Because of earlier failures, I thought for a long time I didn't have what it took to keep a happy, healthy succulent plant indoors. But that was dumb. On a sunny windowsill, nothing could be easier to maintain. Watering every week or two? Bright, filtered light? Done and done.
Small succulent plants are cheap, but plant containers are not, so when I thought about expanding my windowsill garden to the kitchen, I started looking around for inexpensive containers I could modify into planters. The answer: bread pans! Nearly every thrift store has a few of them, priced at less than a dollar. They have a clean, simple shape and just need a few drainage holes added. Here's what I did to turn my 59-cent bread pan into a succulent planter.
Materials needed:
Bread pan (look for a thin pan made from a material that will not rust, as rust will affect the soil's pH)
Succulents
Potting soil formulated for cactus or succulents
Hammer
Awl or nail plus something to widen the holes (like an old screwdriver)
Kitten (to inspect your work -- optional)
Use the hammer and awl/nail to poke evenly-space drainage holes in the bottom of the bread pan. If using a nail, widen the holes by pushing in an old screwdriver. If your pan is made out of the same material as mine, it should be very easy to do this.
Allow kitten to inspect the drainage holes. If everything is up to code, proceed to potting the succulents.
Gently remove the plants from their pots and place in the bread pan. Fill the pan with the soil, water lightly and you're done! Succulents like bright, filtered sunlight, good air circulation and a watering once every week or two. (Better to water too little than too much.)
The succulents in my pot are Baby Toes, Blue Elf aloe and something else that didn't have a cute and catchy name. They seem happy so far! (Now that the plants are out of reach, however, the kitten is less than thrilled.)
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Comments (13)
What a great, and cute post, with addition of a kitten inspector!!! LOL. I love this idea...and will actually take this idea up for a pan of all starfish shaped succulents I am wanting to put together! I think I need a lagagna sized pan! :)
Posted by Julie | May 22, 2008 5:34 PM
I want to add you to my links, but shall I place you in with my Succulent Blogger friends, or with my Artsy blogger friends??? LOL...I can't decide!!!
Posted by Julie | May 22, 2008 5:42 PM
Oh that looks great! What a good idea. Cute kitty too ;)
Posted by alice | May 23, 2008 11:39 AM
Awesome! Way to recycle. I so have to check out my thrift stores now. I've been wanting to start an herb thing for the kitchen for so long now and this seems like a perfect idea. Thanks!
Posted by amigurumigirl | May 28, 2008 8:17 AM
I love it, can't wait to make my own!!!
Posted by Lee Ann | June 1, 2008 8:20 AM
I have GOT to show this to my mom! We both have African Violets on our kitchen window sills. :D We'll make a pair together for our other windows!
Posted by !!blue | June 1, 2008 9:36 AM
ooh I'm totally going to do this - thank you!
and I too *adore* the kitty addition to the visuals :) so sweet!
Posted by willotoons | June 1, 2008 3:37 PM
Great idea but what about water drainage?
Posted by Carole | June 1, 2008 6:40 PM
Sweet project, definitely enhanced by the official kitten inspector!
Posted by Sandra :) | June 1, 2008 7:36 PM
Carole, three drainage holes seem to provide enough drainage for my succulents. You could always add more if necessary, and even put some on the sides of the pan.
Posted by Anjali | June 1, 2008 8:27 PM
What a fantastic look. Succulents and metal go together so well. And baby toes! I've been eyeing those a lot in my neighborhood lately and wondering what they were called. I wonder though, doesn't water leak from the holes? Should there be something absorbent underneath?
Kudos on going the extra mile and having an inspector on hand. I've always thought my best projects were the ones my kittehs helped oversee :)
Posted by Lauren | June 3, 2008 4:24 PM
Lauren, I water all my windowsill plants in the kitchen sink and let them sit there for 15 minutes or so to drain -- I don't seem to have any problems with extra water leaking out once I put them back. You could also set the pan on a long, narrow plate to catch the water if you wanted.
Posted by Anjali | June 3, 2008 8:22 PM
Cute idea!! Adorable inspector! :D
Posted by Meg | August 4, 2008 8:07 AM