Easy DIY project is great for gift-giving—or keeping!
This simple project proves gardeners will always find a way to get their hands in the soil. It’s a garden in a teacup, and all you need for a workspace is your kitchen counter. You can have an assortment of cups and gardens in less than an hour. It’s a fun project—minus the drilling—to do with children for a special Mother’s Day gift. Check the local thrift or antique store for vintage teacups and saucers. Buy an assortment for an eclectic look. First, put on goggles, a dust mask and garden gloves. Turn the cup upside down on a sturdy surface and start by drilling a hole for drainage in the bottom of the cup. I used a 5/16-inch glass and tile bit. You can also use a diamond-tipped bit. Drill gently but firmly. Stop once you feel the bit begin to break through the bottom. Turn the cup right-side up and continue drilling. Repeat until you break through again. Fill partway with soil mix. Most experts recommend a cactus/succulent soil mix, because it drains well. Add plants and then finish adding more soil. Place a few pebbles on top of the soil to help keep the soil in place. Water gently. It will take a few days for the plants to settle in and look as though they belong in the cup. Succulents are easy plants to use because they don’t demand a lot of water. Most succulents multiply easily, so you’ll likely have more plants either to make more teacup gardens for gifts or to plant outside. African violets also work. Choose one as the focal point, one that trails and perhaps one with a more vertical growth habit.
Pat Rubin cbmagazine@californiabountiful.com
MORE ONLINE In Pat Rubin’s “Scents of the Season” feature on
californiabountiful.com, she suggests adding two popular plants to give your garden a sweet aroma. She also answers reader questions and shares a checklist of gardening to-dos for every month of the year.
TIPS
• Ceramic mugs are easier to drill than porcelain cups.
• The drill can walk a bit when starting. Apply firm pressure, but don’t push too hard.
• The drill bit can get hot. If it does, dip the tip of the bit in water. If you’re using a corded drill, unplug it first.
• Take your time.
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