Succulents are basically the tiny puppy of the plant world: They're totally adorable and the more, the merrier. And as long as it's not a snapping turtle, most people find these calm animals quite cute, too. So it's a no brainer that when these two things are combined together, you get a planter that will seriously improve the charm factor in your garden.
The blogger behind Gardening in the Shade made her own and it's totally genius. It's basically a new take on chia pets (remember those?). To make it, she used a wire basket and chicken wire to create the shell where the soil would live. Then, she mounted the shell on four small clay pots. And the head was made out of a piece of chicken wire she rolled into a tube, then filled with sphagnum moss.
Once you plant the succulents, they'll grow into the "shell" and look like the hard layer most turtles wear as a means of protection and a portable home.
If you like the look, but don't want to make it completely from scratch, the Etsy shop Windmill Floral sells a kit to make your own.
And we also adore this genius planter that might be a bit easier to care for, since it only has space for one succulent (novice gardeners, this one's for you).
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
