Think you need a large outdoor garden to make a stunning statement with succulents?
WATCH: Charlie Albone’s guide to succulents
One Better Homes and Gardens reader has used a $7.50 black tray from Kmart – along with an adorable sloth pot – to create a vibrant indoor scene with succulents.
The project is the brainchild of Chelsea Somers, who uses an assortment of succulents, colourful pebbles and a variety of objects to create unique miniature gardens.
Better Homes and Gardens Online caught up with Chelsea to find out how she makes these quirky designs.
What inspired the project?
I loved the sloth pots but wanted to do more with it than just hang it. Originally, I was really wanting to do a coffee table bowl but when I saw the serving tray at Kmart, I thought it would be a bit different, and it turned out to be the perfect size for what I had in mind. I’d also just got a beautiful new selection of coloured rocks, so I decided this was the perfect project to use them both.
Have you worked on any similar projects before?
Yes, I have made a few before using terracotta pots, but not novelty pots like the sloth.
What kind of look were you after?
Something a bit eye-popping that highlighted everything in the bowl.
Biggest challenges?
The biggest challenge was making sure everything flowed. It’s important to select the right plants so everything complements each other. Also, blending the pebbles for the sky was a bit tricky.
How to DIY
- Drill holes in tray using a 5mm metal drill bit.
- Fill with soil.
- Position sloth in the bottom third of the tray.
- Add green stones to create the foliage for the tree.
- Add plants, start by planting the large ones first then plant the smaller ones around.
- Add the brown/beige stones to create the branch, a narrow row either side of the plants.
- Add a variety of blue stones for the sky, varying to blend the colours.
Budget breakdown
Black serving tray: $7.50 from Kmart
Sloth pot: $7.50 from Kmart
Soil: $2 from Bunnings
Coloured pebbles: from $2 at Bunnings
Plants: $30 for Tornado succulents
If you have succulents in your own garden, cut those instead of buying new. It’ll cut your costs by half.
Total cost: Around $50
Love Chelsea’s sloth garden? Check out her other designs.
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