The tiniest succulent pumpkin centerpiece you ever did see. So easy to make, perfect to place on a desk, and lasts for months! This post contains affiliate links.
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Watch our step by step video!
You know it's 2020 when you are making a back to school gift in October. After 6 weeks of online school, our district is beginning a blended model where the kids go to school in person for 2 days and are home for 3 days. Ruby's first day is next week and we had a great time making a cute pumpkin centerpiece for her teacher. We also made a few more for our home.
I have one in my kitchen window and am thinking that this needs to be a thing. Some sort of little succulent planter in my window all year long.
Supplies for Succulent Pumpkin
- Mini pumpkins: You can use any size of pumpkin you'd like. Pumpkins with a flat surface area (gourds) on top work great.
- Succulents: The succulents that I used for this project are from Home Depot. I didn't want to wait to order them from Amazon, but Amazon is cheaper and I've had great success with having them shipped to me. I used mail order succulents for these succulent gifts.
- Moss: Sphagnum moss is supposed to be the best for succulents, but I used sheet moss that I purchased at Walmart for $3.
- Spray Adhesive: You'll use this to attach the moss.
- Hot Glue: You'll use this to attach the succulents. Don't worry, it won't hurt the succulents.
Creating your succulent plater couldn't be easier.
- Remove the stem on the pumpkin and spray the top of the pumpkin with spray adhesive.
- Add a layer of moss.
- Hot glue succulent cuttings to the top of your pumpkin in any arrangement you'd like. We started with the bigger blooms, added the longer stems, then added some fillers.
I love how Ruby's looks like it is climbing. The girls both did a great job with their little planters! The best part is that these are super low maintenance. If your succulent cuttings are fresh you won't want to water the planter for a week. This allows the bottom of the stems to callous.
After that, just moisten the moss once a week and your planter will last 2-3 months!
Does hot glue hurt succulents?
The glue will burn the portion that it touches, but the rest of the succulent cutting will be just fine. I learned this trick from Garden Answer. She makes the most darling gardening creations.
Tips for caring for your succulent pumpkin
- Wait one week before watering your succulent planter. This allows the cuttings to have a chance to callous.
- Spray the moss with water once a week after the first week. If you can't access the moss easily you can water with a syringe.
- Avoid getting succulents wet. Only water the moss.
- Succulents like the sun. Make sure to place in a location that receives 6+ hours of daylight.
How do I repurpose the succulents when I'm done with the pumpkin centerpiece?
- After a month or two the succulents will begin to sprout roots (even though they had hot glue on the ends!). They are such hardly little plants.
- Gently pull the succulents off of the moss and gently pull the moss off of the roots.
- Place the cuttings in soil. Moisten with a spray bottle.
Side note: you can also plant the entire pumpkin into the ground if you live in an area where succulents thrive. I live in a very humid climate so I'll keep mine inside and re-plant the succents in a small pot.
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How To Make a Succulent Pumpkin
Mini Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece
Equipment
- hot glue gun
Materials
- mini pumpkins
- spray adhesive
- mini succulents
- moss
Instructions
- Loosen the soil from the succulents and divide the succulents into single sections. Gather the succulent cuttings that you'd like to use. Have a variety of big blooms and long sprigs and fillers.
- You do not need to leave the roots on the succulents. Cuttings work great and will not be hurt by hot glue.
- Pull the stem off of the mini pumpkin. Spray the top of the pumpkin with a light coat of spray adhesive.
- Add a layer of moss ¼"-½" thick. Watch our step by step video to see how we made ours!
- Sphagnum moss is the best for succulents, but you can use Spanish moss, forest moss or sheet moss. They all work great. I used sheet moss. You don't need very much and a little bit goes a long way. I bought a bag at Walmart for $3 and we have ¾ of it left after making 3 mini pumpkins.
- Once the moss has been attached start hot gluing the succulents to the top of the pumpkin. Start with the bigger blooms and fill in with the long springs and small fillers. There is no right or wrong way to make a succulent pumpkin planter.
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