There are plants that

Cacti in the interior

12:00 06 May 2016

There are plants that can beautify our lives without requiring much time and trouble in return. These are cacti - thorny desert inhabitants. They are the most unpretentious of all indoor plants, moreover, they are perfect for interior decoration.

The cactus has a very expressive silhouette, so it will be appropriate in almost any room. In a spacious room, for example, a large, overgrown cactus that looks like a tree will look good. It can be placed in a tall clay flowerpot in the very corner of the room, it will give your interior an exotic touch and serve as a symbolic space divider. It is better to place small cacti in a cramped room, they will create a certain atmosphere in the interior and help to visually hide some flaws. Perfect solution: Combine small cacti into groups and place them on the coffee table, on the shelves of the bookcase, on the steps of the stairs.

Any glass container can serve as a pot for cacti. For greater decorativeness in a glass pot, the soil can be alternated with light pebbles or decorative colored stones.

Since cacti don't need a lot of soil, you can skip the standard flower pots in favor of the original, and sometimes do without them altogether, replacing them with seemingly completely inappropriate objects for these purposes. Cacti in unusual pots different colors and forms will become a bright accent in any interior.

Compositions of several cacti that match in shape or shade look quite impressive. When composing such compositions, taller specimens or cacti with a darker silhouette can be placed in the background. A collection of small mini cacti can be placed in wide flowerpots. Unlike the standard composition, the collection will be able to emphasize the individuality and beauty of each plant.

By the way, cacti go well with other indoor plants. Therefore, creating an interior composition of several cacti on a table or on a windowsill, you can supplement it with other plants - without thorns. In this case, of course, it is worth considering their needs and the peculiarities of caring for them.

Cacti do well in mini glass greenhouses, where you can maintain their optimal temperature. In addition, in such greenhouses, cacti look very original. Especially if you cover a composition of several small cacti with a glass cover. And if you also make a backlight under the glass, then in evening time such a composition will be the focus of the entire interior.

With the help of cacti, you can also create a colorful mini Zen garden in the interior. For this upper layer the soil must be covered with fine sand and, with the help of any stick, draw geometric patterns on the sand. This composition with mesmerizing figures in the sand is perfect for combating stress and will help you relax after hard day... You can watch a master class on creating a miniature Zen garden with your own hands.

Caring for cacti at home

Despite the fact that cacti are quite unpretentious plants, it is important to follow certain rules of care so that they please us and decorate our interior as long as possible.

• In the summer season, you can water the cacti as needed, and even less often in the winter. Some cacti can be watered once a month. The main thing is to smoothly change the irrigation regimes (switch from winter to summer, and vice versa).
• During the growth period, cacti prefer a moderate temperature. It is better to keep them at rest in a cool room (15-18 ° C).
• The soil for the cactus should be crumbly and breathable. Ground mixed with sand works well. You can also purchase a ready-made substrate that will ensure good growth of cacti.
• Caring for cacti requires feeding the plants with a special fertilizer for succulents or a complex fertilizer for indoor plants.
• Cacti are propagated in spring or autumn by rooting cuttings. Before planting, the cuttings are dried for several days.
• You can replant young cacti once a year, and older ones - as needed. Moreover, cacti do not need spacious pots.
• For cacti to bloom at home, you must choose certain varieties. For example, Rebutia and Mammillaria bloom easily at the age of 2-3 years. For flowering, cacti need, first of all, a cold and dry wintering, and in summer, good watering and maintenance fresh air.

There are a lot of interior decoration options. One of the rather unusual and gaining popularity is the composition of several plants. Cacti and other succulents remain a favorite in this type of "creativity" due to some of their qualities.

• First, easy maintenance. They don't require permanent transplant, watering and attention, therefore creating interesting composition, all that remains for the author to do is to enjoy the beauty and receive rave reviews.
• Secondly, slow growth, which allows you to keep the result of laborious work for a long time.

Succulents are a vast association of plants that includes different kinds and families. They all have one thing in common - they accumulate moisture in their leaves or trunks in the form of juice. Most often used for compositions:

• Cactus, which have many subspecies, but not all of them are suitable for creating a mini - garden;
• scarlet;
• lithops - most often they combine several types of these flowers in one pot, avoiding the use of other cacti and succulents, since the care for them is somewhat different.

