Succulents and More™

Corten, or weathering steel, is a strong, durable corrosion-resistant steel alloy that, when exposed to the weather, develops a stable, rust-like layer that protects the underlying metal from further corrosion. This unique patina eliminates the need for painting and maintenance, making it a popular choice for all kinds of outdoor uses — check out this park in Scottsdale, Arizona! Corten is also used for planters. Here are few in my garden. My most recent Corten projects include this rectangular planter for my silver torch cactus and edging for a new cactus bed in the backyard. I’d gladly have more Corten planters, but they’re not exactly cheap. That’s why I was excited to discover that the Canadian company Veradek has a new line of planters called the Patina Series . They look very much like Corten, but they’re actually made from a patented plastic-steel composite that rusts just like weathering steel. They’re lighter than Corten and cheaper, and they come partially rusted. So far,...

A couple of months ago, I showed you the plant labels I’m currently using ( see here ). Seeing how I have a few thousand of these labels and they work great, I will continue to use them, especially for potted plants. But I’ve started to trial larger tags — stakes, really — for in-ground use: For me, these stakes have several benefits: They are very sturdy so they shouldn’t disintegrate as quickly as the thinner (and smaller) labels I’ve been using. They are larger so there’s room for more information, if needed. Plus, I’m hoping they’re too large for squirrels to haul away. Since they’re black, they don’t stand out like white labels do. You can’t really use a pencil to write on these stakes. The ones I bought on Amazon ( here ) come with a white marker pen, but the tip isn’t fine enough. I bought these marker pens instead. They’re filled with oil-based paint that doesn’t wash off and have what’s billed as an “extra fine” tip. The pens I’m using Here are my first attempts: I submerged...