How to Create a Succulent Wreath

Learn how to make this lush succulent wreath with cuttings from larger plants.

By: Melissa Caughey

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Photo By: Photo by Melissa Caughey

Stunning Succulents

Succulents are hot: learn how to use them in a stunning wreath design.

Gather Your Supplies

For this craft you will need: 2 wire wreath forms/ assorted succulent clippings/ potting soil/ moss/ floral wire/ floral pins/ chop stick/ wire cutter/ garden gloves/ crafting paper or newspaper

Prepare the Succulents

A few days prior to assembling the wreath, trim the succulent pieces from the larger plant. The succulent trimmings should have a stem about 1 to 2 inches long. At this time remove any leaves to keep the new crown tidy. Keep them in indirect light and allow the ends to dry. Tiny roots will soon emerge from where leaves used to be.

Bottom Layer

Spread out newspaper or crafting paper to protect your work surface. Place a wire wreath form round side down with the "cradle" for the moss facing up. Begin to add the moss.

Place Moss

Continue to place moss generously around the entire bottom wire wreath form.

Add Soil

To the top of the moss, add a few inches of potting soil around the entire wreath like so.

More Moss

To the top of the soil add another generous layer of moss and place the second wire wreath form on top. This time the wire wreath form should have the rounded side facing you. The idea is to form a nest for the succulents.

Secure with Wire

Cut 2 pieces of floral wire, each about 2 feet long. Anchor one piece of wire to the top wire form on the outside and anchor the other piece of wire on the inside part of the frame like so.

Wire it Up

Keeping the wreath flat as not to disrupt the soil, wrap the floral wire around outside of the wreath essentially wiring the top wire wreath form to the bottom wire wreath form. Wire should be wrapped about every inch around the outside. You may need to cut more pieces of wire as you work. Repeat this process on the wire frames inside the wreath.

Hanging Wire

With the floral wire, add a floral wire loop to the back of the wreath for hanging.

Ready to Plant

Tidy up your work space and tuck in any moss that is astray as it is now time to begin planting the wreath.

Planting Help

With the chopstick or small wooden dowel, make a hole into the wreath for planting.

Add Succulents

Tuck the succulents into the wreath. Start with the larger succulents and then fill in the gaps with smaller ones.

Get Artistic

Slowly fill in all parts of the wreath at once. This helps to maintain a full and uniform look.

Extra Support

Floral pins help to hold the succulents in place until they root.

Hold it Up

Once completely filled in, hold up the wreath to see if you need to add any extra support with floral pins or fill in any blank spaces. Over time the succulents you added will fill in the wreath nicely.

Assorted Succulents

A variety of different succulents with various leaf shapes and colors helps add to the texture of the wreath.

Blooming Beauties

Succulents will also bloom when they are happy in their spaces. Some succulents that work nicely in these wreaths are crassula, graptopetalum, pachyphytum, sedum, sempervivium, echeveria, senecio and aeonium.

Succulent Wreath Care

To care for your succulent wreath slowly adapt it to the warm temperatures outdoors and initially protect it from direct sunlight to prevent burning. To water the wreath, soak it weekly in a flat tray of water until the moss and soil are moist about 10 minutes. As the clippings grow they can become leggy. If this happens, gently remove this succulent from the wreath, trim it back to a two inch length with a nice crown and tuck it back into the wreath.