–by Jen Ruple
PUBLICATION DATE: Aug 04, 2020

Their love for succulents provided friends Lexie Ruiz and Jackie Long with the inspiration to start a business together. Glass City Succulents, which officially launched online on June 8, offers custom designed, boutique arrangements and favors for showers and events.
“We started out using hens and chicks that were growing in Jackie’s garden,” said Ruiz. Today the business partners incorporate all kinds of succulents into their designs. “Lavender scallops, string of pearls and jade are popular choices for plants,” she added.
Ruiz and Long became friends about three years ago while in a college ministry at the University of Toledo. Their husbands are also friends and in the pastor’s college together at Christ the Word Church in Sylvania. “Jackie and I really bonded over our love for plants,” said Ruiz. During a college mission trip to China, the friends bought several pots and started using them for their own plants. “Now we go all over town in search of cute pots and interesting items. If you can put a drainage hole in it, you can use it as a pot.”

“Caring for your succulents is easy,” said Ruiz. “Make sure they have enough direct sunlight, and you don’t overwater them. Also, be sure to rotate them so they grow evenly all around. They tend to stretch if they are trying to reach the light,” she explained. “Our arrangements are designed with pebbles on the top and bottom of the soil to assist with drainage. We create our own potting mix with soil, sand and perlite that helps keep the roots from rotting as well.”
Glass City Succulents’ designs may be viewed at glasscitysucculents.weebly.com or through their Facebook and Instagram pages. Customers can choose to pick up their arrangement, or delivery for a small charge is available throughout the greater Toledo vicinity.