Succulents as Decoration: Creative & Beautiful Plant Ideas

Succulents are wonderful for decoration. But which ones go particularly well together and are suitable for beautiful planting ideas? Find out here.

Due to their water-storing property, succulents are not only frugal roommates, but also extremely decorative. Unlike most ornamental and indoor plants, the desert plants hardly make any demands on their location and can easily be planted in many places where most plants would give up. That is why they are especially popular with people who are looking for decorative ornamental plants without a lot of maintenance. In this article, we give you an insight into the many possibilities there are when designing with succulents.

Planting Succulents Correctly: What to Keep in Mind

The transplanting of succulents is not rocket science and runs smoothly for the most. It is important here to choose the right soil: This is crucial for the later maintenance of the plant, as succulents can only express their robust nature in connection with the right substrate. Above all, a coarse-grained and shaping structure is important, which not only gives the plants support, but also offers good drainage. In fact, succulents can cope with drought well, but cannot tolerate waterlogging.

In addition, the soil should also be adapted to the nutritional requirements of the decorative succulents. Special cactus and succulent soils, which are perfectly adapted to the requirements of the exotic plants, are ideal for this purpose. In addition, there are always vessels with enough drainage, but many types of succulents also feel comfortable in closed pots with a correspondingly small amount of water.

The Most Beautiful Planting Ideas for Succulents

There are no limits to creativity when planting succulents and a multitude of variations and arrangements can be put together with different materials. As a suggestion, we present some planting tips.

1. Decoration Ideas for Succulents in a Pot

The most popular way to use succulents as decoration is to plant them in pots. But in addition to the normal plastic and ceramic pots, there are also other ways to arrange the robust plants in a much more decorative way.

Old tin cans as vessels for succulents can be easily painted and give the succulents a rustic touch. Self-made concrete flower pots also creatively stage succulents and go wonderfully with modern architecture.

Larger pots, in which you can plant many small succulent arrangements, look like an elaborate work of art. The succulent decoration can best be realized with small and decorative species such as houseleek (Sempervivum) or Mexican hens and chicks (Echeveria).

Hanging pots are attached to the window or ceiling with simple ribbons or as a macramé, creating a foolproof decoration idea with succulents. Hanging succulents such as the string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) or the Burro’s tail (Sedum morganianum) are particularly suitable for this type of planting.

But it doesn’t always have to be the classic pot: unusual planters can also have their charm in combination with succulents. How about, for example, a pair of old roller skates that are given a second chance as a pot for succulents. Even a broken globe or old kitchen utensils will be an interesting eye-catcher with succulents. Mini succulents can even be planted in eggshells or disused wine glasses.

2. Decoration Ideas for Succulents in Glass Containers

Not only are classic pots popular, but glass containers of different shapes and sizes are increasingly becoming the new trend. In these, the decoration with succulents not only looks particularly stylish and modern, but also puts the plants in the limelight.

3. Succulents as Table Decorations

Whether for special occasions or dinner – the right table decoration should not be missing if you want to have a cozy meal. Of course, succulents are also wonderfully suitable for this purpose.

  • Rustic decorations with natural materials are currently in vogue. This style can be perfectly implemented by combining succulents and wood – for example, you can plant an old wooden beam with succulents or combine the succulents with a wooden disc.
  • Wedding favors? Mini-succulents are a great way to put each guest in the right place by planting the pretty plants individually in small pots and adding a little flag. After the party, the guests can take the succulent plant home with them and have a nice memory of the day.
  • Tea party cake stands are a popular decorative element in many households. So why not combine them with succulents? The planted tiered stands are a modern eye-catcher and transform the succulents into a grandiose table decoration.

Unusual decoration ideas with succulents for the apartment

If you want to put your succulents in the limelight, you have to explore new ways. In addition to flower pots and garden beds, there are many other planting ideas that put succulents in a whole new light.

Wreaths are well-tried as decoration and can be found in many households. If you are looking for a modern version for your home, you will find what you are looking for with the succulent wreath: Soak a sphagnum moss wreath form until well moistened, then simply plant the succulents in it – the succulent
wreath is ready as a modern eye-catcher.

