Cactus and succulent dish gardens are a delightful way to bring nature into your everyday life. These low-maintenance plants thrive with minimal care, making them perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of greenery without the fuss.
You can easily create a mini desert landscape in a bowl, cup, or vintage container using just a few simple materials. Place them on your desk, kitchen counter, or even your balcony, and watch how they lift your mood and freshen up the space.
It’s not just about decorating, it’s about building a tiny, peaceful retreat that brings calm and creativity into your day. Let your imagination guide you and start crafting a little green world of your own.
#1 Glass Cactus Garden
Source: Balconygardenweb
Here’s a cheerful little garden that’s sure to make you smile every time you see it. This glass bowl is packed with colorful cacti and a plump green succulent, creating a tiny desert landscape that feels both fun and relaxing.
You can easily make one yourself, just layer some pebbles, add cactus soil, and nestle in a mix of your favorite plants. Try pairing round, spiky cacti with a soft succulent for contrast.
It looks beautiful on a sunny windowsill or right on your work desk. This tiny garden brings a fresh burst of nature into your day without any stress.
#2 Terrarium Succulent and Cactus Garden
Source: Plantshop
If you’re looking for something bold yet easy to care for, this sleek terrarium garden is a perfect pick. The clear rectangular glass lets you show off those beautiful soil layers, and the splash of red pebbles adds a fun, modern twist.
To make it, layer coarse sand and cactus soil in a glass container, then plant a mix of zebra haworthia, mini cacti, and a few colorful topdressings. Don’t forget to add just a little water every couple of weeks; these plants like it dry.
This dish garden feels clean, stylish, and a little bit playful all at once.
#3 Fairy Succulent Planter Box
Source: Etsy
This sweet little garden looks like something out of a storybook. Nestled inside a wooden box with tiered sections, it’s filled with plump succulents, miniature props, and a charming ladder that leads to a tiny world of its own.
You can create one just like it by planting a variety of succulents in compartments, then adding small fairy garden accessories like a house, mushrooms, or animals. Use gravel or pebbles to define the spaces and give it a tidy finish.
This setup is perfect for a windowsill or entryway table where it can spark joy every time you walk by. It’s more than decor, it’s a little escape right in your home.
#4 Glass Terrarium Bowl With Succulents
Source: Etsy
This little glass bowl is like a breath of fresh air, clean, simple, and full of charm. A lovely mix of soft green succulents is framed by smooth river rocks and white pebbles, creating a calming, balanced look.
To make your own, start with a shallow glass container, add cactus soil, and layer decorative stones on top. Mix in a few succulents of different shapes and colors for variety.
It’s perfect for an outdoor coffee table, a kitchen windowsill, or even as a gift. This kind of mini garden brings a peaceful, earthy touch wherever you place it.
#5 Cube Succulent Terrarium Kit
Source: Easternleaf
This modern cube terrarium is a stylish way to bring greenery into small spaces. The clear layers of pebbles, soil, and white stones give it a fresh, clean vibe, while the mix of upright and rosette succulents adds height and texture.
You can build one by starting with drainage rocks at the bottom, followed by succulent soil, and topping it with decorative gravel. Choose a few hardy succulents with contrasting colors to make it pop.
It looks beautiful on a desk, shelf, or bedside table where it can quietly brighten your day. This little green cube is both art and nature in one compact piece.
#6 Dish Succulent Garden Basket
Source: Pinterest
This charming basket feels like a mini garden picnic you can carry anywhere. With a winding white pebble path and a variety of plump succulents, it tells a sweet little story all on its own.
To make something similar, grab a shallow basket, line it with plastic or coconut liner, and fill it with cactus soil. Arrange your succulents on both sides of a pebble walkway, adding little accents like stones, moss, or a tiny figure to complete the look.
It’s light enough to move around and lovely enough to be the centerpiece of your patio or entryway. This DIY basket is not just pretty, it feels personal and full of heart.
#7 Star Succulents
Source: Harryanddavid
This star-shaped planter is such a fun and creative way to show off your favorite succulents. Each arm of the star is filled with different textures and tones, making the whole piece feel like a living mosaic.
To make your own, use a wooden star frame or build one with basic craft wood, line it with landscape fabric, and fill with cactus soil. Tuck in a mix of colorful rosettes and trailing succulents for extra dimension.
It looks amazing as a table centerpiece or hanging on a porch wall. This design adds a unique twist to plant decor. It’s eye-catching, joyful, and totally one of a kind.
#8 Big Wine Glass Dish Garden
Source: Succulentlyurban
This elegant dish garden gives off bouquet vibes but with succulents instead of blooms! Arranged in a tall wine glass, the mix of lush rosettes and cascading string-of-pearls makes it look like a living centerpiece.
You can make one by filling the bowl of a large glass with cactus soil, gently tucking in a variety of succulents, and letting trailing types hang over the edge. It works best in a bright spot but away from harsh sun.
This display is perfect for special occasions, dinner tables, or simply adding a bit of drama to your everyday decor. It’s chic, unexpected, and full of personality.
