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It’s funny how miniature things always attract attention. Miniature horses, miniature dollhouses, miniature ornaments – the list goes on.
It’s no wonder we’re drawn to miniature plants for very small pots.
The most common plants in a small pot are probably miniature cacti and succulents.
However, there are many others that stay small and can be grown in coffee mugs, tea cups, and other very small pots.
Contents
mini succulents
These cute little miniatures are just tiny versions of your average plants. Many of them will remain small throughout their lives, while some require pruning to keep them small.
If you want more of these plants, you can easily break off a piece and stick another pot in it.
Can you keep the plants small?
To some extent, you can keep succulents smaller by propagating them.
Additionally, you can stunt their growth by keeping them out of direct sunlight throughout the day. They also stay smaller if kept in a cool, dry place.
Small plants are ideal for miniature. landscape projects, and cacti and succulents are great additions. They are easily obtained by simply taking a cutting from another plant.
If you have a friend who has these little plants, you can buy several plants for a mini garden.
Small-flowered plants do well in miniature gardens. Because they are so small, they tend to get lost in larger gardens.
Small flowers like forget-me-nots only grow to about 5″. They grow on their own and are beautiful when placed with other small plants.
The 5 best plants for very small pots
Here we have 5 plants that are ideal for very small pots;
1) pearl necklace
2) zebra cactus
3) Air plants
4) Venus Flytrap
5) ivy
1) pearl necklace
These interesting plants hang from small containers or grow on the surface where they crawl gently along the ground and around other plants.
advantage
- Very adaptable to small pots and mini landscapes.
- Bulbous leaves maximize water retention.
the inconvenients
- Must be cut if you don’t want it to appear elsewhere
- Needs a warm room with filtered light to thrive
2) zebra cactus
It is a great addition to any miniature landscaping project due to its unique colors. It is an evergreen tree and will measure approximately 6″ when fully grown.
advantage
- Easy maintenance with just watering once a week in summer, once every two weeks in winter
- Succeeds at normal indoor temperatures between 50°F and 85°F
the inconvenients
- It will die if it gets too much water, so be careful with the soil, dry is better than wet.
3) Air plants
air plants it should be about the easiest to maintain. They get their moisture from the air and are a great addition to small gardens where they can be seen at their best.
They will grow in almost any container. You can mount them on a nice piece of wood or put them in a terrarium without soil.
advantage
- Easy maintenance: soak it in water once a week
- slow growing
- No land waste
the inconvenients
- If you forget to give them their weekly water bath, they will wilt and may not recover.
4) Venus Flytrap
This falls into the “novelty plant” category, although it is also considered a small plant and can be grown in a small pot or mini garden.
The attraction of these plants is to see them close up. Double tap on the leaves and they will close.
advantage
- They attract flies, so in addition to being unique, they also serve to repel flies
the inconvenients
- Relatively high maintenance, they need peat moss and distilled water.
- They prefer cool temperatures and bright light, an unusual combination
5) ivy
This miniature plant works great in a small garden project, especially if you train it on a small trellis. For best results, let the soil dry out until almost dry, then water thoroughly.
advantage
- It can be shaped or encouraged to crawl on the ground.
the inconvenients
- It is prone to mites
- Prefers shade, so plan your mini garden with this in mind.
The 5 best outdoor plants for very small pots
We are not all lucky enough to have large gardens. Some avid gardeners only have small areas to work on.
Luckily, there are small plants that fit in every corner, no matter the size of the space.
The advantage of outdoor plants in very small pots is that they require little maintenance. They just need a little pruning to keep them in shape.
The small plants do well in alpine and rocky gardens where they like to fill a small space in a container or on the ground.
1) Little Monster Geranium
This bush will lower and spread. At the peak of its growth, it will reach 20 cm and produce bright pink flowers in late spring.
advantage
- excellent ground cover
- Works well along borders and edges.
the inconvenients
- May suffer from leaf spots
2) spider plant
Be sure to plant your spider in well-drained soil, in a sunny spot and in a big jar.
They are easy to propagate by cutting the “babies” and rooting them in water before planting.
advantage
- easy to maintain
- spreads profusely
the inconvenients
- May look haggard when you leave ‘babies’ so you better cut yourself off
3) snapdragon
These will grow upright and produce a variety of colors. They look beautiful mixed with other plants and can ideally be placed in the back as they grow.
advantage
- resistant plants
- They self-seed so you have plants next year.
the inconvenients
- Susceptible to rust and mildew, so it should be checked regularly
4) ferns
ferns They are often part of a miniature garden where, in the right conditions, they add elegance and beautiful foliage. They prefer partial shade, in fact they are not great sun worshipers.
advantage
- Easy to grow and propagate.
- It grows well in small pots.
the inconvenients
- They need to have good drainage or they won’t do well
5) violets
These are often used to color small gardens and produce flowers in many different shades, even variegated flowers.
advantage
- They can last all year round if kept indoors.
- Easy to grow from seed.
the inconvenients
- They must often be skulls, otherwise they look sloppy
Tips for creating your own miniature garden
Creating your own miniature garden can be a very rewarding endeavor. It’s also something you and the kids can do during school holidays.
There are different types of miniature gardens and there really is no limit to how you can design it.
miniature fairy garden
It looks great with succulents and decorated with miniature houses and buildings to look like a fairy tale town.
Large wine glass garden
Tall wine glasses are gorgeous when used as a centerpiece. They are a great way to grow a variety of small plants, especially succulents and cacti.
coffee cup garden
If you are very careful, you will find original coffee cups in which you can grow small plants.
Create an Air Plant Garden
Beware of unusual containers that may hold a few pieces of wood with an air plant on top.
As long as you can give the air plant a weekly bath in water, it will happily be part of a miniature garden.
Keeping Your Miniature Garden Healthy
It is important that your plants are grown in well-drained potting soil. They are no different from larger plants and must have adequate drainage to survive.
- Pay attention to the individual needs of your mini plants – some will appreciate sunlight, while others prefer shade. Find out what to plant in each location.
- Don’t forget to feed them. Just like large plants, small plants also need nutrition, but not in the same amount as larger versions. Be careful not to give them too much fertilizer.
Final Thoughts: Top 5 Plants for Very Small Pots
Keep in mind that keeping your small succulents in the shade and watering them less will make them smaller. Dry and cool is best for these small plants.
Depending on the conditions you plant your little plants in, they can live year round with cacti and succulents living for several years before they need to be repotted.
Make sure your small potted plants always have good drainage so that water can pass through and the roots don’t get soaked.
With a little imagination and a few guidelines to follow, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have one, or even several, of these gorgeous little gardens.
With a little planning, you have a nice collection of plants for very small pots.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
Top 15 Houseplants With Red And Green Leaves
Top 10 indoor plants
Top 10 Indoor Plants for Aquaponics