If we talk about the most popular in this type of gardening more specifically, we can highlight:

• Echeveria;
• stonecrop;
• aeoniums;
• rejuvenated.

This choice is based on their unusual beauty and ease of maintenance.

How to correctly compose a composition with your own hands?

Choosing the right pot

When choosing dishes for creating such an interior decoration, you should adhere to some features. The requirement for a pot, as a place for growing these flowers, is the obligatory presence of holes in its bottom. This will allow excess moisture to drain off after watering. All other selection parameters depend on the imagination of the grower. The material for the pallet can be anything - plastic, stone and others. When choosing its color, preference is given to neutral and natural shades so as not to distract attention from the composition itself.

The peculiarity of succulents is that they root system – small size... This allows the use of low pots and pallets for planting, which look very organic in the decor. The height of the pallet should be approximately 1/3 of the height of the entire garden composition.

Preparing the substrate for the cactus

In their natural environment, succulents grow on sand, sometimes with an admixture of rubble, and even in rock crevices.

Therefore, the main requirement for the soil at home is loose, good air and water permeability, there must be a drainage layer at the bottom.

The main components are leaf, sod or greenhouse soils, to which sand, gravel and charcoal must be added. It should be borne in mind that members of different families may require any additional additives.

Preparing the foreground of the composition

The foreground should not obscure the background, therefore, undersized cacti and succulents are located here. At the border of the pot, you can plant species that will hang effectively over its edge.

Background preparation

Most often they use a technique that helps create a sense of perspective in a small confined space. To do this, objects are placed in the background that are larger than the rest or grow faster. To do this, you can use a tree-like crassula or a slipway. Also there are often placed any decorative elements, for example, a figured karyag or a branch, put turrets or figurines, create an artificial slide or mini - rock.

Planting

Planting succulents with your own hands is not difficult. Drainage is poured into the selected pot at the bottom, which is covered with a small amount charcoal. Prepared soil is poured next.

The top layer is sprayed with water. A plant is planted in a chosen place, having previously divided its roots. They do the same with all other elements of the composition. The surface is leveled and sprinkled with pebbles, powder or shells.

Basic principles of creating a composition

In order for the composition to be a complete picture, it is necessary to follow some rules.

Decorative powder

The powder will help not only to complement the decorative "landscape" with original details, but also perform a completely practical function.

Due to the fact that most often the pallets and pots for them are used small in size and are placed in sunlight, the roots can overheat. Additional coating in this case will save the plants from stretching and pallor.

Compatible cacti and succulents

First of all, we are talking about representatives who are very similar in terms of caring for them. This will greatly facilitate the task of preserving the created mini - garden. The most hardy are echinopsis, mammillaria. They can coexist with almost all species and survive many cataclysms.

Correct pot

For a mini garden with succulents, you can use your wild imagination to its fullest. Indeed, sometimes unimaginable objects are used as a pallet. Small plants look great in the most bizarre aquariums, in very small bowls and plates, and even in shells.

At the moment, these plants have been adopted by gardeners and landscape designers for vertical gardening.

Accents

So that the composition does not look overloaded, the emphasis is put on only one object or the whole view. All the rest should not be too conspicuous, but only complement and shade.

Composition composed mainly of echemeria succulents in hanging pot Using cacti with money tree Composition composed mainly of cacti Mostly green succulents in a beautiful pot Lithops in a pot Cactus composition with stones Various succulents in a pot Unusual composition of various succulents

How to care for plants?

Since these flowers naturally grow in dry and hot climates on rocky and scarce soils, they need optimal care that resembles natural conditions. One of their main needs is a lot of sunlight. But depending on the family, plants have a different attitude to direct sunlight. Some of them, for example, cactus or agave, prefer to be in the scorching sun. And for others, direct rays can cause burns.

Caring for them in winter and summer period significantly different.

IN winter period they hibernate slightly and do not require frequent watering. sunlight they need it, and since in our country there is much less of it in winter, you need to leave the pot near the window itself. It is better to maintain the temperature within 10-16 degrees and water no more than 1 time in 10 days, or even less.

