7 Succulent Garden Design Steps (Before You Accidentally Love Them to Death)

6. The Planting Process Without Damaging Fragile Roots

I remember being so incredibly impatient with a gorgeous new Echeveria once that I literally yanked it by the stem straight out of its plastic nursery pot. Half the fragile root system snapped off in the dirt, and the poor thing spent the next six months just trying to recover instead of growing any beautiful new leaves.

Unpotting Your Plants with Gentle Care

Instead of pulling from the top, you want to gently squeeze the sides of the flexible nursery pot to loosen the soil first.

Turn the pot completely upside down while supporting the base of the plant with your fingers, letting it slide out naturally into your hand.

If the roots are tightly bound, use these helpful repotting tips: gently tickle the bottom of the root ball to loosen things up before placing it into your fresh gritty mix.

Tuck Them In Without Smothering the Leaves

When you set your plants into the succulent arrangement, make sure the lowest leaves sit just slightly above the soil line.

If you bury the bottom foliage under the dirt, those leaves will quickly absorb too much dampness and rot away into a slimy mess.

Give the container a few gentle taps on the table to help the soil settle naturally around the root systems without pressing down too hard with your thumbs.

Once your beautiful new creation is officially tucked into its bed, we have to tackle the absolute hardest part of being a plant parent: holding back on the water hose. Hit that next button below because I’m teaching you my ultimate “tough love” watering routine that keeps these beauties incredibly happy.