DIY Pumpkin Succulents that will last through Thanksgiving!!
Even if you don’t consider yourself a crafty person, I promise these ADORABLE succulent pumpkins are easy piecy.
The best part?
You don’t actually carve the pumpkins so they last WELL through Thanksgiving (and potentially Christmas if properly cared for) as the succulents send roots into the moss within a few weeks!!
Here’s what you need:
Cute Pumpkins both big and small (we got ours from this Half Moon Bay Farm)
Multiple large and small succulents (optional: go foraging for dried flowers, lavender, cute sticks, etc.)
Moss
Elmers glue (or clear spray adhesive)
Scissors and old paint brush
Small bowl full of water (to wet the succulents steps)
Step by Step Guide:
Step 1: Cut tip of pumpkin (so the top is concave)
Garden scissors or a knife may be handy here for the bigger pumpkins
Step 2: Paint elmers glue on top of pumpkin
To make the sphagnum moss adhere, coat the top of the pumpkin with spray adhesive.
Step 2: Apply moss
Before the Elmer glue dries (you want it sticky), press dry moss onto the top of the pumpkin, creating a layer 1/2-1 inch thick. My mom encouraged us to paint glue down the side of the pumpkin for a more natural look - it turned out so cute! Highly recommend.
Step 3: Apply the succulents (time to get your hands dirty)
Take the succulents out of the pot, pull the roots out, and snip the very bottom of the root (so it’s fresh). Now dip the tip of the root into the bowl of water and adhere your elmers glue to the tip. From here, get creative and place your bigger succulents on top of the moss! It seems weird that the succulents
Step 4: Get creative!
Add your other foraged items (pretty wood, dried flowers, etc.) For the smaller fried flowers, no need to cut the stems and adhere with glue - I just slid them into the moss and they stick!
Step 5: Show off your pumpkin!
As I mentioned in the beginning of the blog, these pumpkin babies will last you a very long time if you take care of them properly which bring me to my next point…
Caring for your pumpkin
Protect a succulent-topped pumpkin from harsh sun, excessive heat, freezing temperatures, and rain. Spritz the plants once a week (if you can) and give the arrangement bright, indirect sunlight by setting it near a window indoors or on a sheltered deck or balcony. You can even place your pumpkin on top of a quarter-inch-thick piece of cardboard to keep moisture from collecting underneath and rotting the pumpkin prematurely!
Have you ever done a succulent pumpkin before?! Tag me in your creations @kleanwellness, I can’t wait to see!!!
xoxo
Kirsten