More funky planters, this time with cacti and succulents

I wrote the other day about the bottle gardens I made for my August 29 gardening feature in Weekend. I also had fun planting up some succulents and cacti - they didn't all get used owing to lack of space on the page so I thought I'd share them with you, and add in some extra detail there wasn't room for in the text.

I used some fun polka dot china as planters (sorry for the poorly focused pic, which is a world away from the job done by the photographer on the shoot, Anders Gramer). When using teacups, teapots and the like as planters, the easy way is to use plants that love being waterlogged, ie carnivorous plants or a Cyperus alternifolius (if you have a really big pot like an old, deep china casserole). That way you don't have to worry about the lack of drainage, and provided you keep the water level close to the lip of the container at all times, your plants will thrive.

But if you're really set on cacti, or most other houseplants that absolutely hate being waterlogged you'll have to either keep the plants in their original pots and remove them to water regularly, or drill holes in the bottom to provide some drainage. Cups and saucers are ideal when dealt with in this way as the saucer makes the perfect drip tray. The way to make the hole is with a ceramic drill bit, and it helps to add a strip or two of masking tape over the surface of the china to help you start the hole. Even if you're careful when drilling, there's a risk you'll break the china, so don't try this with anything precious (pick up cheap but funky stuff from charity shops and auctions instead). I couldn't bear to drill holes in this particular set of china (apart from anything else that bullet-shaped teapot is the best pourer I've ever found) so these were planted for the purposes of the shoot only!

The plants shown here are Plover Eggs (Andromischus cooperi) on the far right, Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartzkopf' at the back in the teapot, Gymnocalycium mihanovichii in front, and alas I've forgotten the name of the succulent on the left - I'll track down the label and post it later. They're now repotted in other containers (boring white ones for the moment until I take another trip to the junk shop). I've just found a great-looking nursery called Glenhirst that sells cacti and succulents and has a lot of good care advice, so I guess I might be expanding my collection again soon ...

Comments

[Lia Leendertz]

A good pourer is a rare thing and not to be messed with. This stuff is very swish and definitely too posh to be drilled. Mind you, i am not keen on drinking tea from black cups. To my eye they make the tea a bit sickly and palid looking. It's a nice cream-coloured cup for me.
Have bought aeoniums from Glenhirst (dont tell Martyn Cox). Very good, and cheap too.

[Jane Perrone]

Lia, you'd like the cups my OTHER china collection (yes, I do have a bit of a retro china "thing" going on...)

[Lia Leendertz]

ooh, me too! but i am not allowed to buy any more as we have to put other stuff in the cupboards, like food. Mind you, if i started drilling holes in the bottom and calling them funky planters...seems a bit of a shame though.

[Dawn]

Stop with all the good ideas - I shall run out of windowsills and crockery if this carries on - and I have precious few of both.

[Meredith/Great Stems]

What a great idea -- I'll have to keep an eye out for a cute little tea set...