Lately I've been obsessed with planting itty bitty succulents in teeny-tiny planters, mugs, and glasses. Every time I look at something lately I imagine sticking a plant in it. I'm always looking for different kinds of succulents to work with, so I've amassed a small army of bulbous green minions. There are even some air plants and cacti tucked in among my growing collection.
I thought it might be fun to give you a peek, and share some of the reasons that I love these hearty little plants so much. Do you have succulents too? If so, I'd love to hear about them. Drop me a line, or better yet, take a photo on instagram and hashtag it with #MaryMakesPretty.
Do you love these little clay head planters? I got them from Clay Flower on Etsy. That shop is amazingly weird and wonderful.
Number One: Succulents are fairly inexpensive, so if you kill one or two (or ten) you don't have to feel completely awful. You won't have lost a fortune, just a little green-thumb cred.
Number Two: Succulents come in wondrous variety. Some are leafy and delicate, others are pudgy and round. There are succulents that are spiky, fuzzy, and even multicolored. Take a look at the most common types here, or totally geek out over every succulent ever here.
Number Three: You can make succulents from other succulents. In other words, they can usually be propagated from cuttings.
Number Four: Usually, succulents are easy to care for. Now and then I get a bum plant, and no matter what I do it keels over. But most of the time my plants do well with little to no maintenance. I can't say the same for the last six orchids I've murdered. Find out more about caring for your pretties here. (Or just put it in full sun, don't water it too much, and cross your fingers.)
Number Five: They look so cute! At least I think they do. In my opinion, succulents are far more adorable than ferns, ivy, or mini palms. African Violets come in a close second in my book, but they can't front to succulents when it comes to looking sweet in a vintage mug.
Number Six: If you kill too many, you can always replace them with fake succulents. It is unlikely that your secret will ever be found out, as most guests refrain from fondling houseplants out of common courtesy.
Number Seven: Did I mention their penchant for neglect? Succulents are the perfect pet for self-involved people. It's totally OK to forget they exist for days on end, maybe even weeks. I even have one that I sort-of tried to kill on purpose. Since it was so pitiful and teensy, I decided to stop bothering with it and let nature take its course. Two years later that little sucker is still very much alive.
P.S. If you want to gawk at even more succulent love, be sure and visit Say It Ain't So. She has some adorable pics on this post and this post. Or, if you want to die of cuteness, check out this list of planters I wish I had from Etsy.
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