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When life hands you shards, make a decorative multilevel planter.
MATERIALS
» Large terra-cotta pot broken on one side
» Pieces from broken pots or plates
» Potting mix (palms, cactuses or citrus preferred)
» Succulents, small plants, moss
» Optional accent pieces (e.g., ceramic frog, wooden birdhouse, holiday ornament)
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Diane Moses, community relations specialist at the Board of Water Supply, likes to save pieces from broken terracotta pots and ceramic plates as the materials for building eye-catching planters.
She teaches others how to do the same during her Terracotta Madness workshops at Halawa Xeriscape Garden in Aiea, a BWS demonstration garden that encourages use of less-thirsty landscaping. (Her next workshop on terracotta is May 30.)
Once her pots are assembled and filled with succulents and other plants, Moses likes to add whimsical figures or accents from nature for even more appeal.
The possibilities are endless.
"I’ve made fairy gardens and used bear themes," she said. "Butterflies can be attached to wires, and it looks like they’re hovering."
Moses suggests using a potting mix suitable for palms, cactuses or citrus to ensure proper drainage. Moss can be added to help keep the soil moist and hold things together, she said. Other options include black sand, aquarium gravel or white coral chips.
Watering is generally necessary just once a week. Moses advises sticking a chopstick into the soil, and if it comes out clean, it’s time to water. (Don’t water the leaves of succulents, just the soil, she added.)
Moses changes the accent pieces to match the season.
"I’ll remove the bird and replace it with an ornament for Christmas or a heart for Valentine’s Day," she said.
DIANE MOSES WORKSHOPS
Where: Halawa Xeriscape Garden, 99-1268 Iwaena St.
When: 10:30 a.m.
» Low-maintenance landscapes, March 28
» Chemical-free insect and pest traps, April 11
» Succulent framed art, May 9
» Five simple steps to a beautiful garden, May 23
» Terracotta Madness, May 30
Cost: $5 (Succulent framed art, $15; Terracotta Madness, $8)
Information: 748-5363 or email workshops@hbws.org
Note: Registration required; view class schedule at www.hbws.org/files/2014-15_Workshop_Schedule.pdf.