The designer selected a wooden urn with a basin that was 3 inches deep, 12 inches in diameter, and 8 inches tall to make this floral-inspired centerpiece. Aeonium “Sunburst,” Echeveria “Perle von Nurnberg,” burro tail sedum, several blue echeverias, lithops (living stones), and Senecio radicans are some of the plants present (fish hooks).
- To line the basin, cut a circle from thick mil plastic (like a trash bag). Fill with potting soil, then compact it by pressing down on the earth with your palms. Create a mound in the center that is several inches high and slopes down to the rim.
2. Place an upright group of the biggest rosettes in the center.
3. Position smaller plants or cuttings at an angle facing outward all around the central grouping.
4. When the arrangement is almost complete but there are still some gaps, tuck and cover the plastic’s edge beneath the rim while pushing the roots of the remaining plants into the dirt with a chopstick.
- Gently brush any soil that has spilled off the leaves, then softly water the finished arrangement to help the roots settle. Due to the lack of drainage, water it sparingly, once a week, just enough to moisten the soil but not to the point where the roots are submerged.
Additional design tips
Designer Melissa Teisl offers the following additional tips for obtaining a “flower style” aesthetic:
- Choose succulents that will fit into the container.
- Repeat the hues or shapes of the plants in the container you choose.
- To draw the eye and frame the plants, use the lines and contour of the pot.
- For an abundant appearance, plant densely.
- Use crushed rock topdressing to conceal the soil.
- Set the composition in a favorable environment, and vice versa.
- Adding non-succulents will broaden your palate. For instance, a cordyline will give a tall pot height and drama.
- Add a satin or velvet bow to a present arrangement to dress it up.
In my books Succulent Container Gardens and Succulents Simplified, you can find DIY floral-inspired succulent centerpieces. My free Craftsy class, Stunning Succulent Arrangements, teaches you how to create them. Visit my YouTube channel for more fantastic suggestions on how to use and decorate with succulents!
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:
How are rocks adhered to one another to make imitation plants?
Important!! Decide how much gravel you’ll need and put it in a colander before you start cleaning it. After that, rinse it really carefully to remove all the debris. The gravel should then be allowed to dry after allowing all the water drain out.
I used a yard hose to clean mine, then I set the stone colander outside to dry. Then, to aid in their drying, I ran my hands through the stones, moving them about roughly every ten minutes.
Gather containers for planting
In my situation, I had to paint the potting containers’ exteriors. Depending on the kind of container or containers you’re using, this is optional. My herb and flower combo container plants allowed me to reuse the 1 pint plastic containers that were provided with our herbs.
Line container with paper towel
One paper towel folded into four pieces should go in the bottom of each planter. The adhesive drips will be caught by this. (I should have done this; I didn’t, but I subsequently realized it would have helped catch the glue drips.)
Add floral foam
Cut the floral foam brick into 1-inch slices, and then round off the foam slice’s edges with a knife so that it will fit into the planting container’s bottom.
Cut stems to size
Use the wire-cutting pliers to shorten the stems of each of the imitation succulents as necessary. Yours might already be brief enough. You can estimate how much to cut off if you hold the plant upright next to the planter. Don’t cut too much off. When you actually plant it into the gravel, you can always trim it a little bit more if necessary.
I just recently learnt about gravel glue and how it can be applied outdoors to gravel roads, rock beds, and stone walkways to keep the stones in place as well as for creative projects. For big outdoor spaces, there are many pre-made pebble binders available. They even offer similar mulch holding items that I would love to try. However, given their cost, I’m trying to fit them into the budget for the following year.
For this project, I created a homemade gravel glue that is both small-batch and incredibly inexpensive to produce. All you need is water and ordinary glue. You can use clear craft glue or regular white glue.
The typical blending percentages are either:
- 1 part water to 1 part glue
- 3 parts water to 1 part glue
- 4 parts water to 1 part adhesive
Apply a single thick coat or a number of smaller ones. You can decide. I applied one thinner coat, then poured glue straight from the bottle over the top of the stone, and it worked fairly well.
Make the gravel glue
This tutorial can be downloaded from my resource collection, as I already indicated. The password is available at the bottom of this post.
- 6 to 8 cups of pea gravel should be poured into a colander. Wash the gravel well. As stated before, set it aside and let it drain and dry.
- In a clean bucket or container, combine a 14 oz bottle of glue with around 16 oz of water. Good stirring
- Once the gravel has been thoroughly coated with the glue mixture, add it and stir.
Place stems into gravel
One or more of the imitation succulents should have the stem portion inserted into the gravel. Until it is fully inserted, firmly pressing it into the floral foam. Reminder: if the stem hasn’t been sufficiently pruned, remove the plant and do so. Reposition into the gravel after that.
Add more glue
By immediately squeezing glue from the bottle onto the top of the stone in the planter, you can add more adhesive to the gravel to finish it off. The second bottle of glue is intended for this purpose. The gravel will have more hold after completing this stage. As previously said, let the adhesive drain and dry.
