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Cacti & Succulents

My first attempt at a dish garden.

14 years ago

My first attempt at a dish garden. Not sure about many of what the plants are in there but they are from my collection. Most are new to me. I recently added stones to complete the look and i like it. What do you guys think? I have been watering it slowly as there are some offshoots in there and did not know about the process of letting them root etc..till after. But they seem to be ok.

{{gwi:654908}}From Succulunt

{{gwi:654909}}From Succulunt

Here is a link that might be useful: A pic

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Comments (5)

plant_junkie
14 years ago
WOW that is awesome!! Looks good. Do all these have the same light and watering requirements?
plant_junkie
tjicken
14 years ago
> Do all these have the same light and watering requirements?

No. I can see a Lithops, two Pleiospilos and something that looks like a monstrose cereoid cactus. All these have different watering needs. Besides, a single head of those Sempervivum would easily outgrow the whole pot in a few years.
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joscience
14 years ago
It does look nice now. Interesting balance of colors and textures. I also like how the Cereus looks like a central mountain or rock.

Like tjicken said, some of these plants aren't really compatible. Left in with those other plants, in what looks like a pretty rich soil, you will definitely kill the Lithops. The Pleiospilos probably won't do so hot either. The rest of the other plants are much more adaptable, so they'll survive, but they will definitely compete to each others detriment. The Semps and Echies will clump and mound all over the place, and the Aloe will quickly fill the pots with roots.

It all boils down to what you really want out of this dish garden. Do you want something that will last a few years without much maintenance? Then you should probably start over. Are you OK losing a few of the plants, and having to do a lot of work to keep it looking good? Then it is fine the way it is. Either way, take some time to read about the basic cultural requirements of the different genere you have so that you can properly tend to there needs.
gmoses
Original Author
14 years ago
thank you, as i am learning more and more as the process goes on. I put it together before i realized that each has very different needs...
Which one is the Pleiospilos? What is teh best care for teh lithop..I really like them but i have lost a couple in the past.
Is there any recommendation to replace the aloe with something of similar size as a good back drop.
I am ok with replanting after a bit it was just my first attempt and was going purely for the look.
But I am definitely interested in reconfiguring it as it grows and switching more appropriate ones.
I want to make one for my sister for a windowsill in a high floor apartment in manhattan..any thoughts. I was thinking a glazed 24 in window pot...any thoughts
I thank you all fo ryour help and knowledge. It is really helpful.
tjicken
14 years ago
Pleiospilos are the two light green, Lithops-like things on the right in picture 1.
Lithops should be kept dry in winter and spring until the old leaves have shriveled, then they grow in summer and flower in early autumn. Pleiospilos rest during summer and are active in autumn, flowers in early spring.

It seems as the soil has a lot of peat in it, both Lithops and Pleiospilos generally do better in coarse mineral soil.

I am not familiar with Aloe. Neither can I advice you on how to make a proper dish, I have never liked these things. As you indicated they are made primarily as a work of art, something I have absolutely no interest in (I grow all my plants in separate pots, of course).

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