Succulents are a real boon for compositions and creativity; they can be planted not only in shells, driftwood, coconut shells, cups, cracks on the walls, but also in anything your imagination suggests. Of course, we wouldn’t want to limit it, so here we will present only what will really be useful and will help you create your own unique composition with your own hands. The article is mostly a selection of photos, but there are also several universal master classes that will allow you to quickly master the main rules for designing compositions from succulents.

Let's start with the assortment

Let us describe groups of suitable plants and some specific “heroes”. Of course, the entire set of cultures cannot be covered in one article:

1. Cacti. But not all of them are suitable for compositions.
2. Aloe, various forms.
3. Lithops (they are rarely used in compositions with other plants, because the agricultural technology of these plants is very peculiar). As a rule, different types of lithops are arranged in one pot, without other plants.

The most popular plants in compositions:

1. Sedums.
2. Rejuvenated.
3. Aeoniums.
4. Echeveria.

Sedums are a huge group of plants. In the photo below, on the left, there is a prominent sedum - plants 30-40 cm high, with bright decorative flowers, on the right - blue sedum - its height does not exceed 5-10 cm:

Young - well known under the name “stone rose” also includes a lot of hybrids:

Aeoniums are plants 25-30 cm high. There are many varieties and varieties:

Aeonium Arborium ‘Schwarzkopf’

Aeonium Haworthii Variegta

Echeverias are very popular for creating continuous surfaces, especially flowing effects:

There are many varieties of echeveria. They are actively used for wall planters:

Miniature finestraria with cone-shaped leaves are good for tabletop compositions. Their agricultural technology is similar to that of Lithops: complete absence of watering in winter, careful and meager watering in summer, well-lit place.

Fenestraria Rhopalophylla

Finestraria with lithops.

Ampelous succulents

Rowley's ragwort - original ball leaves. Unpretentious.

Morgan's sedum is a fairly powerful plant with long stems densely covered with leaves. Hanging shoots resemble thick sausages.

Of course, the plant is highly decorative and solo, but it is also actively used in compositions. True, in the photo below there is a Burito sedum very similar to it:

Sedum Burrito:

It’s also worth looking at other members of the family Crassulaceae: cotyledons, pachyphytums, Kalanchoe, sedums, Crassulas, graptopetalums. From other families the following are suitable: euphorbia, peperomia, senecio, some types of agaves, haworthia, gasteria, representatives of families Mesembryanthemums and Lastovnevas. Perhaps some plants from the family will be suitable Euphorbiaceae.

It makes sense to try your hand at arranging individually planted plants first:

Compositions, ideas, techniques

Sequence of composition creation

Regardless of the size and shape of the composition, there are general rules for their creation:

Now you know how to make almost any composition from succulents. Of course, this is a very simplified scheme, because such important things as the thickness of the soil layer, the mixing of the earth mixture, the selection of moss and decor, that is, in fact, everything that creates conditions for plant roots, are selected individually for each composition - one might say , "approximately". However, the aim is formed quite accurately with experience in growing succulents. If you have been seriously studying them for at least a year, feel their needs, know how to grow a healthy plant, where to put it, what to plant it in, how to water it, then there will be no problems with creating your own masterpiece mix.

Container selection

We decided not to waste printed signs, but simply show you as many different containers as possible. It is noteworthy that succulents can get by with a small amount of soil, so even the smallest objects can act as a container.

You can implement any image using:

Shells

Or their imitation from gypsum or cement:

The photo shows a cement sink made specifically for the composition.

Treated wood

It is better, of course, to use wooden containers as flowerpots, and plant the plants in a container that is less exposed to moisture.

Stumps and snags

A charming and very skillfully executed composition with shells.

Toys

Old pots and vases

And the more holey, the better:

Everything you can find in the kitchen

Cups, spoons, scoops for bulk products, baking dishes, beautifully decorated old tin cans, cups, out of order teapots, sardine cans, picnic baskets, candy dishes and dessert dishes:

Vintage of old cans, watering cans, plastic bottles, as in some of the photos above, is a separate process, no less interesting than creating compositions from succulents. It is noteworthy that none of the domestic craftswomen has yet mastered such processing of junk. Many of the arrangements pictured above in recycled vintage containers are commercial arrangements intended for sale. However, they are not much different from amateur ones made by hand, except that on the fly you can hone and simplify the details.

Chairs

There is something nostalgic in such compositions, where succulents tightly cover the chair and it’s not even about the style of the piece of furniture itself. The very fact that the furniture is completely overgrown with plants evokes associations with an abandoned garden and the romance of antiquity.

And even wine corks or eggshells

And in general - any items

Images

This is also purely a matter of imagination, so below are some photos for inspiration.

