Decorating for the fall season is always top of my list of feel good things to do. The variety and colors of pumpkins and gourds that are outside of the normal fall color range is exciting to arrange with. Also, succulents that have grown like crazy all summer need to be pruned, brought in to warmer temperatures, and are a perfect partner for fall arranging.
Hanging baskets of succulents ready for taking cuttings and pruningsSucculents come in an array of sizes and shapes
With my Deck the Halls-A Succulent Christmas post getting tons of views all year long, succulents are maintaining their popularity and usefulness in all kinds of ways. Pumpkin decorating with succulents has reached mainstream audiences and many decorators are using these for their table centerpieces. Go to Succulent Pumpkins For the Fall and Pumpkin Treatsto see the variety of things that you can do with the combination of pumpkins and succulents for a long lasting table and unique arrangement.
Pumpkin decorated with succulentsTop of pumpkin covered with succulents
Succulents on pumpkin
Picking up an old fashioned wicker cornucopia on my travels inspired me to decorate it with the succulent/pumpkin/gourd idea.
The larger one which measures about 18″ long works better with large gourds and succulents; the smaller cornucopia which measures about 12″ long works with tiny pumpkins and hen and chick succulentsPlace bubble wrap in the cornucopia and gather your materials.
Placing some bubble wrap in the cornucopia to support the arrangement was the first step and then gathering my materials. I used fresh/dried gourds, dried pomegranates, air plants, cotton bolls, okra pods, oyster shells, and lots of succulent cuttings. The cuttings will last a long time through Thanksgiving and then I will recycle them into pots to root for next years succulents. Adding dried ornamental corn and baby pumpkins to the mix completes the display. No glue or oasis was used, I just inserted the materials into the bubble wrap.
Place your largest items in first; in this case, the gourds
Add your succulents, pomegranates, and other podsThis cornucopia is a little different the addition of oyster shells; See my post on a Williamsburg Christmas
Other Succulent Ideas
Here are some other succulent Thanksgiving ideas for centerpieces.
Top of a large pumpkin had small pumpkins attachedHouseplant succulent candle centerpiecePumpkins, succulents, and air plants on a side boardTable setting of pumpkins and succulentsSucculents and Pumpkins as a table setting
Who says you have to decorate with holly, mistletoe and pine? When I spotted succulent Christmas trees made up at a local nursery last Christmas for hundreds of dollars, I was inspired to create my own for Christmas. Succulents are so versatile that I use them in many decorating ways. Air plants are right up there in popularity and ease of growing.
Very similar in texture and appearance to succulents are air plants: I like to mix them together
Other succulent ideas for a cool gift to a plant loving friend is a tiny garden chock full of succulents and Christmas miniatures. Read to the bottom of this post for ideas on whipping these together. For Thanksgiving Succulent decorating ideas, go to A Succulent Thanksgiving or Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece.
Miniature garden using low maintenance succulent plants
Branch out and explore the many textures and colors of succulents. To paraphrase the great Will Rogers: I never met a succulent that I didn’t like! I enjoy the sculptural colorful quality of succulents so much that I continue to find ways to use them around the house and garden.
Colors and textures of succulents make these interesting houseplants and good specimens for containersA succulent container greets you at the door
DIY Christmas Tree
Preparation
Taking months to fill in, I wanted to make sure that my tree was fully grown in for the holidays, so I started the tree in the early spring. Tiny succulents in two to three inch pots are available in big box stores for a good price and if you have any existing containers of succulents, you can trim the tips off for cuttings. But don’t despair! If you are making your tree now, simply use more cuttings to fill the surface in fuller.
Succulent varieties in small pots
Aim for a variety of colors and textures when you select your succulent to make the tree attractive and interesting. There are so many varieties of succulents that this isn’t hard to do. Containers are dotted around my property in the fall and I can’t bring them all in, so I take cuttings of them to root into my tree form.
Echeverias are my go-to for tree selections and they form a nice large rosette. One called ‘Red Velvet’ is sold extensively during Christmas because of the garnet colored fuzzy markings.
Echeveria ‘Red Velvet’ has beautiful garnet colored markingsMy greenhouse has lots of succulents that I am rooting and over-winteringAn overflowing succulent planter that I took cuttings from
Step By Step for a Succulent Tree
Succulent Tree
Cut off a piece of chicken wire about 18 inches in length. This length depends on the size of the tree that you want to end up with. Mine ended up at 15 inches tall and 10 inches wide at the base.
Form the chicken wire into a cone and fasten together by bending the ends in.
Chicken wire can easily be formed into a cone
Saturate sphagnum moss in water and stuff the form with the moss firmly; Be sure to pack the moss so that you have a firm base to work with
Finished cone stuffed with wet moss
If taking cuttings, I cut the growing tip off, measuring between 2 to 5 inches in length, and strip off the lower leaves and let the cuttings sit out at room temperature for a day or two to form a callous.
