Succulents in the Gutter

Originally posted: October 20, 2016
Update: the gutters now have carnivores, begonias, oxalis  and bromeliads. It’s still a spider web party back there. 

A few months back I begged Matti to build me gutter gardens, so I could produce mass quantities of strawberries, lettuce and other edibles. As soon as summer (the rain free time here SF) arrived I got sick of watering it, ripped everything out and planted succulents. I could have set up irrigation… we have a line near the gutters, but I had recently ripped apart a couple of containers and had a bunch of homeless succulents laying around.

It’s going to be interesting to see how they all do as the back fence doesn’t get much sun in the winter. I think most everything should be fine.

We picked up the stainless steel gutters for $6 a piece at Home Depot. I prefer the Lowes less than a mile from our house, but they only had vinyl gutters. I probably would have spaced them a little closer together to squeeze one more in if succulents were the original plan and not lettuce.

Matti punched holes in the bottoms every 18 inches or so. We used a succulent mix to aid in good drainage, too. It probably won’t need watering again until spring, but I always check the bottom gutter to make sure it’s dry before watering it all.

Here’s another view with the succulent table and Zoe’s playhouse. I have big plans to transform the playhouse roof in to a succulent driftwood heaven.

Here’s another view with the succulent table and Zoe’s playhouse. I have big plans to transform the playhouse roof in to a succulent driftwood heaven.

We now have succulents planted in the railing gutter instead.