Hello Sweet Friends!!
A succulent wreath can take your breath away! They are easy to care for and are a show stopper in any garden. I have always wanted to plant a living succulent wreath, but have never checked it off my bucket list. So, I thought it would be the perfect project for us to do together during these cold winter days.
One of my favorite things are succulents. Spending years in sunny So Cal helped me to develop a slight obsession. When we moved back to Michigan I brought back as many plants that I could possibly fit in our car. I had flats on top of our dog kennels and every time we turned a corner succulents went flying through the car!!
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The Best light for Succulents
Our walk out basement has an eastern exposure which has helped me to be
Here are some links below to Gardner’s Supply Company ~ Indoor Grow Light Units from Amazon. I have the 3 shelf unit. I ADORE it!! It is super sturdy and has rollers so you can move it around. The lights are adjustable making it easy to move the lights closer or further away from plants.
Succulent Cutting for Sale
All my succulent cuttings are from Petal Driven. They arrived in excellent condition. When I unpacked my succulents, I rinsed them under cool water and set them on a towel to dry in a shady location. In addition, I removed any dead leaves from the cuttings.
Here are succulent sources from Petal Driven:
- Link to All Petal Driven Succulents
- 5cm Echeveria Succulents. This is a mix of 50 ~ 1.9″ succulents
- 9cm Echeveria Succulents. Here is a mix of 20 ~ 3.5″ succulents. If you are looking for a more economical route, this would be the best choice.
In my succulent wreath is a mix of both 5 cm and 9 cm cuttings. However, you could use just one size. I used around 40 succulent cuttings. You can always start off with the number of cuttings you can afford and add more later. Your succulents will grow and have babies too! You can trim off baby plants and add them around the wreath over time.
Succulent Wreath DIY
Items you will need:
- Living Succulent Wreath Form ( I purchased mine from Amazon. Here is the Link ~ succulent wreath or see the link below) The living sphagnum moss wreath arrives dry. Prior to planting my
wreath I soaked it in water for about an hour. - Succulents ~ I planted 40 cuttings in my wreath. ( See above for links)
- Screwdriver
- Florist pins
I have added links below to the living sphagnum moss wreath I used by SuperMoss. It is very sturdy and has held up perfectly! I used the circular form. But, I also added a square and heart shape for fun. Florist pins to attach your succulent cuttings to the wreath are also linked below.
Live Succulent Wreath
To attach each succulent to the form, you first need to make a hole using a screwdriver.
Place the screwdriver into the wreath at the approximate depth you want the hole to be.
Then make a circular motion with the screwdriver ~ creating a whole.
In addition, I placed my finger inside the whole to widen the hole a bit more.
Place your succulent inside the hole. Make sure the succulents stem is completely submerged in the hole.
Fasten the cutting to the wreath with floral pins.
I placed my pins on the outer succulent leaves. Most of the succulent cuttings only require one pin. But, a few are heavy and might need two pins.
Continue, the same exact process to create your succulent wreath.
Make your hole with the screwdriver.
Widen with finger.
Place your succulent cutting in hole.
Secure with floral pins.
I planted my larger cuttings first in the succulent wreath.
Trying to vary colors and textures with different cuttings for added interest.
Here you can see the stem of the succulent cutting. It’s short and stubby, needing pins to hold the cutting in place
Once you have added most of your larger cuttings. You now can fill in the holes around your succulent wreath with smaller cuttings.
Rotate your wreath, looking for any holes that might need to filled with cuttings.
Here you can see the hardware that holds the succulent wreath up. It is very sturdy and can handle the weight.
The succulent wreath is rather heavy, especially when wet.
Succulent Wreath Care:
- Keep the succulent wreath flat for at least a month or until cuttings have taken root.
- Soak the succulent wreath in a plastic tray so that the wreath is moist. About every two weeks or when dry to touch. Young succulent cuttings need a regular supply of water in order to stay alive and develop roots. Succulents are adapted to dry climates and will usually rot if kept in soaking conditions. Do not over water!! The easiest way to kill succulents is overwatering.
- Keep the succulent wreath out of direct, hot sun. Especially in warm climates and in summer months.
- Place the succulent wreath in a warm and airy location. Unlike adult plants, young succulents do not have the water supply to withstand direct sunlight. They do best in indirect sunlight in temperatures of around 68ºF (20ºC).
- The succulent leaves will probably shrivel a bit as the plant forms roots. The plant is living off the stored energy in its leaves. You may also lose a few leaves which is normal. Do not use this as an excuse to over water!
Succulent Maintenance
- Reduce watering as the plant develops. A stem cutting may have a sufficient root system after four weeks. At this point, you may water as infrequently as once a month.
- Established succulents are equipped to store water in their leaves and stalks so that they can survive long periods of drought. Indoors, drench the succulent wreath and then allow the form to dry out between waterings.
- For outdoor succulent wreaths in summer months and warm climates, I have experimented with regular and infrequent watering. I personally have had better success with watering more frequently. In summer months, outdoor succulent plants dry out fast. Therefore, I water them once a week or every two weeks. They can go for months at a time without water. I have gone as long as 4 months without watering. However, I think plants look healthier and less stressed with regular watering. You will get a feel over time how your plants look. If they dry out too much they will start to wrinkle and shrivel, meaning they need water. Plants in the sun will need more water than plants in partial shade. Just make sure your plants are dry between watering. The fastest way to kill succulent is to over water them.
Succulent Tips:
- Succulent plants like heat and light. Outdoors most succulents take full sun to light shade. They will change colors in the sunny summer months and get a more muted tone in the winter. However, if you see brown spots, your plants are getting too much sun.
- Succulents do make great houseplants. However, they do need bright light near a window or grow light.
- A very light frost is usually no problem for succulent plants. A hard freeze will kill them. Outdoors, they can survive a frost if they have overhead protection. In freezing winter areas, bring your plants inside.
I hope you found this helpful!!
If you are looking for some inspiration for your garden this spring… head on over to my blog post about Spring Garden Planning!
Joyful planting dear friends!!
Check out my YouTube Video for a step by step visual to help you plant your succulent wreath.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE??
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