Every Succulent Lover Should Own One of These Ceramic Egg Crates

Written by

Tess Wilson
Tess Wilson
After many happy years living in tiny apartments in big cities, Tess has found herself in a little house on the prairie. For real.
updated Jul 16, 2020
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(Image credit: Marisa Vitale)

If you aspire to a home that’s dripping in succulents, you’ll save a lot of money if you start raising baby succulents. And if you want to grow baby succulents, well, look no further than your kitchen, because you’re going to need an egg crate! Made of terra cotta, ceramic or concrete, and generally used to hold, um, eggs, these multipurpose trays are great for succulent starts. We’ve collected propagating tutorials and a dozen egg crates in a range of delightful styles, so get to growin’!

This is the ceramic egg crate that’s got all the succulent lovers buzzing, and no wonder: it’s classic and it’s totally affordable. Each of the 12 compartments is perfect for holding one succulent clipping and a little bit of soil. (FYI: In case you’re not hip to the propagating game, it’s when you breed new plants from clippings of a full-grown plant.)

Once you have your egg crate ready, take a look through some of these guides we’ve put together in the past to make succulents aplenty:

(Image credit: Lauren Kodiak)

And if you find yourself obsessed with the succulent-egg juxtaposition, you’ll want to check out The Kitchn’s How To Plant Succulents in Eggshells. Unsurprisingly, the blog Succulents & Sunshine also has a ton of helpful succulent starting tips, including this tip that is key if you plan on using this type of egg carton:

If you just love the glass [or ceramic!] container you have your succulents in, be so so careful with how much water you give it! I would measure out how much water you are pouring on and make sure you only put in enough water to just get the soil damp.

The same thing goes for a container without a hole for water to drain out. Air flow is especially important for succulents in the winter to help keep the soil mostly dry and the plant breathing. Again, make sure you are using a well draining soil as well.

To that end, our product roundup includes several porous options, including unglazed terracotta and concrete versions. These will absorb excess moisture and help prevent soil sogginess, but raising succulents means always being cautious about moisture levels!

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Le Creuset Egg Fridge Bin, AllModern, $23.99 (Image credit: AllModern)

A note: unglazed egg crates are difficult to find from U.S.-based retailers. Kaufmann Mercantile and Goop use to carry the ones made by Weston Mill Pottery, but now you have to purchase them directly from the source. All of the unglazed egg crates—including a few DIY options—are grouped at the end of the gallery. Bonus: if you make your own, you can make drainage holes!

  1. Le Creuset Fridge Egg Bin at AllModern, $23.99
  2. Dozen Yellow Egg Crate at Crate & Barrel, $12.95
  3. Ceramic Egg Crate at World Market, $6.99
  4. Mexican Talavera Ceramic Egg Crate at Amazon, $56.99
  5. Grey Stoneware Egg Holder at Creative Co-op on Amazon, $15.99
  6. Half Dozen Egg Crate at Relish Decor, $12
  7. Rachel Ray Egg Tray at Target, $11.29
  8. Mini Egg Pots with Tray at MyGift on Amazon, $15.99
  9. Unglazed Terracotta Egg Rack at Weston Mill Pottery, £8.99
  10. Concrete Egg Tray at Greige, £11.50
  11. DIY Concrete Egg Bunkers by Handmade Charlotte
  12. DIY Concrete Hexagon Egg Tray by Kittenhood