Surprising succulent DIY

For over a year, my posts about plants for mid-century living have remained in the Popular Posts list. Among the ones I have recommended, succulents are probably the easiest to care for. However, several people have asked me what to do if they don't have enough of a green thumb to keep even the lowest maintenance plants alive.

I don't usually do DIY posts, but I thought I'd share a solution for those readers that won't break the bank. Crate and Barrel has a very realistic artificial aloe planter (12"L x 5"W x 8"H) for $44.95, but I put a few together that are only slightly smaller for around $5 each.

Crate and Barrel - $44.95

Here's what I used:

• Planters of varying sizes in a matte white (I got mine from the 99 Cents Only store.)
• Bag of decorative river pebbles (99 Cents Only store again)
• White craft glue (like Elmer's)
• Packing peanuts (A block of floral styrofoam would probably work better, but I had just received a package and had peanuts on hand that I could use free.)
• Mini artificial succulents, approximately 2.5-4" in diameter (I got my  3-to-a-stem plants on sale at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, although they can be purchased online. The best online source I've found is Quality Silk Plants, but they're a little more expensive.)

First, I put the packing peanuts in a bowl and added the craft glue, stirring till they were completely coated before pouring them to within about 1/2" of the rim of a planter with no drainage hole. (If your planter has a drainage hole, you can place tape over it or line the bottom of the planter with foil so no glue seeps out.)

Next, I did the same thing with the pebbles, making sure they were completely covered with glue. Then I poured them on top of the peanuts, arranging them till none of the peanuts showed. (The glue will dry clear.)

Finally, I coated the bottom leaves and the stem of the artificial succulent with glue and then inserted the stem through the pebbles into the styrofoam and let the glue dry thoroughly.

My DIY inexpensive succulent dishes

Interestingly enough, artificial plants and flowers are authentic to the mid-century period. Brightly colored plastic flowers were very common in the 1950s and 1960s, and I've noticed plastic, sometimes flocked,  making a comeback in the "permanent botanicals" trade, as many people today have become tired of the silk flowers that became so popular during the 1980s and 1990s.

I originally made these to sell when we had an antique mall booth and liked them so well that I made a set to go on the windowsills in my kitchen. I have live plants throughout my house, and these look so real that it's impossible to tell the difference.