If you have a particularly small amount of space, but still want to drape your succulents nicely, you should try vertical planting. Due to the unusual type of
planting, the succulents quickly become the focal point in the room.

Succulents as table decorations are a beautiful eye-catcher and are now widely used. If you prefer something more individual and unusual, you still don’
have to do without the robust plants: How about a whole succulent table, for example? Here the green roommates find a very special place and at the
same time transform a boring piece of furniture into a unique piece.

4. Succulents as Fridge Magnets

Succulents not only look good in pots or as table decorations. You can also decorate your kitchen with plants: with succulents as fridge magnets, for example. Here you will find three different ways in which you can make decorative magnets for your fridge from succulents.

Fridge magnets with succulents in glass bottles

What you need for this:

  • Mini succulents
  • Cactus and succulent soil
  • Small glass bottles
  • Hot glue
  • Small magnets

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Carefully glue the magnets to the jars with hot glue.
  2. Fill the jar with the cactus soil.
  3. Plant mini succulents in the jars.

Fridge magnets with succulents in corks

As an alternative to the small glass bottles, you can also make fridge magnets with corks. Large champagne corks are particularly suitable for this – this makes DIY easier than with the typical wine corks.

What you need for this:

  • Mini succulents
  • Cactus and succulent soil
  • Cork
  • Knife / screwdriver / pointed tool
  • Hot glue
  • Small magnets

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Use a pointed tool to make a hole in the top of the cork to accommodate the succulents of your choice.
  2. Carefully glue the magnets to the corks with hot glue.
  3. Fill holes with cactus and succulent soil.
  4. Plant mini succulents in the corks.

This is what the end product can look like

Fridge magnets with succulents in cardboard pots

You can also turn your succulents into fridge magnets in cardboard pots. We explain how it works.

What you need for this:

  • Mini succulents
  • Cactus and succulent soil
  • Mini pots made of cardboard
  • Hot glue
  • Small magnets

Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Carefully glue the magnets to the growing pots with hot glue.
  2. Fill the potty with cactus soil.
  3. Plant mini succulents in the pots.

Unusual decoration ideas with succulents for the apartment

If you want to put your succulents in the limelight, you have to explore new ways. In addition to flower pots and garden beds, there are many other planting ideas that put succulents in a whole new light.

Wreaths are well-tried as decoration and can be found in many households. If you are looking for a modern version for your home, you will find what you are looking for with the succulent wreath: Soak a sphagnum moss wreath form until well moistened, then simply plant the succulents in it – the succulent wreath is ready as a modern eye-catcher.

If you have a particularly small amount of space, but still want to drape your succulents nicely, you should try vertical planting. Due to the unusual type of planting, the succulents quickly become the focal point in the room.

Succulents as table decorations are a beautiful eye-catcher and are now widely used. If you prefer something more individual and unusual, you still don’t have to do without the robust plants: How about a whole succulent table, for example? Here the green roommates find a very special place and at the same time transform a boring piece of furniture into a unique piece.

Succulent decoration ideas for the garden

Succulents are not only creative eye-catchers in the home – they can also be astonishing in the garden.

A rock garden with succulents conjures up an almost desert-like atmosphere in the home garden. For this dreamlike succulent decoration, it is worthwhile to create a bed with stones and various succulents in between. Basically all hardy succulent species such as houseleek (Sempervivum) or prickly pear (Opuntia) are suitable for this .

Vertical cultivation of succulents is not only possible in the home: succulent arrangements can also be hung outside as a vertical garden. Small gardens in particular benefit from the space-saving succulent decoration, because it can be used to hide unsightly concrete walls or oppressive privacy fences.

A great decoration with succulents for the garden, but also the apartment, consists in planting old bird cages. These are filled with enough cactus soil and then planted on all sides with various types of succulents. Combinations of small and hanging succulents are particularly interesting, with some larger specimens as accents. Succulents that have been planted in bird cages also have the advantage that they are particularly easy to overwinter: If it is too cold outside for certain types of succulents, simply move the succulent bird cage into a suitable room in the apartment — this eliminates the annoying digging up or repotting of non-hardy succulents in winter.

The succulent decoration in the garden is particularly expressive if you plant it in shapes. Whether as a big heart or in a standing letter pots made of iron wire, shaped succulents always attract everyone’s attention.