Planting succulents in glass

Succulents turn into real eye-catchers in the glass. Here you can find out how to present the plants in style and care for them properly.

Succulents are among the most popular indoor plants. No wonder - after all, the robust plants have an integrated water reservoir and are therefore wonderfully easy to care for. With succulents becoming so common as houseplants, they may not get their deserved place in the spotlight, but instead become pretty background ornaments. But if you want to show off your plants more, you can use a very simple trick: planted in a glass, succulents look modern and exciting, so that they quickly become the secret eye-catcher in the apartment. In this article you will find out how to plant succulents in the glass yourself and what you have to consider when caring for them.

Which succulents can be planted in a glass?

If you want to plant succulents in a glass, the question quickly arises as to which plants are actually suitable. In general, almost all succulents are suitable for planting in a glass. However, you should pay attention to the space available - since the container in which the plants are to grow is usually not excessively large, it is worthwhile to use small succulent species. Mini succulents in jars also have the advantage that you can combine several of them to create a small succulent garden. Particularly popular mini succulents for glass are Echerveria (Echeveria), Money Trees (Crassula ovata) and Schnapsnase (Sedum pachyphyllum ).

Is any jar suitable for succulents?

The same applies here: you can plant succulents in almost any container you like. So succulents can be planted in a mason jar just as well as in a plant bowl or a hanging glass ball. There is only one condition: the glass should have an opening. Succulents in closed jars die quickly because they cannot tolerate the high humidity inside. Instead of a bottle gardenTherefore, containers that open at the top, such as semi-circular glass bowls, are better suited for succulents. A nice eye-catcher are also succulents in the square terrarium. However, it also applies here that this must be open at the top or at least have an opening for air exchange so that the succulents can thrive in it.

What kind of soil do succulents need?

The right soil is a decisive factor when it comes to transplanting succulents into a glass - only with the right substrate can the plants remain he althy for a long time and develop their robust nature. Succulents make special demands on their soil: This should be loose so that the plant can root through it and good water and air permeability is guaranteed. In addition, the soil should be able to absorb water again even after it has completely dried out and be adapted to the nutrient requirements of the succulents. These conditions are optimally met by special cactus or succulent soil that can be bought in specialist shops. For example, the Floragard cactus soil has proven itself.

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Not all succulents need soil though - in fact some succulents can be grown in a jar without soil. The Tillandsia (Tillandsia), for example, as epiphytes, do not need any substrate and are therefore also referred to as air plants. Placed in hanging glass balls or small bowls, the succulents in the glass give a fascinating picture even without soil. However, they need to be sprayed with water regularly as this is the only way they can meet their hydration needs.

Expert tip: Most orchids (Orchidaceae) also belong to the epiphytes - however, they do not need a substrate, but special ones she adapted orchid soil.

Planting succulents in a glass: Instructions

If you want the perfect display of your plants, consider planting succulents in jars. What sounds complicated at first glance is actually not a big effort. In fact, you only need the plants and a container, expanded clay, succulent soil and, if necessary, decoration. For safety reasons, you should also use thorn-resistant gloves for succulents with thorns or cacti.

First a layer of expanded clay, which should make up about a quarter of the bottom layer, is placed in the glass bowl. This later serves as a drainage layer to prevent waterloggingavoid. A layer of succulent or cactus soil is then added to this. Now you can carefully free the plants from their old pots and gently loosen the loose soil at the roots. The succulents can now be placed in their new place - if there are several plants, it is advisable to place the plants loosely next to each other to find the right arrangement. Once the succulents are placed in the glass, gaps are closed with the cactus soil. This is pressed lightly with your finger. If you want, you can also place decorative elements in the glass in addition to the succulents. Natural materials such as beautiful pebbles or quartz sand are particularly well suited.

Here is an overview of all the steps for the succulents in the jar:

1. Fill a quarter of the soil layer with expanded clay
2. Put cactus soil on it
3. Remove the succulents carefully from their pot and gently remove the soil
4. Arrange plants and fill gaps with cactus soil
5. Press the substrate carefully with your fingers
6. Decorate if necessary

Caring for succulents in the jar

Even if the succulents find a great new place in the jar, every move means stress for them too. For this reason, the succulents should not be watered immediately after repotting - the first watering should only take place after a week so as not to put additional strain on the stressed roots of the plants. Once the plants have recovered well, the only thing left to do is the normal care of the succulents. However, you should note that succulents in the jar should not be placed in direct sunlight - this can cause a magnifying effect, especially with taller, round jars, which can cause serious burns to the plants. Instead, the succulents should be placed in the glass in a bright, shady spot.

If you like the look of plants in glass jars, you might also be interested in our article on the bottle garden.

Many thanks to Floragard for the support!