Gravel glue won’t hold the gravel firmly because it is water soluble. However, it will keep it there for a very long period. The adhesive can be removed off the stone by soaking it in hot water if you ever wish to disassemble the planter and reuse the gravel. I believe it should work, however it would take some time and the stones would probably need to be cleansed often.
Additionally, most white glue dries clear; check the label to confirm this. However, if you are worried about that, you might want to try using transparent craft glue, which begins off clear and should also dry clear. Just make sure the label makes that clear.
Do fake succulents exist at the Dollar Store?
Since the stores are loaded with the cutest $1 potted faux succulents, Dollar Tree must be, too. Even bamboo and cactus are present!
How is a succulent decorated?
Despite the fact that most people appreciate having live plants in their homes, they don’t have any because they are worried they would kill them and lose their purpose. Decorate with succulents to bring some greenery into your room. They are a simple plant to grow and are available in a huge range of forms and hues of green. I’m offering a collection of 13 suggestions for using succulents in your home decor to encourage you to cultivate succulents.
I recently demonstrated how to grow succulents in a cigar box. I embellished my succulent planter with some moss and little seashells. The task at hand is incredibly simple to finish.
This hanging globe terrariums project is one of my favorite planting endeavors. Choosing the teeny succulents that go inside is so much fun. For added appeal, I once more added a few tiny seashells.
I adore Carolyn’s assignment: glitter stenciled succulent pots. I must attempt to make these!
Using items from the thrift store, DIY Inspired demonstrates how to create adorable succulent pots.
Craftberry Bush created adorable driftwood planters for succulents, which she then put on the wall.
These ombre pots from The Dempster Logbook are so adorable! Pretty adorable, no? There are so many varieties of succulents to pick from!
In little containers, succulents look so attractive. These were embellished by DIY Candy using Sharpies, then once the succulents were planted, glass marbles were added.
Terra clay pots were painted with white and gold paint by Pastels & Macarons before having small cactus placed inside.
From Country Chic Cottage, these faux succulent pots hang on the wall. I’ve seen these built using real succulents, but hanging them on the wall makes it hard to water them. adore these
These incredibly lovely succulent magnets were also produced by Country Chic Cottage. She is so shrewd!
These foam sheet succulents from Craftberry Bush are another inventive creation. She reveals the recipe!
See how to make this unique wreath at Finding Silver Pennies. It’s not your typical wreath.
How are succulents planted in a glass bowl?
It’s a really simple method that only needs a few items to plant succulents in a glass vase.
What you will need for this project is:
- Succulents
- a glass bottle
- mixed soil
- Trowel
- Sand or stones
- Moss
Step 1: Remove the succulents from their container
Start by taking the succulents out of their original containers. Remove as much soil as you can because nursery-grown succulents typically don’t have the ideal soil for these plants. To make your plants look better, get rid of any sickly or dead leaves simultaneously. Give your plants extra tender care.
Step 2: Insert soil in to the container, but not too much
Next, add soil to the container of your choice. Fast-draining soil is essential for succulents in order to avoid issues brought on by overwatering. Keep in mind that glass containers lack drainage holes. Succulent-specific soil mixes are available for purchase or you can just make your own. Create your own potting soil by combining two parts organic soil, one part sand, and two parts perlite.
Do keep in mind that different species of succulents have varying needs for soil, so you might need to try a few different things before planting your succulents in glass pots.
Don’t completely fill the glass container. Before placing your succulents, fill it halfway. This will give you plenty of space to work with as you arrange the plants and add finishing touches like rocks and sand.
Step 3: Plant the succulent into the soil
Insert the succulent into the glass container’s soil. Make sure your succulents are planted straight, without being uneven or distorted. Check to see if any leaves have been buried as well. Succulent leaves that have been buried are susceptible to decay.
Step 5: Add sand or pebbles to the glass container
Finally, you can fill the glass container with sand or pebbles. If you use white sand, be aware that you will eventually need to replace it.
Kit includes:
1. Flatten the wreath frame. Place the cutting on the screen so that the soil can see the stems through the screen holes. 2. Insert the cuttings into the sphagnum moss through netting holes made with a nail to enlarge the sphagnum holes to accommodate the cuttings. For the rooting process, place the frame in bright, filtered light—not direct, hot sunlight. 3. Give the plants about three weeks to develop roots. After two weeks, look for roots; when they are between 1/8 and 1/4 inch long, it’s time to water. Set the frame in one inch of water for around ten minutes to wet it. Once the wreath has dried out, which should take 4 to 5 days, remove it from the water and do not water it again. 4.) The plants will be sufficiently rooted to hang the frame in 8 to 10 weeks. 5.) Hang the frame in a spot that receives morning sun or filtered sunlight throughout the day. In hot, direct sunlight, it struggles.
1.) The wreath can endure up to five years and will vary over time. When the wreath becomes overgrown, it can be cut into cuttings, which can then be planted in a new wreath frame. 2. Water the wreath by submerging it completely for 10 minutes in about an inch of water. Before hanging again, remove from the water and let the item drain. Every four to five days, the wreath needs to be watered. 3.) Fertilize every fourth or fifth watering with a 1/4-dose of any all-purpose fertilizer.