Easy Succulent Container Gardening Ideas for Beginners

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 1 hr
  • Total Time: 1 hr
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $20 to 40

Growing a succulent container garden is easy and immensely satisfying. Having evolved in some of the world's harshest conditions, succulents are vigorous plants that require very little water. The biggest challenge when learning how to grow succulents is to avoid excessive nurturing. These plants don't do well if they are overwatered or overfed. This makes them perfect for the gardener who doesn't have a lot of time to spend on tending plants.

succulent container garden overhead shot

The Spruce

Before Getting Started

Planting and maintaining a succulent container garden is easy. The key is to select the right container, soil, and plants.

  • Choosing containers: Succulent roots can thrive in a shallow container. Ensure that the container has drainage holes. If the container doesn't have drainage holes, drill some holes at the bottom. Standing water can kill a succulent.
  • Using the right kind of soil: You can use any potting mix designed for succulents. Look for words such as "cactus mix" or "succulent mix" on the packaging. You can also make your own succulent potting mix. Blend equal parts regular potting soil, coarse sand, and perlite or pumice for an ideal mix.
  • Selecting plants: When choosing your plants, be aware they might have varying light and care requirements. Check the plant tags for specific requirements to group succulents with similar needs in your container.

Some succulent species will remain fairly healthy even if you don't provide the optimal growing conditions they prefer. And other species are very sensitive to their conditions. It's important to do your research before settling on species for your container. Make sure they all will thrive with the light conditions, temperatures, and level of care you can provide. 

For instance, some succulents are hardy while others are tender. The hardy succulents can withstand cooler temperatures while the tender succulents will quickly succumb to cold weather. If you select tender succulents, bring them indoors when outdoor conditions are too cold. And they also must be protected from drafts and air conditioners. 

Some notoriously easy-to-grow succulents include aloe (Aloe spp.), jade (Crassula ovata), zebra cactus (Haworthia spp.), and hens and chicks (Sempervivum tectorum). Some trickier succulents to grow include living stones (Lithops spp.), string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus), and donkey's tail (Sedum morganianum). 

a black and a white pot with succulents
The Spruce

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Scissors
  • Soft-bristle brush (optional)

Materials

  • Container with drainage holes
  • Plastic window screening or landscape fabric
  • Succulent plants
  • Cactus or succulent potting mix
  • Decorative stones, gravel, glass, or marbles (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cover the Drainage Holes

    Cut a piece of plastic window screening big enough to cover the container drainage holes. This will keep your soil in the container while letting excess water escape. Alternatively, you can use a piece of landscape fabric or a commercial pot screen to cover the holes.

    putting a screen over the succulent container hole
    The Spruce
  2. Add the Potting Mix

    Cover the bottom of the container with enough potting mix so that when the plants are in place, the soil line will remain about 1/2 inch below the rim of the container. This will make it easier to water the plants without overflowing the sides of the container.

    adding soil to the container
    The Spruce
  3. Test Fit the Plants

    Place your plants, still in their nursery pots, into the container to get a general idea of spacing. Move the plants until you are satisfied with the arrangement.

    arranging the succulent container garden
    The Spruce
  4. Plant the Container

    Take the succulents out of their nursery pots and place them back into your container one by one. Then, gently pack additional potting soil around each plant. Keep the soil at the same level at which the plants were growing in their nursery pots. Make sure that you have filled in all spaces between the plants. If you leave air gaps, the roots might dry out and kill the plants.

    Tip

    The soil in the nursery pots might be coarse and loose, so be careful when removing the plants. Hold each succulent gently at the top with the stem between two fingers. Turn the pot on its side, and gently tap the bottom to ease out the plant.

    planting succulents
    The Spruce
  5. Avoid Overcrowding

    It's important to take into consideration the mature size of your succulents when spacing plants in your container. Plants in an overcrowded container will likely grow more slowly than normal. And they might not be as healthy because there will be more competition for moisture and nutrients.

    In addition, air circulation will be poor in a crowded container, and light won't be able to reach all parts of every plant. This can lead to mold growth and other fungal issues because some areas of the container might become too dark with conditions in which fungi thrive.

    overhead shot of hands holding a succulent container
    The Spruce
  6. Add the Finishing Touches

    Gently remove any soil that is covering the leaves and stems of the plants. You can do this with a soft-bristle brush or even by gently blowing on the plants. To give your container a finished look, one option is to cover the surface of the potting soil with a top dressing of coarse material, such as stones, gravel, glass, or marbles. The top dressing material can be brightly colored or neutral, depending on the look you want to achieve.

    brushing off excess dirt from succulents
    The Spruce

Tips for Growing a Succulent Container Garden

To grow healthy succulents, mimic the conditions they would experience in their native environments. During spring and summer—the growing season for most succulents—keep the soil moist but not wet. It's better to let the soil become slightly dry between watering than it is to overwater. During winter, when succulent plants are normally dormant, water less frequently. Keep the soil on the dry side, but don't let it dry out completely.

Fertilization should be fairly minimal with succulent plants, and it might not be necessary at all. This depends largely on the type of succulent you are growing. If feeding is called for, do so only during the active growing season using a diluted liquid fertilizer designed for succulents.

Although virtually all succulents do well in hot, dry conditions, that doesn't mean they thrive in direct sun all day. Many succulents do best when they are in direct sun for only a few hours a day, and they might need protection from being scorched in the strong mid-day sun. If your succulents came from a nursery where they didn't get much sun, it's best to gradually expose them to increasingly longer periods of direct sunlight.

Pruning and Repotting

In general, succulents are slow growers. But eventually, your succulent container will begin to look crowded and untidy. That's when you need to prune and repot.

Always be on the lookout for lower leaves of your succulents that have naturally dried up and died. Remove these leaves by gently twisting them off the stem to prevent them from littering the soil and causing it to retain excess moisture.  

Succulents that have become too tall or leggy require a more severe pruning: chopping off the terminal head. This practice is also known as beheading. The best time to do this for most succulents is in the spring when they are coming out of dormancy. Snip off the top portion of your succulent, leaving at least 1 or 2 inches of stem that can be planted once you remove the leaves. The remaining bottom portion of the plant will continue to grow, so you can leave it in place if you'd like.

Furthermore, if the succulents in your container have grown too big but they're not suitable for pruning, you can gently dig them up and repot the succulents into a larger container. Follow the same method you did when initially planting your container and jostle the succulent leaves and roots as little as possible.

FAQ
  • Do succulents do well in containers?

    Succulents can thrive in containers thanks to their generally compact size and hardiness. But they must have a container with drainage holes, as well as well-draining soil.

  • What kind of container is best for succulents?

    Unglazed clay is an optimal material for potting succulents. The walls will allow excess soil moisture to evaporate through them. The container also should have sufficient drainage holes. 

  • Do succulents prefer shallow or deep pots?

    Most succulents don’t need a deep pot, but be sure to check the individual growing requirements and mature size of your succulent species. A pot that is too deep can lead to soggy soil and root rot.