Keen to grow a green thumb?
Want to grow your love of plants? Follow environmental activist, eco-model, and author Summer Rayne Oake’s guide to creating beautiful mason jar succulents, perfect as gifts for friends and family.
HOW TO MAKE A MASON JAR SUCCULENT
Tools
- 1 wide-mouthed Mason jar
- 1/3 cup of small stones (optional)
- 1/4 cup of horticultural charcoal (optional)
- Succulent and cacti potting soil
- Small succulent of choice
- Spoon
- Twine or ribbon (optional)
- Evergreen branch (optional)
Directions
- Add the layer of stones to the bottom of the Mason jar.*
- Next add the layer of charcoal above the stones. This can help prevent any bacterial buildup when you water the succulent.**
- Add the succulent potting soil about 3/4 of the way up the jar. Plant your succulent in the jar and then take soil, spoonful at a time and carefully fill soil along the edges of the jar. Pack firmly.
- Tie twine around the mouth of the jar and add a branch (optional). You can also provide some care instructions for the plant. Make it fun, like, “Hi! I’m a succulent. I like lots of sun and little water. Water me once a week in the growing season and once every two weeks during the cold season. Please don’t drown me. I don’t like wet feet!”
* A “faux” drainage layer is not necessary, but if you have a shallow-rooted plant and you like the look of multiple layers, then it can be a nice aesthetic, but realise the roots won’t be able to grow down into this layer and will therefore have less space to grow.
** Mixing in horticultural charcoal into the potting medium is also an option.
Note:
Since Mason jars don’t have drainage holes, watering “thoroughly” can be a challenge. However, since the container is see-through, you’ll be able to see exactly how much you are watering. I try to water mine so that the potting medium is saturated about 2/3 – 3/4 of the way, so that means watering slowly until I see that the potting medium is changing colour (darker when watered).
If you’re gifting your plant in the cold months, make sure to protect it from bad weather. Many plants have a low tolerance to colder weather.
This article was originally published in Issue 14 – Say It With Love. You can purchase this issue and enjoy more enchanting content here.
