Making Succulent Wreaths

Succulents have always fascinated me. Maybe it's because of their varying shapes, colors and textures, or maybe it's just the way they produce new plants around the base. A few years ago, I stumbled upon pictures of succulent wreaths and have been enamored with them ever since. I've been intending to make one of my own, by somehow each summer has passed with only a vague longing for a succulent wreath to adorn my garden wall. This year, I made my own and I'm happy to report it was easier than I thought it would be.

If you are, like me, and long for a succulent wreath, but are hesitant to pay a hundred dollars or more for a professionally made wreath, why not gather the supplies and make one of your own?

If you are the creative type, making your own wreath base is relatively easy and saves $20 or more, but you can purchase the base from online florists, if you desire. I made mine with grapevines, plastic ties and wreath wire.

Determine the overall size of your succulent wreath and create a grapevine wreath to those dimensions. The finished wreath will be slighter larger by a few inches, so plan accordingly.

Make a second grapevine wreath approximately four inches smaller than the inside edge of the first wreath. This represents the inner circle of your succulent wreath.

Use plastic ties to suspend the smaller wreath inside the large wreath. Tie loosely to allow room for adjusting the center ring. Once the ring is centered and anchored on all sides, gently pull the ties until the center ring is secure.

Fill one leg of a pair of panty hose with peat moss or lightweight soil. Coil the pantyhose around the ring so that it fills the gap between the two rings. Adjust the soil with your fingers, stretching to pantyhose to fit the size of your wreath. Tie off the pantyhose, once you have determined the size your need. Wire in place by wrapping with green wreath wire.

Cover the outside of the wreath with moss. You can purchase moss from the florist or at a craft store, but I gathered my own from the nearby woods. Wrap with wreath wire to secure the moss in place.

Water thoroughly to moisten both the soil and the moss.

Lay your wreath down on a flat surface so the mossy side faces upward. Arrange your succulents around the wreath to get the look you desire. Poke a pencil tip or the point of the scissors through the moss and puncture a hole in the pantyhose. Use your fingers to create an indentation in the soil large enough to accommodate the roots of your succulents.

Insert the roots of your succulents into the soil and work the soil firmly around the roots. Adjust the moss around the base of the plant to conceal the hole.

Allow your succulent wreath to remain flat for a week or more while the roots become established.

Hang the wreath in an area that receives partial sunlight. Once it is established and new growth resumes, experiment with more light. I find my succulents grow best in morning light, even though the professional recommend full sun.

To water, remove the wreath and immerse in water. Allow to drain and replace in its original location.

My succulent wreath is still in its infancy, but as it grows, and the succulents begin to multiple, new plants will fill in the mossy areas creating a dense mass of succulents. Until then, I'm happy with fresh green moss adorned with the textures, shapes and colors I have come to love in succulents.