#9 Glass Cup Succulent Display
Source: Lifeisaparty
These mini glass cup gardens are simple, stylish, and full of charm. Each clear cup holds a single cactus or succulent, sitting neatly in layers of sand and pebbles like tiny sculptures.
This is a great way to reuse glassware and turn it into beautiful decor pieces. Just add a bit of sand or cactus soil, gently plant your succulent, and finish with a handful of smooth pebbles on top.
Line them up on a windowsill or group them together as a table centerpiece. They look even better in a set. It’s an easy DIY with a big visual payoff and hardly any upkeep.
#10 Sea Shell Succulent Dish Garden
Source: Sumcoco
This sea-inspired succulent garden brings beachy vibes straight to your table. Nestled inside a large conch shell, the soft greens and trailing textures look like they’re spilling out from the ocean itself.
To make your own, gently fill a sturdy shell with a bit of cactus soil, then tuck in small succulents like burro’s tail, echeveria, or sedum. Add a pinch of moss to fill gaps and give it a fuller look.
It’s perfect for a windowsill or even as a creative gift idea. This tiny coastal garden feels like a peaceful getaway in miniature form.
#11 Log Succulent Garden
Source: Cansu Güzel
This rustic log garden feels like a little piece of the forest brought indoors. The natural wood base gives the succulents a cozy, earthy vibe, perfect for anyone who loves organic decor.
To recreate this look, hollow out the top of a small log, add cactus soil, and gently plant a variety of succulents and mini cacti. Tuck in a bit of moss between the plants for a soft, woodland touch.
It’s a great centerpiece for your coffee table or patio, adding warmth and texture to any space. Simple, natural, and full of charm, it’s like nature’s version of a flower box.
#12 Whimsical Fairy Garden With Succulents
Source: Theownerbuildernetwork
Step into your own little fantasy world with this whimsical fairy garden. Complete with a miniature cottage, pebble paths, and playful accessories, this setup feels like something straight out of a bedtime story.
You can start by filling a wide planter with cactus soil and top it with pebbles to mimic a natural landscape. Add clusters of succulents in different shapes, then bring them to life with fairy garden pieces like tiny benches, mushroom props, or a fairy door.
It’s a wonderful weekend project and a charming way to let your imagination bloom. Kids and adults alike will find joy in every tiny detail.
#13 Pitcher and Bowl with Succulents
Source: Amazon
This creative arrangement turns a classic pitcher and bowl into a flowing garden of succulents. The trailing sedum gives the look of greenery spilling out like a gentle stream, while upright cacti and plump succulents add texture and height.
To make one, fill both the pitcher and bowl with cactus soil, plant a mix of upright and cascading varieties, and angle the pitcher to “pour” the plants into the dish.
It’s a clever twist on traditional dish gardens and looks beautiful on a kitchen counter or dining table. This piece adds a warm, vintage feel with a splash of playful greenery.
#14 Pitcher and Bowl with Succulents
Source: Etsy
This elegant cactus dish garden brings together earthy tones and bold textures in a stunning centerpiece. Planted in a long wooden tray, it features a lush mix of succulents, air plants, and moss that feel both wild and refined.
To make one, choose a shallow wooden bowl, fill it with cactus soil, and layer in various succulents with different shapes and colors. Add finishing touches like seashells, driftwood, or preserved moss to create depth and interest.
It’s a beautiful addition to a dining table or coffee bar, especially with a candle and a bottle of wine nearby. This arrangement gives off cozy desert vibes with a touch of sophistication.
#15 Desert Cactus Dish Garden
Source: Bhg
This bold cactus arrangement captures the true spirit of the desert in a sleek, modern bowl. With its mix of spiny textures, sculptural shapes, and bright pops of color from grafted cacti, it’s both rugged and eye-catching.
To create one like this, choose a shallow ceramic dish, fill it with well-draining cactus soil, and arrange different species by height and form. Finish with a top layer of fine gravel to keep the surface tidy and help with drainage.
Place it somewhere sunny, like a windowsill or entry table, where it can soak up the light and show off its natural beauty. It’s a powerful piece that feels like a little slice of the Southwest, right at home.
#16 Stone Cactus Dish Garden
Source: Cact
This striking arrangement transforms a rugged stone into a vibrant canvas of color and texture. Packed with chunky succulents in soft pinks, yellows, greens, and deep reds, it feels like a blooming rock garden frozen in time.
You can make a similar one by hollowing out a natural stone or using a stone-like planter with shallow pockets. Fill it with well-draining soil, then gently press in your favorite plump succulents, keeping the colors mixed for a painterly effect.
It’s ideal for patios, garden steps, or even as a living sculpture indoors. This dish garden is proof that nature’s toughest materials can also hold the softest beauty.
#17 Cacti Garden In An Old Copper Pot
Source: Kactus Kat
An aged copper pot becomes a stunning home for bold green succulents, upright cactus stems, and bright pops of red and pink from grafted moon cacti.
To create this look, repurpose an old metal pot, drill a few drainage holes if needed, and layer it with cactus soil and small pebbles on top. Mix tall, leafy textures with short, rounded ones to create depth and movement.
It fits beautifully on a windowsill or balcony where it can soak up some sunshine. This dish garden proves that even the most weathered containers can bloom with new life.