Make sure your wreath has a lot of light. The majority of succulents require at least 6 hours a day of indirect sunlight. A sunny window or a sunroom are good places to put your wreath. Do you want to take it outside? If the nighttime low falls below 55F/13C, bring it inside and keep it out of the direct sun. The cold bothers these desert nomads.
Water with caution. Water your succulent wreath by dipping it in room-temperature water and letting it sit there for a few minutes so the sphagnum moss can absorb it. After a little period of drying, water it once more. More plants are killed by overwatering than any other factor. Succulents store water effectively, so they require less frequent watering than most people think. Never let water collect in a succulent’s rosettes because they will quickly decay. Observe plants carefully. Succulents require extra water if their leaves are withered.
How frequently should my succulent wreath be watered?
I’m a sensible girl. When I spend the time, money, and effort to create anything, I want it to last as long as feasible. I published a guide last week on how to create a wreath out of living succulents. Today I want to explain to you how to care for that outdoor succulent wreath so it will stay alive, healthy, and attractive for a long time. Your living masterpiece shouldn’t need to be redone every month, to put it simply.
In order for the roots to establish themselves, grow, and begin to bind the soil, I want to make sure that you are aware that you need keep your wreath laying flat for at least 1-2 months after building it. The last thing you want is to make the wreath, hang it, and have it disintegrate. Succulents are tough plants, but there’s no reason to abuse them, especially because you’ll need to make the wreath again.
I’m discussing succulent wreath maintenance while sitting on my front stairs with the wreath.
The following are the five things you should be aware of to keep your outdoor succulent wreath healthy and attractive:
With little to no direct sunlight, bright light is preferred. Although some early sun is acceptable, hang your wreath away from any scorching, strong sun. The roots of such fleshy succulents will quickly dry out and burn. If you put it under some sort of cover, it will last even longer. As a result, it will be shielded from any damaging winds or heavy rains. Although it is fairly light during the day, my front porch is entirely covered and only receives about an hour of direct morning sun, making it the perfect location to hang a living wreath.
A thorough watering once every one to three weeks will do depending on the temps and exposure. You might need to water your wreath more frequently than you would your succulents in pots because some of the forms are pretty shallow and can’t contain a lot of soil. Take the wreath down, flatten it out, and give it plenty of water. You can do this by spraying with a spray bottle, using a garden hose with a gentle flow, or using a narrow-spouted watering can. Before hanging it back up, allow the water to completely drain out.
Since your wreath isn’t growing in a lot of soil, it would benefit from some annual nutriment. If you feel it needs another feeding, go ahead and do it in late summer. One in the spring is good. You can use manure tea, sea kelp, fish emulsion, or an organic balanced liquid fertilizer. Make sure the fertilizer gets to the roots intentionally because that’s where it’s most required.
Plants will be better able to withstand an unwanted pest visit the healthier they are. My succulents occasionally acquire orange aphids on the sensitive new growth or mealy bugs down in the nodes, which I gently brush off with the garden hose. Because you don’t want to blast off the moss and dirt, it can be more difficult to accomplish this with a wreath. You could try treating the problem using a solution of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 8 parts water in a spray bottle.
The moss might eventually deteriorate or disintegrate, so some maintenance will be required. Just grab some moss fragments, cover the exposed soil, and secure with greening pins. Consider it a moss band-aid!
These wreaths require only occasional trimming of dead leaves for upkeep, which is rather easy. You can trim out any succulents that eventually crowd and outgrow one another, let the stems recover, and then replant them. Consider it to be a wreath that keeps on giving!
Do cactus wreaths endure?
Since at least the 1950s, as far as I’m aware, the succulent wreath has been manufactured. In the early 1970s, I recall meeting ardent succulent growers who would gather with friends close to Capitola, where I lived, to create their wreaths. At the time, they informed me they had been performing them for at least 20 years.
If you want to create your own succulent wreath, there are a few things you should be aware of from the start. Even the most seasoned gardener will take at least an hour to plant the 12″ frame, and this does not include taking or preparing the cuttings. A great full wreath will require many cuttings, maybe 100 or more for a 12″ frame.
The wreath frame, old style.
I no longer use the same frame that I did during those formative years. Two wire rings, sphagnum moss, earth, and fishing line were used to construct the ancient structure. Sphagnum moss was laid out on top of the flattened wire frame. The sphagnum was then covered with a thin layer of dirt, then another layer of sphagnum was added. The second wire frame was placed on top of the sphagnum, which had been somewhat wrapped around it. To keep everything together, fishing line was then wound around the frames.
Some individuals still use this form of frame, but I switched to a new style in the late 1970s because the old frame had a number of shortcomings. The outdated frame was large and incredibly heavy. No matter how high-quality the sphagnum or how skillfully they were put together, these frames eventually leaked, causing the soil to run out and collapse the wreath in an unattractive mess.
New Style.
How fresh is fresh? This style has been mine for more than thirty years, so I suppose it’s not quite new. It’s easy to use and dependable. The pre-made frame comprises of a wire frame, a nylon mesh sock that has been filled with sphagnum, and a nylon mesh sock that is fastened to the wire frame. It is easy to use, lightweight, and strong.
Typically, rooted succulents were planted in the vintage frame. In my new method, I give cuttings a place to grow after about a month. If you wish to grow plants from cuttings, you will need to plant them either during the ideal growth season for roots or in a greenhouse with an extended growing season. Although the older method of planting with rooted cuttings provided you a planted frame rather quickly, I have always thought the current method looked far nicer over time.
