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Chasing the Winter Blues Away With Teacups and Succulents

If you’re a gardener, right down to the tips of your toes, then, after the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you might find yourself longing for spring to hurry up and come.

Well here’s a fun indoor project to help brighten up the home while waiting for winter to give way to the warmer days of spring, teacup planters.

The teacups themselves are easy to find and are not expensive so they won’t break the bank. You can find them at a second-hand store, tag sales, flea markets or antique stores, or even right in your own cabinet. The cup and saucers don’t even have to match.

Next, pick out your succulents and purchase some soil (you probably already have indoor potting soil) and get to work. Succulents are the perfect plant to keep in shallow containers that don’t require a lot of drainage. Simply mist your plants to keep them happy.

There is a large variety succulents available; some are flower shaped, others are delicate looking plants. If you have established plants growing in your home already, take clippings from them; there is no need to purchase more plants.

Here are just a few ways to use your existing succulents:

Removing the plant-lets or offsets, which are fully formed, rooted, mini plants that can grow. Cutting method: Just cut off a piece of leaf or stem and let it dry, no water or soil is necessary, check them in about 5 days, you’ll have roots and shoots in no time. The trick is to keep it totally dry.

Another way to propagate succulents is to place cuttings on top of potting medium to callus off, enabling them to root themselves directly in the soil. Succulents thrive in well-drained soil and sunshine; they love light and need about six hours of sun per day, depending on the type of succulent. Without sunshine, they will grow pale; with too much water they will rot.

If you have larger cacti to plant, try using a gravy boat or sugar bowl; it’s deeper and larger and will accommodate the cacti. You can even plant portulaca, or moss rose, which are drought-resistant and container-friendly. Just remember they need adequate sunshine to flower.

For more tips and information, check out The North Haven Garden Club on Facebook. The North Haven Garden Club is a member of The Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut Inc., New England Garden Clubs Inc., and The National Garden Clubs Inc.