applying adhesive to the pumpkin
Step 1: Coat with Adhesive
Start by covering the top of your pumpkin with a spray adhesive ($10, The Home Depot). Pick a pumpkin with a flat top; Cinderella pumpkins are a perfect shape for this project. This will help the moss stick.
Step 3: Attach Succulents
Group the three tallest succulents slightly to one side of the center, working your way out from the center. To attach succulent cuttings to the moss, use a hot glue gun ($16, Target) or a clear crafts gel kind of adhesive. Continue around the initial set of succulents with extra plants, packing them closely together. Start with hens-and-chicks and sedums if you’re unsure of what kind of succulents to use; both come in variants that stay small and give fascinating colors and textures.
Step 4: Finish Arrangement
With taller succulents placed closer to the pumpkin’s core and shorter ones oriented outward, try to create a mounded succulent pumpkin centerpiece. Because its trailing tendrils look finest draped over the edge of a container, burro’s tail succulents would make a perfect choice for the outer margins (or in this case, a pumpkin).
How long is a pumpkin going to stay succulent?
On a large pumpkin, starting in the center of the pumpkin with your largest succulent, place a dab of hot glue onto the stem and attach it into the moss.
Then, keep gluing your larger succulents into the moss as you work your way outward from the center.
Prioritize using your larger succulents before using the smaller hanging and filler succulents.
For a tiny pumpkin, I typically use a larger succulent as the focal point that is somewhat offset from the center, and then I add 2-3 smaller succulents to the sides.
Step 5: Finishing Touches
Look for any areas where the hot glue is visible. If there is, cover the adhesive with little pieces of stretched moss to conceal it.
Succulent Pumpkin Care
However, they will thrive in a partially sunny, covered area with shade. Or indoors where they will be protected from the elements and enjoy some filtered light.
Then, spray the succulents with water at the base of the stem once a week to every other week.
The succulents will gradually begin to sprout roots into the moss; this is ideal because it will allow you to plant them later.
How Long Do Succulent Pumpkins Last?
Starting with a healthy pumpkin will ensure that the entire arrangement lasts at least two to three months. But I have seen pumpkins with succulent tops that lasted for almost a year!
You may see all of my favorite succulents to use on pumpkins on the free list below.
How are succulents adhered?
Warm up the hot glue gun. To help the succulent better take root, add a few dots of hot glue to the underside of each rosette but not the stem (Image 1). Hold each succulent in place while the adhesive cools by pressing it into the moss. Continue until the desired look and organization are obtained (Images 2 and 3).
Step 3: Glue Succulents into Moss
Warm up the hot glue gun. Apply hot glue in little dots around each succulent stalk. To allow the succulent to take root, avoid applying glue to the stem. Until the glue has cooled, press into the moss and hold in place. Continue until the desired look and organization are obtained. Advice: The arrangement will last roughly one month. To protect succulents and moss from drying out, mist them with water. Healthy succulents can be propagated and/or replanted, and moss can be removed from pumpkin.
Live Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece
Succulents are now popular in gardening and home décor, so your holiday tabletop is the ideal place to use them. To create a striking centerpiece, live succulents are trimmed and used to top off seasonal pumpkins and squash.
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Can succulents be hot glued?
Your closest buddy while dealing with succulents in unconventional pots will also be floral glue. This glue from the Oasis brand cures rapidly and keeps succulents firmly in place. The support needed to keep a succulent in place is minimal. This is something you should have on hand whether you’re making a wreath or a planter out of driftwood.
Hot glue is another option that is equally as effective and affordable. Although I used to use this a lot for my crafts, I’ve found that the floral glue holds its shape better. However, if you already have it, go for it!
What about hot glue?
Actually, using hot glue on succulents is acceptable. On the location where the glue is, it does burn a tiny bit, but the rest of the plant is unaffected.
There are still spaces at the leaf nodes (where the leaves join to the stem) at the stem’s base where new roots can grow despite the bottom of the stem being completely covered in hot glue.
Even though it is now more challenging, your succulents may still send out roots at the end of the stem that, as they grow, may either push the hot glue off or just push up around it.
Crazy! But it’s possible. Your succulents will still grow successfully in either scenario.
Since floral adhesive tends to stick to succulents better, I prefer to use it.