Landscapes with mountains and rocks

Below we will talk more about landscapes, only more complex. Recreating mountains, cliffs, islands lost in the white foam of sea waves is relatively easy to achieve. Use decorative stone chips, marbles, stones, driftwood, cobblestones, and their plaster imitations.

Stream or waterfall

The technique is quite popular - plants or stones imitate spilling water. This technique is often used in open ground flower beds, using ground cover flowers (, ageratum, soapwort, aubrieta, arabis). Succulents will successfully cope with the same task. Blue-gray echeverias are ideal.

However, nothing prevents the spilled “waves” from being of a different shade:

Succulents can be an excellent addition to a stone stream:

Animals

Ball and other three-dimensional hanging figures

This is a more difficult task. Ready-made succulent balls cost about 50 Euros on Etsy.

A ball is made from wire with a diameter of..., wrapped with the same mesh, but not completely, a little space should be left so that you can work with the inner surface of the ball. to lay out the surface with a very thick layer of moss and coconut fiber, then fill it with soil suitable for succulents, perhaps looser; a small diameter foam ball can be inserted into the center to prevent dampness and not make the composition too heavy. Close the grid. You can start planting plants.

Trees are created using the same principle.

Panels, paintings and other wall compositions

For Valentine's Day:

Inscriptions and signs

The price of such an original pointer is about $30.

Nothing prevents you from posting any inscription using the same principle.

Wreaths on the door

They are not very popular here, although I must admit that a wreath, including one made of succulents, on a door or on a fence, looks attractive.

Panel from Ikea table

A quite popular online master class on making a composition from a table purchased at Ikea. It is worth noting that the idea is indeed successful and looks stylish.

Imitation of landscapes and landscapes

The use of houses, stones imitating rocks, and miniature bridges makes compositions with succulents charming, but you should not take on such a composition without experience - trial options can be so far from the desired image that disappointment cannot be avoided. In addition to a carefully thought-out composition, preferably in advance and on paper, you will need to spend money on high-quality decor, or find natural materials for it, in addition, you should be well acquainted with the selected succulents.

Simpler in terms of planting are houses with overgrown roofs:

Just below, in a picnic basket, is a village landscape made by a Japanese craftswoman for sale. You can see how finely the details are worked out:

Aquariums and gardens in a bank

Succulents and cacti are great for glass arrangements, despite the criticism. Particular attention should be paid to good drainage, because a glass container for succulents will be too humid, and lighting - even ordinary glass absorbs light.

Caring for a garden in a jar means periodic spraying, and, of course, it is worth making sure that the room where it is located has clean, fresh air without dust.

And one more important point - the vessel should not be closed.

Petr Lapshin, curator of the collection of succulents at the Institute of Fracture of the Russian Academy of Sciences, harshly criticizes florariums and notes that succulents are completely unsuitable for growing in glass vessels. Let us not allow ourselves to agree with him on everything. Closed glass containers are really not suitable for succulents. However, now there are many vessels that are no less spectacular than closed ones, allowing you to provide succulents with suitable conditions for them, namely:

1. Mandatory periodic drying of the soil.
2. Good lighting.

In addition, it is worth noting that such compositions are designed to provide pleasure, and it does not have to be long-lasting. This composition is a good way of self-expression, an excellent gift or temporary interior decor. In a few months, plants, even succulents and even in conditions suitable for them, grow and the composition loses its appearance - it has fulfilled its functions, the plants can be planted in other containers, and a new composition can be created in the vessel.

You can use decorative sand

This sand is sold, for example, in the Fix Price network, or in stores for florists.

Options with sand are simple, they do not require a complex arrangement of plants, but in general, compositions “behind glass” are quite complex from a compositional point of view.

How to arrange beautiful succulents, how to combine them? There is a class of people who are able to beautifully compose any form without special training; if you are not one of them, then it makes sense to turn to literature. It is impossible to outline the basics of composition within the framework of this article, so we will simply recommend what to read:

• David Hession: everything about flower arranging - inexpensive and accessible. The book is focused specifically on arranging cut flowers and dried flowers, but the general principles of arranging shapes and lines can be mastered.
• From foreign ones exactly on the topic are books by Deborah Lee Baldwin. All about compositions made from succulents. However, they have not been translated into Russian.

Examples of beautiful compositional solutions

Many of them can be created based on the principles of arranging dried flowers and cut flowers. Consider: shape, color, size. Start creating a composition by varying only one parameter (for example, plants of the same shape and color, but different sizes), and then move on to the rest (plants of different shapes, colors, sizes). The photo shows compositions from simple to complex:

Using marbles.

Living colors

For those who have achieved mastery in both growing succulents and cacti and arranging them, enormous opportunities open up for using these plants as paints. The color and shape of the plant are like brush strokes. Also, some of these compositions resemble knitting using the freeform technique.