In the spring, watering is increased, flowers feel better in the fresh air or at least on the balcony. If the composition is created and looks perfect on the coffee table, then you can leave it there for a period of no more than a month. Then you should return the plants to the windowsill in bright sunlight.

For feeding succulents, fertilizers are used that contain phosphorus, potassium or complexes: superphosphates, ammophos, etc.

Conclusion

If you want to create an unusual and beautiful decorative element using living plants, first of all, you should pay attention to the plants related to succulents and cacti. Due to the variety of options for their use in horizontal and vertical gardening they will help create an unforgettable "living" corner.

If there are several varieties of cacti in the house, and they are all planted in different pots, then it's time to plant them together. Cactus gardens look very impressive, easy to make, easy to care for. How to make them and what is needed for this, read below.

Size matters: determine the size of the composition

First of all, you need to decide on the size of the composition: it will be a simple small cactus or garden in a cup, glass, bowl, or a large composition in an aquarium, bowl, large wide flowerpot. See if there is enough space on the windowsill or shelf, near the window, for a future masterpiece. Take into account the illumination - it should be sufficient, not scarce. In small pots, accordingly, it is necessary to plant cacti that do not grow quickly or do not grow large.

Mini garden in the aquarium Mini cactus garden in a cup

Selection of cacti

Before proceeding with the grouping of thorny plants, you need to find out if they fit together, or if their cohabitation is undesirable. For example, Cereus grows quickly and grows large - it is not suitable for small mini-gardens. And mammillaria and echinocactus do not like temperatures below +15, therefore, it is better not to combine them with cold-resistant cacti. In more detail, the features and preferences of the most common types of cacti can be read

Preparing soil for a mini-garden

When the choice is made, you need to take care of the soil mixture for the cacti. There are two ways to go:

1. Buy from store ready mix for cacti. Prepare yourself only a drainage layer of gravel, small stones, broken brick or foam (which you can find).

Now all that remains is to prepare decorative trinkets.

Selection of decorative accessories for a mini cactus garden

The most unexpected items that can fit in size can act as a decor. You can come up with a thematic composition (sea, desert, rural courtyard and others) or simply arrange it according to your wishes and mood. Here are some accessories that you can apply:

• toy household equipment: shovels, rakes, buckets, watering cans;
• stones of different types and sizes;
• marine attributes;
• beads of different sizes;
• sand of different colors;
• small figurines of animals, insects, men, gnomes.

And much more, because human fantasy has no boundaries.

Making an indoor cactus garden

Planting a cactus garden is as follows:

• Pour a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot, not forgetting to make holes in the pot itself.
• Pour a small amount of soil mixture into a pot.
• Place cacti in a pot for reference and adjustments.

• Choose the most good option placement.
• Plant one at a time, cacti in a flowerpot.
• Fill with soil mixture, and put pebbles or sand on top.
• Decorate at your discretion and taste.
• Watering cacti on the day of planting is not worth it.

Well, the composition is ready to be admired and grown on the windowsill.

Having created a mini-garden of cacti with your own hands, you can get a lot of pleasant emotions from the very process of planting and decoration. And the originality and beauty of the composition will delight the eyes for many years.

• Indoor mini-gardens: photos, varieties, selection ...

Gone are the days when phytodesigners acted according to the principle "each plant has its own pot". Nowadays they approach the design of indoor plants more creatively and closer to nature - they create compositions from them that imitate a piece of nature. Indeed, in fact, you are unlikely to meet a single plant in the wild. They always grow in groups. So why not do it in your home too. For large halls and offices from large plants they create compositions in large flower girls, and for apartments and small rooms they make miniature compositions in bowls that can be used to decorate coffee table, a mantelpiece, or even put on your desktop.

It is not difficult to make such a composition. You just need to observe a few simple rules and then your work will delight you for a long time.

1. The composition in a bowl is not durable. No matter how you cut the plants growing in them, sooner or later, they become too large and they will have to be transplanted into another container, and another plant should be planted in their place;
2. Usually a bowl is used to compose the composition - a low, flat container with a drainage hole. The use of a container without a drain hole is permissible only if the composition is composed of cacti or other succulent plants that require a minimum of watering. If there is no hole, excess water from watering it will accumulate at the bottom of the container and sooner or later will lead to root rot. Therefore, no matter how beautiful the container is, if there is no hole in it and it is impossible to make it, it is better to look for something else for the composition;
3. In order for the composition to retain its attractive appearance for a long time and its constituent plants to feel normal, it is necessary for it to select plants with the same or similar requirements for. For example, if you plant a cactus in the same container, then either the cactus will rot from excessive watering, or the fern will disappear from the excessive dryness of the soil. But if you make a composition from some cacti (and they are very diverse in shape) or from cacti and succulents (, haworthia, etc.) that require the same care, the plants can exist together for a long time. It is also worth considering the requirements for the soil of the plants. Cannot be combined in one pot, Sambuc jasmine, preferring acidic soils s living on alkaline soils. For the composition, it is necessary to select plants growing on similar soils;
4. If, nevertheless, there is a need to combine plants with different care requirements in one container, they should not be planted together, but should be dripped directly into the pot so that excess moisture cannot get to their roots. In the example of palm, fern and cactus, it is the cactus that should be buried in the ground along with the pot;
5. Only beautiful ones should be used for composition, healthy plants... The simplest and most readily available material for them is the so-called mixes - Dutch sets of medium-sized plants, 15 pieces per box, which are often sold in flower shops. We have these plants from such sets are often sold inexpensively at retail. Among them, you can easily choose those that are suitable for your composition.

How to select and arrange plants

When composing a composition, it is necessary to choose a plant - a soloist. The largest and most interesting plant in texture, which is planted in the center or, most often, slightly shifts from the center to the edge of the container. Around it, shorter plants should be planted and, closer to the edge, ground cover or ampelous plants, which will cover the free soil and additionally decorate the composition, hanging from the edge of the bowl.

In order to less injure the plants, it is better, without removing them from the pots, to carefully place them in a bowl, picking up the best option landing. And only when you decide on where which plant should be located, you can start planting itself.

Landing

Pour a layer on the bottom of the bowl. If the pot does not have a drainage hole, the layer of expanded clay should be larger. We put a small layer of sand on the expanded clay and only then a layer of soil. Tamp it slightly. After that, we take out the plants from the pots and carefully place them in their places. We carefully look at our composition. After you have made sure that all the plants are placed correctly, the gaps between them are covered with earth. The earth is lightly compacted and spilled with water. After that, the surface of the soil can be decorated - sprinkled decorative sand, with stone chips, cover with a layer of dry or live moss.

As a decorative element, you can use natural stones or colored glass floristic pebbles, pieces of dry wood, bark, twigs or miniature figurines.

But you shouldn't get carried away with the decor, because the plants placed in a bowl by a group imitate the natural environment. A large amount of decor is usually allowed when creating short-lived compositions, for example, from flowering bulbous ones.

Compositions of cacti and succulents

Highly beautiful compositions can be made from cacti and succulents. They grow slowly, so the composition can stand unchanged for much longer than that made from ordinary plants. Plus, it doesn't require frequent watering. But these plants also have their own characteristics - they need brighter lighting, because if it is not enough, the plants grow quickly, losing their beautiful shape.

Compositions of cacti

Compositions from some cacti are even more durable. They can even be planted in transparent containers, covered with decorative sand in layers so as to create the effect of a layered soil. Only in this case, the cactus needs to preserve the clod of earth in which it is planted, and fill it decorative ground only the gaps between the cacti and the sides of the bowl.

Watering such compositions should be very careful, as over-watering water can spoil the beautiful layers of colored sand.

The surface of the composition is usually covered with decorative sand and stone chips. Nice decoration shells and small pebbles imitating a desert landscape can serve.

Compositions from plants in decorative hydrogel

The hydrogel is sold at almost any flower shop. It can be painted in almost any color. And, due to its special properties, it can replace the soil for plants for some time. The gel is translucent, through which the roots of plants are visible, which gives the composition a special charm. But the roots must be completely washed from the soil.

Most often, compositions are made in a gel from bulbous plants, whose life time is only 2-3 weeks - exactly as long as flowering lasts.

