Here’s a great way to plant up a delightful display of succulents, whether for your own home or as a gift for family and friends. Although we used an offcut of PAR pine, you can buy an 1800mm length and cut this into quite a few planters.
We found plenty of ideas for our planter on etsy and there are various style ideas for making rustic and modern planters.
Using PAR pine you can make a planter in any length, with one, two or three holes for planting a variety of succulents or air plants (Tillandsia). Because both of these plants require very little water and only a small quantity of soil, they are ideal for these containers. However, do give succulents a dose of organic fertiliser every three to four months.
YOU WILL NEED:
69 x 69mm length of PAR pine cut to 200mm lengths
50mm hole saw
Corded drill, no less than 500W
Screwdriver or wood chisel
Hammer
Workbench
Couple of quick clamps
120- and 240-grit sandpaper
Woodoc gel stain – we use imbuia
Disposable gloves
Sponge or cloth
Safety goggles
Tape measure and pencil
HERE’S HOW:
1. Measure and mark the location for drilling the holes and then clamp the piece of pine firmly to your workbench using quick clamps.
2. Insert the hole-saw into your drill and secure. Pop on your safety goggles before starting to drill. Make sure that the hole-saw is positioned in the centre of your piece of pine before you start drilling.
GOOD TO KNOW
Having previously used a spade bit for this type of project, using a hole-saw is far easier and safer. The hole-saw cuts easily through the various bands of thickness you find in pine. DO hold the drill firmly when starting the hole.
3. PAR pine is actually two piece of pine laminated (glued) together. If you drill to the depth of the lamination, removing the top section of pine is fairly easy. Use a flathead screwdriver or wood chisel and hammer to chip out the wood inside the cut out.
4. Continue chipping away until you reach the part where the two pieces are glued together. You don’t need to remove everything, since you will be filling the holes with soil, but if you are a perfectionist, continue until all the wood is removed and the base of your hole is nice and smooth.
5. Now you can continue drilling more holes, depending on how many you want to have in your pine block.
6. Sand the block with 120- and then 240-grit sandpaper, sanding with the grain of the wood for a nice smooth finish.
7. Use Woodoc gel stain if you want to add colour to the pine block. We used imbuia gel stain. Pop on a pair of disposable gloves to keep your hands free from stains and apply with a sponge or cloth.
8. If you have a Dremel VersaFlame or blowtorch you can use this to add even more depth and detail to the pine block simply by scorching the wood. As you do this you will notice that only the softwood turns a darker colour, which leaves an interesting zebrano wood finish.
Finish off by applying Woodoc antique wax and buffing to a satin sheen. Now you are ready to add some potting soil and planting your succulents.
SOURCE: www.home-dzine.co.za
