Flip a birdcage into a dangling basket planter with a couple of easy modifications and the addition of attractive vegetation. Succulents are excellent for a venture like this as a result of they’re drought tolerant and have a lot selection of their shapes, sizes, and rising habits.
Make it!
First search for a birdcage that opens from the highest so that you’ve got quick access to the within of the cage. Some birdcages that merely have a small door on the entrance are lovely and ornamental however not practical to show into a dangling planter.
The bottom of the planter can be a coconut coir hanging basket liner. These are available many alternative sizes so search for one that matches the within of your birdcage. If it’s a bit massive then you should use scissors to trim it so it creates a strong nest on the within of the cage.
After getting your nest of coconut coir, fill it with a layer of cactus and succulent soil, a soil mix specifically formulated to make sure that it has the proper drainage and properties for rising cacti and succulents.
Now could be the time to get artistic! Similar to any container design, you wish to search for vegetation that can comply with the principles of “thriller, filler, and spiller.”
The thrillers are the attractive Echeveria “Black Prince”* and Aeonium “Pinwheel”* and “Zwartkop”* that come out of the door and sides of the birdcage. The filler plant is Crassula “Campfire”* that I set contained in the basket. The spiller is Sedum spurium “Elizabeth” planted within the backside of the cage draping down over the edges. This selection will flip a superb purple when the climate will get colder. I added a couple of extra ornamental succulents within the middle for extra colour: Sedum “Coppertone”* added a brilliant pop of orange. I additionally added Sedum “Frosty Morn” and Echeveria “Painted Echeveria”* to fill within the area and maintain the roots of the opposite succulents in place.
*A giant thanks to Confirmed Winners for offering these vegetation for this venture!
To make the planter, begin by tucking the draping sedum roots within the soil and pulling the foliage by means of the cage’s holes. Subsequent, add the filler within the middle of the planter and place a bit extra soil round it. Plant the ornamental thriller succulents by means of the door and the gaps within the sides of the birdcage. It’s a bit difficult so as to add them in, however you should use floral pins to carry them in place till they settle in.
When your design is accomplished, give it a radical watering to make sure that the roots adapt to their new dwelling. After it’s established, await the soil to turn into largely dry, then water completely by soaking the underside of the birdcage into a couple of inches of water and permitting it to take a seat for one hour to soak up. Take away from the water and let drain for half-hour earlier than hanging again up in order that it doesn’t turn into too heavy for the department it’s suspended from.
Pin it!
As with hanging baskets, a birdcage planter will are inclined to dry out shortly, particularly in scorching summer season months. Fortunately, succulents are drought tolerant and may deal with a little bit of that. For extra tips about the way to look after succulents please see this submit:
Love birdcages within the backyard? Right here is one other venture for you!