Compositions imitating the landscape

Now it is very fashionable to make compositions that imitate some kind of landscape in general or a specific area in particular - for example, a small courtyard of your country house or a favorite corner of your summer house. Plants are selected, decorative elements are made - benches, tables, pergolas, fences - miniature copies of what is in your favorite corner. The planting technology is the same as in all cases - a layer of expanded clay is poured, a layer of soil on it, then the plants are planted.

Such imitation compositions are most often created in wider bowls of succulent plants. Cool winter evenings they will remind you of the summer spent in your country house.

Houseplants and flowers are often used as interior elements in apartments and houses. Indoor plants perform not only a decorative function, but also create a favorable indoor microclimate.

Headaches, fatigue and lack of concentration are the result of a poor indoor climate. Dragon tree, green lily and rubber tree - best plantsthat purify the indoor air and improve our well-being. But most often indoor plants are still used as decoration, and in a separate group succulents stand out here.

Floriana with succulents

If you want to diversify your apartment or house with something unusual, succulents will become perfect solution... They perfectly complement any interior and require virtually no watering. In their leaves, they accumulate enough moisture in the form of juice, making them very, very unpretentious.

You can create your own arrangement of succulents by placing them in any container - from a wide bowl to an aquarium. For instance, glass pots for succulents, they will perfectly protect plants from dust.

Succulents in glass - decorating ideas using plants

Glass containers are best suited for succulents

DIY succulent compositions can become great decoration for home or a lovely gift. They will perfectly refresh the environment. You can also build your own container for a room composition. Do not forget about the obligatory drainage layer.

A practical idea for decorating an apartment with the addition of pebbles

This option is also possible - hang the compositions around your apartment and surprise the guests

Creative design you can do yourself

Wonderful arrangement of succulents

Add some small detail to your composition, and it will sparkle with new colors.

Succulents are great for table decoration

This is why succulents are a great option. indoor plant... They can be placed in a wide variety of containers and are the perfect decoration for any room. You won't have any restrictions! You can create compositions from just about anything.

Stylish decoration for your living room

Combine different containers and create a unique composition

Add a couple of small toys to your florarium, your child will love it

The idea for creating compositions from succulents in jars for bulk products

Succulents will look great on your balcony

Option with a decorative vase

Combine multiple compositions in one room

Ideas for creating your own succulent composition

Great combination - gravel and succulents

Let your imagination run free!

White decorative stones will perfectly highlight your succulents

Freshen up your apartment with small balloons with flowers

Combine succulents of different colors in one composition

Creativity in creating a colored florarium

Succulents as indoor solutions - an ideal option that does not require constant maintenance

Stylish decor for your home outside

Photo of compositions from succulents

Old dishes are also great for compositions.

Practical ideas for decorating with succulents

At first glance, the creation of a florarium may seem very difficult. But this is not the case!

If you are new to this business, start with large flowers... Try grouping them together in a ceramic pot. Do not forget to dilute them with succulents of other flowers. Place a few small pots on your table - it already looks great! Plants will definitely add that green touch that is sometimes lacking!

Add more color to your composition

Remember that succulents thrive in absolutely any container. Feel free to pick up small vases, glass pots, or even porcelain.

Great option for placing succulents in a stone container

Clay pots are another popular way to place succulents.

A true masterpiece created in glassware

You probably know that the pumpkin is a symbol of autumn and Halloween. How about a mix of pumpkin and succulent plants in your room? You will get a delightful result that will not leave anyone indifferent. Take out the middle of the pumpkin and place the succulents there, first placing them in small plastic containers... Seeing this combination, your friends will definitely envy you and want this to go home.

We want to give you some more tips. It's about artificial wreaths that will decorate your front door... Succulents with thick leaves are not afraid of cold and wind and will delight you. Connect your imagination and create something unique!

DIY succulent wreath is a real work of art

Something to admire every day

Arrangement of succulents will make the dining table elegant and stylish

How do you like this unusual option - placing indoor succulents in an old snag?

Old tree stumps and driftwood - perfect setting for succulent compositions

Miniature succulent gardens are a very common option.

You can also grow succulents in wooden boxes or concrete containers

Advice: if you plan to place your composition in a wooden container, soak it in soapy water to get rid of any insects in the wood

An example of compositions of succulents in small wooden boxes