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Succulent Orb Experiment
by
Rita C. - Panoply
(IC: blogger)
Ever tried replicating one of many inspiring photos, either here on Hometalk or Pinterest, only to have it NOT turn out as planned? You know, that "nailed it!" moment, right? Well, I pinned a photo of a succulent orb a year ago and finally got around to trying it. Come see how, when inspiration strikes, it turns out to be a slightly different version, but still works out anyway. Step-by-step process for how I tried my hand at a succulent orb with blog link below....
With a little digging on the originally pinned site's content, which reviews the book from which this idea comes, "Succulent Container Gardens", by Debra Lee Baldwin, I found comments giving how-to instruction ideas (not necessarily the author's prescription).
I found the 10" hanging baskets at the Dollar Tree (without the liners), so then planned a trip to Lowe's to scout other supplies.
Succulents are expensive, at $3.98 for a 3" container at Lowe's. I checked the orphan rack - none there. I found two succulent containers, without prices. They each had 7-9 of the 3" succulents arranged inside (which would've been $28-$36 for each, or $56-$72 total). The manager got on the computer and made two tags for me - $9.98 each - BOOM - $19.96 total!
I gathered some cactus soil and a 14" basket liner that I decided to cut to 10" (none of those were to be found, either, but I still had the one from last year's purchase). Total money investment, with tax: $30 (including baskets from Dollar Tree).
I cut my liner, and filled each of the hanging baskets with the soil. I used the entire bag, packed it down, then soaked it, as the reader comment on the original pin site suggested.
After aligning the baskets into an orb, I slid the bag out from between the two, and connect the baskets. I used twist ties (didn't have those plastic, self-adjusting ties).
The directions said to then cut X's into the liner, and place the succulents into the orb / ball. Easier said than done. It was more like cutting and stuffing, trying not to sever the succulents into the orb. I used one entire container's worth of plants, and still had space on my upper half of the orb. Not to be discouraged, I spaced what I had of the one container on the upper half.
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Published June 22nd, 2014 9:24 AM
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Katherine on Jun 25, 2016May not look like the Pinterest orb but it's beautiful and the best thing is you made it
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