If you feel like taking on a rewarding project, the creation of a succulent wreath might be right up your alley! The end result can be used as a table centerpiece, a hanging on a shaded wall, or an adornment on the gate to your garden.
Trust me: This project is not for the faint of heart. You need patience and persistence—but we desert gardeners already have those traits due to our challenging climate! It will take about two weeks to complete your wreath.
Materials
- A moss wreath, 12 to 16 inches
- Floral wire or fishing wire
- Floral pins
- Succulent clippings or small succulent plants (see bottom)
- A bowl, saucer or pan large enough in which to lay the completed wreath for watering
Preparing Your Plants
- Take succulent cuttings several days prior to creating your wreath.
- Cut stem sections 1 to 2 inches long.
- Remove lower leaves from the bottom half-inch of the stem.
- Allow cuttings to sit overnight on a tray to let the cut end form a scab.
Preparing Your Wreath Form
- Wear gloves when working with moss or peat moss.
- Submerge a mesh-covered moss wreath form (pictured to the right) in water.
- Keep the form in water until it is fully saturated (30-60 minutes).
- Place flat on a table to drain.
Set Out Your Plants
- On a flat surface, lay out cuttings by plant type.
Plant Your Wreath
- Make a hole in the moss using a pointed object, such as large nail, a pencil or a screwdriver.
- Place the stem of your first cutting into the hole. Secure with a floral pin, being careful to not puncture the succulent’s stem.
- Continue to arrange your cuttings around your wreath. For a fuller wreath, plant on the inner as well as the outer edges.
- After planting, you’ll see some moss between cuttings; as succulents grow, they’ll hide the moss.
Let It Rest
After planting, place the wreath on a table out of the sun. You are waiting for the cuttings to send roots into the moss in order to secure their footing.
Ongoing Care
Soak the wreath in a container of water for at least one hour when it is only slightly moist. You can tell by feeling inside the back of the frame. The wreath will be very light when it dries out.
Marylee Pangman is the founder and former owner of The Contained Gardener in Tucson, Ariz. She has become known as the desert’s potted garden expert. She is available for digital consultations, and you can email her with comments and questions at potteddesert@gmail.com. Follow the Potted Desert at facebook.com/potteddesert.