d i y - brick succulent planters

i found this cool diy alternative planter project on readymade. i think i might have to try and make these... (great for outdoor dinner hosting, setting the mood, that type of thing :) ) ...

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by christopher & kelly harris;  photos by greg scheidemann

natural and durable, a stash of used bricks provides a wonderful contrast to elegant succulent plants. created by christopher and kelly harris, the display looks great alone or paired with a votive and becomes a star centerpiece in any living space--indoors or out.

 

skill level - moderate
active time - less than an hour
cost -  $

materials

• bricks (preferably used, ‘cause it’s nicer for the world)
• small to medium succulents of your choice
• dirt
• candle and holder (optional; style points only)

tools

• c-clamp
• ½-¾-inch masonry chisel
• steel mallet or hammer
• squirt bottle filled with water
• pencil
• corded drill or drill press (cordless works, but keep your charger nearby)
• carbide-tipped hole cutter, 2-2½ inches, with a mandrel bit (the carbide-tipped cutter blade will be the one that looks like rock candy around the edge, not the typical metal serrated blade you’re used to—those will get too hot and then get too melty.)
• safety goggles

head outside and find a spot that can get a bit messy. use the C-clamp to stabilize one brick. mark the center of your brick with a pencil and then spray the top of the brick with your squirt bottle. (When drilling into masonry, you gotta keep it wet, or else you’ll burn one down. don’t worry, you’ll know it’s burning when it smells like it’s burning.)

don your safety goggles, ‘cause they’re hot in the OSHA kind of way.

position your drill in the center of one side of your brick and start off slow on your mark, trying to keep the drill level. every 20 seconds or so, spritz with water to keep the bit cool. once the outer diameter of the hole cutter contacts the brick, spray a lot more water on, and keep drilling until the loose dusty shavings/water mixture starts to dry out. keep drilling (and drilling), and spraying.

when the base of the hole cutter starts to get close to the brick surface, stop drilling. take the chisel and carefully knock away the interior of the hole. don’t hit too hard or the brick might split, so just knock enough away until the bottom is flat-ish. tap out the loose stuff. spray and drill.

when the drill reaches about ¾ inch from the bottom surface, stop and chisel out the interior again.

repeat with the second hole. when done, spray all of the brick dust/goo off, and put a bit of dirt in the bottom of one or both of the holes, about ¾ inch deep. place a succulent into each hole, and pat more dirt loosely around. after about a week, and then every two weeks or so, spritz with water.

variations:

skip the elbow grease and order bricks via succulentlovedesigns.com.

use blocks of reclaimed wood instead of bricks (but be careful with your candles and perhaps consider going with LED tea lights).

try another low-maintenance and slow-growing plant, such as a cactus.

check out full post HERE.