How To Make a Cigar Box Planter: Step by Step Instructions

Do-Something-Everyday, May 25,  2016

This is the last of a series of posts called Succulent Love. These are posts showcasing my succulents collection  in interesting planters along with small paintings of succulents that I did. You can find previous posts here, here, and here. The one below is planted in a cigar box with a painting of the plant on the inside lid. 

Cigar boxes are one of my favorite planters for succulents. I use them in their natural state which gives a rustic look to the arrangement. Creating a planter out of a cigar box is not at all complicated. The materials needed are easily available and the time it takes to do is no more than 30 minutes. Here is how to do it:

A. What you need:

1. An empty cigar box ( you can buy one for five dollars or less from a cigar shop)

2. A fairly large size succulent (appropriate to the size of the box)

3. Small pebbles for layering

4. Potting soil

5. Plastic liner ( I used a grocery bag)

6. Moss (Spanish or sphagnum)

B. Instructions:

1. Line the box with a a small plastic grocery bag and add an inch of pebble rocks over the liner. The liner will protect the box from the moisture from the soil. The rocks provide drainage.

 2. Add a layer of potting soil and plant the succulent in the soil. Make sure there is enough soil to cover the roots around the plant and on top. 

 3. Trim the plastic liner around the edges and add a layer of moss on top ( I used Spanish).

4. This step is optional. I added feet to the box so that it will not sit flat on the ground. I used small wood round disks (available in the wood craft section of any craft store) and attached one to each bottom corner using wood glue. Because I can, I painted  a succulent on the inside lid.

Thanks for visiting.

DIY: Mini Glass Planters for Mini Succulents

Do-Something-Everyday, May 13, 2016

 These single-serving jars of condiments came with the breakfast I ordered at the hotel. I did not want throw away the empty jars and brought them home. Other day at the nursery I saw these little succulents and thought these mini jars would make perfect planters for them. I lined each jar with a thin layer of mini pebbles and removed some of the excess soil from the root so that it would go into the jar. I set up the lid as a planter tray. Nothing has been wasted. 

Do-Something-Everyday: Succulent Love and Frida Kahlo

Do-Something-Everyday, April 14, 2016

This is the last of a series of posts called Succulent Love. These are posts showcasing my succulents collection  in interesting planters along with small paintings of succulents that I did. You can find previous posts here, here, and here. The one below is planted in a cigar box with a painting of the plant on the inside lid. 

Cigar boxes are one of my favorite planters for succulents. I use in their natural state which gives a rustic look to the arrangement. I added balled feet to the box so that it would not sit flat on the ground and also be proportionate to the height of the plant. First,  I lined the box with a plastic liner (grocery bag), added two layers of small pebbles. Once the plant was put it into the box, I layered the top soil with spanish moss (that was what I had in hand). To add interest, I drew a painting of the succulent on the inside lid with watercolors. So far, I am liking the arrangement!

To cap the week, I am posting photos from Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life exhibition that New York Botanical Gardens did last fall. It was a multi-disciplinary show designed to highlight the artist's

deep connection with her native land's flora and fauna. The centerpiece of the exhibition was the Enid Hauptman Conservatory reimagined as Casa Azul, Frida's Mexican home and garden that was filled with succulents native to Mexico. As is my wont, I went camera happy and clicked away. Enjoy.

Thanks for visiting.

Do-Something-Everyday: Succulent Love, Part C

Do-Something-Everyday, April 13, 2016

This is another cigar box planter with a whole lot of succulents, especially jade plant.  I added balled feet to the box to add a little bit of elevation to the box.

Do-Something-Everyday: Succulent Love, Part 1

Do-Something-Everyday: April 11, 2016

I fell in love with succulents when my daughter gifted us this succulent collection as an anniversary gift. It did not last but since then I have been slowly building my succulent collection. What I  have realized is that I like growing them in interesting containers and that I also liked drawing them. Above is a watercolor sketch of Haworthia,  from the aloe family. The real one is below planted in a recycled wood container upon which I had doodled a zentangled inspired art. I drew a car doodle on the opposite side.

Thanks for visiting. Come again tomorrow for another update on the succulent collection.