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Indoor desert finished
Miniature gardens can make attractive displays for your windowsill. They can be especially welcome in winter, bringing the interest of nature inside.

Helpful information

Timing: All year around (you may get extra enjoyment from it in winter)

Where to do it: Indoors

  • When making a miniature garden, you can be creative with your decorating and add your own style
  • Windowsill displays bring the benefits of nature inside. This is particularly welcome during the colder winter months
  • A desert garden is very low maintenance, especially during winter when you can simply make it and leave it
Succulents and cacti
Individual succulents and cacti in pots

A wide range of cacti and succulents will suit your miniature desert garden. You can often find these small plants in garden centres, supermarkets and shops selling home items. You could choose:

  • Echevaria
  • Aloe
  • Kalanchoe
  • Sedums
  • Any other cacti or succulents that you like!

Essential items

  • Shallow container or pot (an old plastic tray, shallow glass vase, foil dish etc)
  • Small pebbles or stones
  • Soil / sand (you could use special cactus soil, builders' sand or a mix or potting soil and perlite)
  • Cacti and succulents
  • Watering can / bottle top waterer

Optional items

  • Horticultural grit
  • Gardening gloves
  • Decorations (larger rocks, bright coloured stones, miniature figures etc)

Step 1. Gather your equipment and find a suitable place to work

Indoor desert equipment
Equipment for a miniature desert including tray, plants and compost

Have everything within arm's reach to make it easier.

Step 2. Put a layer of pebbles in your container

Indoor desert pebbles
A shallow layer of clean pebbles in a container

You want a roughly 5cm layer of clean pebbles in the bottom of the container.

Step 3. Add your soil to almost the top

Indoor desert compost
A container filled to almost the top with compost

Add your choice of soil on top of the pebbles. Fill the container until the soil is around 5cm from the top.

Step 4. Water the soil

Indoor desert watering
Gently watering soil in a container

Using a watering can or bottle top waterer, water the soil. You want it to be damp, not soggy. It is best to do this step before adding your plants.

Step 5. Add your plants

Indoor desert plants in place
A container with succulents and cacti in place

Plant your cacti and succulents. It's up to you exactly where in the container you would like them to go and how many plants to add. You might want to avoid having them too squashed together and give each plant a little bit of space.

Make it easier

Some cacti can be prickly. Getting them out of the pot without getting spiked can be tricky. You may find it easier to wear gardening gloves for this step.

Step 6. Add a top layer of pebbles

Indoor desert finished
A miniature indoor desert with top layer of pebbles

This only needs to be 1-2cm deep. You could use the same pebbles you used for the bottom layer. Or, you could use horticultural grit if you have it.

Step 7. Add decorations (optional)

Indoor desert with decorations
Small animal figures added to the miniature desert

There are lots of ways you can transform your container into a creative desert landscape. You could add stones and pebbles that look like big desert rocks. Or, you could add small figures, brightly coloured stones, mirrors, driftwood or anything else you like and adds interest.

Step 8. Find a light bright spot for your garden

A bright windowsill is ideal.

The good news is your desert garden should look after itself! Cacti and succulents need little to no water, especially in the winter.

All you need to do is make time to enjoy looking at it.

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