Extremely frugal, true “hunger artists” and happy in almost any location as long as it is dry and sunny there: Houseleeks (Sempervivum), a very species- and variety-rich family from the thick-leaf family, are perfect for interesting decoration ideas. The small succulents can be wonderfully placed in a wide variety of planters: whether in roof tiles, woven baskets, large shells or all kinds of boxes, the very shallow-rooted plants thrive almost everywhere. In this article we would like to introduce you to old roof tiles as a plant base.
How do I plant houseleeks on a roof tile?
To plant houseleeks on a roof tile, you need an old roof tile, succulent soil, drainage material such as expanded clay or pebbles and the houseleek plants. Place drainage material in the brick, add soil and plant the houseleek rosettes spaced apart. Add decorative elements as desired and lightly moisten the soil.
Prepare for planting
Perhaps you are renovating yourself or know someone who is re-roofing: Old roof tiles provide a wonderful opportunity for individual design ideas. You can use the bricks in stacks as a bed border or as a planter, for example for the frugal houseleeks. The small succulents don't need too much space and they are completely satisfied with very little soil. In addition to a suitable substrate, you can also have other decorative elements (e.g. stones, shells - there are no limits to your imagination!).
Important: Make sure there is good drainage
The roof tile does not have to be particularly large or deep, all that is important is good drainage. It is usually recommended to drill drainage holes in any planters for houseleeks if necessary, but this will be difficult to do with roof tiles - in many cases the material is simply too brittle. However, you can still ensure good drainage by using only a little soil and also planting many large and small stones not only as a decorative element, but also to improve water drainage.
Planting houseleeks
Planting houseleeks is very easy:
- A layer of expanded clay or pebbles can be filled underground for drainage.
- Fill the soil (succulent soil (€12.00 on Amazon) or your own mixture) into the roof tile.
- Plant the rosettes into the ground.
- Leave some space between the individual rosettes,
- because over time these will form daughter rosettes and thus dense rosette pads.
- Add additional decorative elements (stones, shells, etc.) to the house roots if desired.
- Just moisten the soil very slightly.
Water the roof tiles planted in this way about once a week during the growing season, but only a little. In spring, the succulents can be supplied with a little fertilizer, otherwise the planted bowl will remain outside during the winter.
Tip
In addition to roof tiles, stones are also very suitable for planting houseleeks.