D.I.Y. Succulent Turtle

31 / 1 / 18

Young children will love making this adorable character!

Click on the image for instructions, pictures and a detailed video tutorial from Gardening In The Shade

Placing this planter-turtle near your waterplay creek in your childcare centre will extend imaginative play outcomes, embedding knowledge of turtles through curiosity and play. Watering the succulents is also fun, and certainly will subconsciously embed the thought that turtles are worthy of our care. The fostering of emotions such as affection towards living creatures is of fundamental importance in early childhood education!

What you will need:

  • Wire hanging basket with liner
  • 4 terracotta pots
  • Sphagnum moss/coir fibre
  • Chicken wire
  • Succulents.
  • Washers, wire and a sheet of coir or geofabric big enough to cover the top of the wire basket
  • Wire cutters.
  • Googly eyes (or beads)

How about Sempervivum, echeveria or Haworthia succulents! These succulents will work well as they can take varying light conditions, they’re tough, and they reproduce quickly.

To give your succulent turtle a more Australian feel, keep the body low to the ground and give it a nice long neck!

Image result for australian long-necked turtle

Eastern long-necked turtle