Longevity
If you have any experience with succulents, you can anticipate using the wreath for at least a year after planting. A wreath typically lasts between two and five years, though one of my customers reported success for ten years!
Ways to use.
I’ll publish an example on the website if I have the images shot. The wreaths can be hung on a wall or utilized flat. Be imaginative and experiment with your use of them. Even in the worst circumstances, they will survive for months as they extend outward in search of sunshine. They will thrive in the right environment, which includes filtered sun light and fresh air. They will undoubtedly outlive any rose bouquet.
Small candles placed in the succulents surrounding the ring of the wreath when it is flat are frequently used as decorations. Additionally, I’ve placed a hurricane lamp with a bigger candle right in the middle of the wreath.
It’s fine to bring the wreath inside for the holidays or another special occasion and then bring it back outside again as long as you are careful to let it acclimate to the sunlight gradually to prevent burning.
What to do near the end.
You have a variety of options when your wreath starts to look dated and the frame starts to break. I always advised consumers to place the wreath in the ground, a pot, or a bed of dirt. The plants will grow virtually indefinitely after establishing roots through the frame and into the soil bed a few weeks later. One of my clients informed me he divided the wreath into three-inch pieces and planted each one separately in pots. The wreath’s outstanding feature is that, while it might not always function as a wreath, it can practically function as a succulent garden for all time. Enjoy!
How long do succulents last?
The wreath can endure up to five years and will alter over time. When the wreath starts to overgrow, it can be cut into cuttings, which can then be planted in a new wreath frame.
How often do you need to water succulents?
Think about the succulents’ natural environment. These areas, which are dry and arid, frequently go weeks, months, and (rarely) years without receiving adequate watering. But when it rains, it pours and saturates the ground, allowing the succulent’s water reserves to be replenished.
How can you tell if succulents need water?
Depending on where the plant is positioned, you only need to water your succulents once or twice a month, unlike other houseplants. The issue is frequently overwatering. Your succulents are probably overwatered if they are mushy, soft, and have translucent leaves. The leaves will begin to decay and turn black if the overwatering is left unchecked. Wait till the soil is absolutely dry before watering.
Should you spray succulents with water?
They are sprayable. Cacti and succulents don’t require moist, humid environments. They need to drink water thoroughly and completely before doing nothing else. Despite your desire to water or spray them, wait until the soil is once more dry before doing so.
As part of the Seasonal Simplicity Summer Series, I’m joined today by a wonderful group of blogger pals who are also sharing their summer DIY wreath ideas. To discover exactly how they produced their wreath design, click on the links below it.
How should a live wreath be cared for?
- Until they are ready to use, keep them in a cool place. You can use a refrigerator, a garage, or an unfinished basement.
- To keep the moisture in, spray an anti-desiccant on the surface. Do not omit this phase!
- Every two to three days, mist the garland with water to prolong its vitality. This glass spray bottle is one I like to use.
- If at all possible, keep them away from heat vents and direct sunshine.
QUICK TIP: If you want to mix the anti-desiccant product with water before soaking fresh greens, you can also buy it as a concentrate. This, in my opinion, is less untidy than using Wilt Pruf’s spray bottle and may even be more comprehensive, making sure that all the foliage is covered.
How is a live wreath made?
1. Soak your sphagnum moss and potting soil in water. Note: You may mold both of them into the wire more easily if you moisten them beforehand.
2. Fill the wreath with soil after lining it with sphagnum moss. The soil won’t spill and cause a mess thanks to the moss.
3. Carefully around the wreath with your plants. To securely secure, pat down the area.
4. After a week or so, water your wreath and let it sit flat. The roots will have more time to expand and firmly attach in the soil as a result.
5. Display the wreath. Depending on its size, you could even put the wreath flat on a table to create a lovely centerpiece for a spring-themed feast.
6. To ensure that the wreath lasts as long as possible, water it two to three times a week. The simplest method is to either soak the wreath in the sink or, if it’s outside, spray it with a hose.
How many succulents are need to make a wreath?
It’s surprisingly simple to create your own succulent wreath. From more than 60 plant families, you can choose the forms and textures that you want. For this wreath, florist Mark Kintzel selected species of the genus Echeveria, whose geometric leaves resemble flowers; Sedum, a low-growing, rounded green plant; Pachyphytum, whose fleshy, plump leaves are covered in a powdery white coating; Portulacaria, a compact, green shrub; and Gasteria, a spiky tongue-like plant closely related to aloe.
Craft paper should be used to cover the workspace. The wreath frame should be submerged in water for 30 minutes, removed, and then let to drain for 10 minutes. If you want to hang the wreath frame, attach florist wire to the rear.
Remove the succulents from their containers and clean the roots of any remaining soil. Succulents should be placed in a circle that is the same size as your wreath to help you plan your design.
Make a hole in the wreath with a screwdriver, spreading the netting and the sphagnum moss a little to make room for the root system. Insert yourself quite deeply, but don’t pierce straight through.
Snip the mesh surrounding the hole with scissors to widen the entrance. Squeeze the wreath’s sphagnum moss tightly around the succulent root’s base after inserting it into the hole.
Put a floral pin around the stem or leaf of each succulent to secure the plants. This will keep them in place, especially if you intend to hang the wreath before they have had six to eight weeks to fully root in the frame.
Once all of the plants are in place around the frame, finish by wrapping Spanish moss around the succulents to complete the wreath and cover any exposed frame elements.
Once a week, or anytime you notice it starting to dry up, soak the entire wreath in a bowl of water for about 15 minutes. A weekly spraying will be helpful for succulents as well.