Compositions in a minimalist style

Some of the compositions above may well be called “collective farm”, but rusticity, straightforwardness and childish fun, such as figurines, are purely a matter of taste. Ultimately, the overall impression is more influenced by the quality of workmanship. The video below is about creating compositions in a natural style - from the Raritetplants channel.

Cacti and succulents are unpretentious and tenacious plants, but even they can die if you don't water them for too long or keep them in inappropriate conditions. But there is a pretty cute and fun alternative to living plants. We suggest making cacti from stones with your own hands! You can do such crafts with your children; the whole process is completely simple.

Flat and elongated stones of different sizes can be collected in the summer on a river or on the sea coast, and in the city they can be purchased in flower shops. The main requirement for the material is that the stones should be smooth, round in shape, and without chips. Please also prepare:

Acrylic paints (gouache will also work)

Brushes of different thicknesses,

Markers or proofreader

Super glue (epoxy glue),

Flower pots,

Sand or soil.

Step 1: Select rocks that are shaped most like real green cacti. Wash them thoroughly and dry them.

Step 2: Paint the rocks with basic green paint. You can use spray paint or paint with acrylic paint using a brush. For different stones, use different shades of green. After the first layer of paint has dried, you can apply the next layer of a different shade. Or you can forget about realism and paint cacti in all the colors of the rainbow.

Step 3. Paint the needles with light shades using a thin brush, marker or regular white corrector. Needles can be depicted as crosses, stripes or dots. If you wish, you can make cacti so realistic that from a distance of half a meter it will be difficult to distinguish them from real ones. But, in my opinion, the beauty of such cacti made of stones lies precisely in their sketchiness and deliberate negligence.

Step 4. Cacti can be with cacti, paint very small stones and glue them with super glue to a large stone. Artificial flowers or plastic, paper or fabric can turn your stone florarium into a blooming garden.

Step 5. Plant the finished stone cacti in flower pots filled with sand, soil or fine gravel. There is no need to water, but sometimes you will have to brush off the dust.

Based on materials from the site - work with natural stone in the interior, mosaics, panels, marble tiles and interior items.

Usually when relaxing at the sea, many people collect pebbles from the coast. Of course, they are so smooth and pleasant to the touch, they just beg to be picked up) and then... sea trophies, including stones, gather dust in the closet at home for many years. If you have the same story, then hurry up to get all the stones and, using the master class on painting on stones, make stylish decorations for the interior of your home.

In addition, painting stones with acrylic paints is also a fun activity for children! After all, the stones themselves are a unique material, with bizarre shapes and different sizes, thanks to which you can do a lot of different unique things with them.

Krestik already has a large review article about painted stones, which includes advice from professional artists, an overview of all the necessary materials, and also describes the process of painting stones.

In addition to everything that has been said, we invite you to watch a master class that will help novice artists make a real cactus from ordinary pebbles! It will look like the real thing, but at the same time, this stone miracle will not need to be looked after at all. And such a cactus can also become an original handmade gift.

Prepare the following materials:

• smooth stones
• acrylic paint
• stone chips
• any suitable flower pot
• brushes of different thicknesses

Painting the stones will take about 1.5 hours.

Including stones, they are increasingly used as a material for home decoration. Stone objects have become a whole trend in interior design. Stunning paintings are created from stones, pieces of furniture, and figurines for the home or garden are cut out. However, to work with stone professionally, you need special tools and a set of professional skills and abilities.

We will make a small home decoration that even... This is a potted cactus that you will never need to water. This is a cactus made of stones.

To make this craft we will need:

• Flat stones
• Paints
• Flower pot
• Sand

Where to start a craft?

We take flat stones. You can make a craft from, but flat stones look much better. You can glue a smaller pebble to the main stone, then the composition will resemble a cactus trunk with a branch. Paint the stones with green paint. You can paint the stones in different shades of green, and make one of the stones red-brown, so the craft will look more natural.

We wait until the paint dries.

Using white paint, we apply a pattern on the stones that is characteristic of cactus spines - dots, ticks, stripes, snowflakes. Cactus spines grow in an unusual way, so you can experiment with different patterns. You can glue paper “spines” to the pebbles. Then the craft will acquire additional volume.

We paint the pot itself with white paint. There is no need to paint over it entirely. Apply just a few strokes. The effect of antiquity and slight negligence are very relevant now.

All that remains is to assemble the entire composition. Pour sand into the pot. We insert stones into the sand, trying to arrange them in the most picturesque way.

The pot is carelessly painted with white paint. Each cactus is unique.

And be prepared for your guests to admire your cactus, mistaking it for a living plant!