants of any type inside of a sealed glass container. This is a popular way to keep plants that may require high humidity or mild temperatures, such as tropical plants.

Many people use closed terrariums in their homes to create decorative pieces with plants and small rocks.

As you might imagine, it is quite easy for a closed terrarium to get over-watered because the excess moisture cannot escape. If your terrarium needs extra drainage, add some pebbles or gravel below the soil’s surface (mylar/plastic beads could also work).

Visit Buzzfeed.com for 21 Simple Terrarium ideas! 

Lots of cute container ideas!

Urn With Chicks, Hens, and Pearls

Hen and chick succulents are an allusion to the grouping of leaves around a rosette as chicks would be clustered around a hen. Hen and Chicks Succulent blooms come in some beautiful colors such as yellow, pink, green, whites and purples. The little cascading ball succulent is called “String of Pearls”. I had a string of pearls at one time, but they died, and now I can’t find them anywhere! But don’t they look great together in this urn?

Urn with Succulents

Hen and Chick succulents make excellent container plants, especially if you lack garden space. Hen and chicks can be used to line walkways, driveway borders and of course for making quick and easy garden decorations! Hen and Chick Succulents also make excellent gifts because they can survive long periods without water, so it’s okay if the recipient forgets to water them regularly!