How are succulent logs made?
This project is for you if your yard has a pile of logs that you need for firewood or other purposes. Succulents or other small plants thrive in this shallow wood log planter, which also makes a striking outdoor display. It is constructed out of a genuine wooden log and was carved out using a drill press, hole saw, and chisel. The best part is that this project can be completed in an afternoon or less for less than $40, making it one of our favorite wood log crafts.
How to hollow out a log
Choose a log that you like to start with. We picked a log with some character, some moss, and some discolouration. The fact that it is dry and not moist in the middle is crucial in this situation. Then, there are numerous techniques from which to choose in order to hollow out the wood log. There are two methods you can pick from: using a chainsaw to cut out the center or drilling holes with a Forstner bit and then using a chisel to remove the edges. However, because we used a hardwood, we decided to use a 3-in. diameter hole saw in a drill press to carve out the center of our log planter.
Stabilize the Wood Log
Locate the log’s most stable position, then fasten the base side to a board. The length and width of this wood board should be slightly larger than the log. The board should then be fastened to the log using long screws. In order for your hole saw cuts to be consistently parallel across the wood log, it is crucial to position the log further back on the wood board so that it may ride against the drill press fence. However, provide enough space so the log won’t be pressing up against the fence, peeling the bark off in the process. When cutting through the log with a hole saw and drill press, the board on the log will help support the log.
Cut Into the Wood Log
It’s a good idea to approximately mark the area where the opening will be before you start cutting into the log. We calculated that the opening should contain two inches of bark on either side. Clamp the log firmly to the drill press table so that you can begin carving the wood. We sliced into the timber with a 3-in. diameter hole saw in a drill press. To get the length of the aperture you want for the log planter, make a series of overlapping cuts with the hole saw as deep as it will go. We’ll need to make a second pass after roughly chiseling out this top layer of hole saw cuts because the maximum depth for our hole saw was 1-1/2 in. and the necessary depth for the planter aperture is 3 in.
Carve Out Planter Opening
When the hole saw has finished its work, use a chisel and a mallet or hammer to remove the cuts. The most time-consuming step is rounding the corners, but since the log planter will be stuffed with soil and succulents nonetheless, it doesn’t have to be flawless. Avoiding chipping off the bark is the hardest issue here.
Add Charcoal to the Base of the Planter
The base of the wood log planter should be equally covered with a layer of activated charcoal. Most garden centers sell activated charcoal, which aids with air filtering. This drainage layer assists in preventing root and log rot caused by too much water remaining in the soil.
Plant Your Succulents
Transfer the succulents to their new location in the wood log planter by removing them from their plastic containers. To give the planter visual interest and dimension, we selected succulents in a range of textures, heights, colors, and widths. When purchasing succulents from your neighborhood garden center, decide and prepare the appearance you want to achieve.
Add Soil
Add extra dirt around the plants so they won’t move once all of your succulents have been placed in their ideal spots. After carefully patting the earth around the plant with your hands, water the succulents. Because it offers succulent plants excellent soil structure and drainage, we utilized cactus mix potting soil.
Additionally, it’s crucial to keep in mind that succulents don’t thrive in soggy soil, so avoid overwatering your plant. Never water the succulent when the soil is damp or moist; just water it when the earth is dry. And if you’re concerned about overwatering your plant, fill the base of your planter with stones or gravel to allow for drainage (like mentioned in step 5).
Finishing Up Your Log Planter
This succulent log planter can be given as a present, but construct one for yourself as well. They look fantastic as the focal point of a patio table or as window sill decor. Check out these 14 succulent decorating ideas for your home right away!
Step 1: Insert foam, and fill in empty spaces with moss.
You’ll see that I didn’t use all of the desert foam in the container. Instead, I filled in the gaps with moss and angled the stems of my succulent plants into the foam.
This green Spanish moss was picked because it doesn’t compete with the vibrant artificial succulents.
Step 3: Insert faux succulent stems into foam bricks.
I used wire cutters to trim the stems of the succulents so that they were flush with the foam foundation. Try alternating hues (reds, greens, and blues) and styles for greater aesthetic appeal (cascading versus upright).
Based on the succulents and planter you select, the finished item will resemble this…
Here is how the succulent arrangement currently appears in my living room: