Succulent Wreath - Living Art

Make Your Own Succulent Wreath,
A Garden for Your Door

Finding plants that fit your style shouldn’t be difficult. Look for plants that sprout roots quickly, such as ivies or low water, low maintenance succulents. Succulents are really easy plants to grow.

When choosing plants it is important that they all have similar requirements for soil type, watering and sunlight. Also, select potting soil appropriate for the type of plants you are using. We use succulent cuttings for our project. Succulents come in many shapes, colors and textures. They make great living wreaths because they are so easy to care for and easy to grow. They don't take much water and you pretty much can't kill them even if you don’t have a green thumb!

For this project you will need the following materials:

• 1 wreath form or chicken wire
• Sphagnum Sheet Moss or Sphagnum Moss Cloth Roll
• Bucket for soaking moss
• Non-porous gloves (Tip: Be sure to wear non-porous gloves when working with the sphagnum moss, as its natural bacteria can irritate your skin.)
• Cactus and succulent potting mix
• Fine Gage Floral Wire
• Floral Pins
• Long Tweezers or Chopsticks
• Spray Bottle (optional)
• Plants (we used succulents because of low maintenance & low water use)

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Step 1:

Wet your sphagnum moss. You can do this by soaking it in a bucket of water for at least an hour. Then wring it out so it's not dripping.

Step 2:

Cover the wreath frame/chicken wire with the sphagnum moss. The brown side of the moss should face up and the sides should overlap by at least 2 inches on both sides of the frame

Step 3:

Pack lightly moistened potting soil (a spray bottle works well for moistening) into your moss- covered wreath form. Dip the cut end of a succulent cutting into a rooting hormone. (Optional)

Step 4:

Use your long tweezers or chopsticks to poke holes in the soil. Place plant or cutting stems into the holes and pack soil around them. Use the moss and floral pins or a length of floral wire to secure the small plants. Remember to space them out, and leave some room for your plants to grow.

Step5

Soak the finished wreath in a bucket or water with a hose to settle plants in place. The moss will soak most of the water and thereby keeping your succulents moist.

Tips:

• Prepare succulent cuttings by taking pieces of established plants a few days prior to building your wreath. The cuttings should be at least 3 inches long. Allow them to dry for a few days so that they can form a scab on the cut end.
• It's better to work with soil that's dry - the plants will insert more easily.
• Place your succulent wreath in a sunny location. Fertilize every few weeks with 1/4-strength liquid fertilizer.
• Don't over water your wreath - especially in the beginning when roots are starting to form.
• Keep your wreath flat for at least three or four months so the roots will have a chance to take hold. Avoid placing the wreath in direct sun as the succulents may burn and it is best to hang in an area with bright, but not direct sunlight or a partly shaded area.
• Your planted wreath should be allowed to dry completely between watering. When your wreath feels dry, soak it in some water for a few minutes and it will perk right back up.

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