Houseleek Brick

The Houseleek (Officially called Sempervivum) is a succulent plant. The latin name means "always living". They are an ideal plant for kids to grow as they are more or less imposssible to kill. Although they flower they also propagate by offsets. This means that once you have one, you will have an infinite supply of cute baby plants like the one hanging down in the front of this picture.

You will need:

An engineering brick. (If you are lucky you can find one in a skip, failing that they cost about 50p) the best sort has three holes right through it.

A drink can

A hot melt glue gun

Scissors

A small a mount of soil or compost. and some gravel.

Some baby houseleeks.

Step 1: Cut Up the Can

Take the old can, cut it open, and create a rectangle from it. Aluminium cans are best because steel cans will rust and stain the surface the brick stands on.

Be careful - the metal will have sharp edges!

Step 2: Fix Your Sheet of Metal to the Bricks

I used a hot melt glue gun for this, but any waterproof glue such as epoxy resin will do.

Once you have glued it on make some drainage holes. This is essential. While houseleeks are very robust, they are succulent plants. This means they are adapted to dry conditions. If they become waterlogged they will get upset.

You could use plastic or metal mesh.

Step 3: Plant the Brick

Mix the soil and gravel together and fill the holes up to the top.

Plant the baby housleeks.

Finally spray the brick with water to clean the soil off.

Step 4: The Finished Product.

Place outdoors. Houseleeks need little of no upkeep - the one on the cover of this instructable had been left alone for a year with only rainwater.

You could use any other small alpine plant.

If you never want to move the brick you can go straight from brick to planting.