Succulent cutting with fern pins for fastening the cutting firmly into the moss
If you are using small potted plants, remove the plant from the pot, shake off most of the soil from around the roots and you are ready to insert this into the moss form
Using a pencil or sharp pointed stick, insert the point into the sphagnum moss and wiggle the end to make the hole larger enough to receive the cutting or plant
Insert the cutting as far as you can; If the cutting is loose, you can use wire fern pins to hold it steady
Place the full moss cone into a pot of soil and fasten the edges to the soil with fern pins
Succulent tree finished with cuttings ready to fill in for the summer
For the first couple of days, keep the cone in the shade, gradually moving out to the sun, when the cuttings start to root which can take only a week or two
To water, submerse the cone into a bucket of water for a few minutes until thoroughly saturated, about once a week; alternatively, you can thoroughly mist the entire tree
As the plants grow, you will need to cut off the tips, and use these cuttings to fill in holes
My succulent tree kept growing all summer long and periodically, I would cut off a tip that was getting really long and fill in a bare spot so that by the end of the growing season, my tree was completely filled in.
At the end of the summer, the tree is fully filled in
If you want to see how to make other succulent creations, such as a wreath, a sphere, and a tiny garden, go to Succulent Creations to see step by step of making other shapes. For decorating pumpkins with succulents for the holidays, go to Pumpkin Treats to see how creative you can get with succulents.
Decorate the tree with ornaments for a finishing touchI use a lot of Echeveria rosettes on my tree
Finally for Christmas, I placed the pot into a decorative container and decorated with some Christmas balls. As a finishing touch, I stuck some air plants for in for a feathery texture. Insert them in between the spaces of the succulents.
Add air plants in at the very end
To keep the tree alive over the winter, I will place it in a sunny window and water sparingly because succulents can rot easily when they slow growth in the winter. When spring comes, I can increase the watering so that they begin to grow again.
Miniature Gardens
Requiring little care, succulents do well in small containers and pots. Lacking a large root ball, you can pot them up in very shallow containers. Succulents do need sun, so place your mini garden on a sunny windowsill. You can change out the Christmas decorations when the holidays are over for a spring time one in February.
Seasonal miniature garden with succulents in a bonsai dish
Miniature gardens are my passion, and I like to do seasonal ones with all the minis themed for that time of year. See my post on Springtime miniatures at Take Four-Springtime Seasonal Miniature Gardens.
An open terrarium is perfect for succulentsMaking up mini gardens for Christmas giftsSmall terrarium with air plants and lights
Finished succulent pumpkin with pods and driedsFinished peanut pumpkin with succulents and fresh flowers
A Natural Fit-Pumpkins & Succulents
Pumpkins and succulents-a happy pairing! With some glue, moss, succulent cuttings, and an interesting pumpkin, you can create porch decor or a great centerpiece in minutes. These last for months too. And if you have any extra flowers available, you can stick them in to get a quick color burst for a party or event.
Pumpkin decorated with succulents, step by step
Material List
A pumpkin or large gourd
Sheet moss or sphagnum moss
Assorted cuttings of succulents- I was moving most of my succulents indoors to beat the frost, and this gave me the opportunity to trim the growth back. I simply nipped pieces of succulent tips from living plants, trying to vary colors, shapes, and textures
Assorted pods, i.e. pine cones, okra pods, lotus pods, milk weed pods, and berries. For one of my examples, I used nandina berries and foliage which dries quite nicely, and okra pods
Fresh Flowers for a quick change of color
Tacky glue or glue gun
Spritzer for moistening moss
Berries, pods, and foliage to add to the pumpkin
Step By Step
Find a wide topped pumpkin and cut the stem off; I used “Cinderella” variety which has a grayish orange color, deep pleats, and a wide roomy top. For my other example, I used a “peanut pumpkin”(see note below). I think a white or green pumpkin would look fabulous. Also, gourds would be funky too.
Glue moss on top about 1/2 inch thick with a glue gun or tacky glue.
Arrange your succulent cuttings to form a pleasing arranging, making sure that you use the larger chunkier pieces first, and using long pieces to trail around the edges. Stick the stems into the moss with glue so that they adhere. A hot glue gun works best for this.
Add berries, pods, or anything else that goes with the fall theme, gluing in place.
Spritz the moss so that it is moist.
Peanut Pumpkin
Peanut pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima ‘Galeux d’Eysine’) is an heirloom pumpkin known for its distinctive peanut-like growths adorning the exterior of its pink hued rind. The “peanuts” are actually a buildup of excess sugar in the flesh of the pumpkin giving it its unique texture. Those warty protuberances tell you the flesh is extra sweet for making pies and other dishes. See some other varieties of pumpkins at Pumpkin Eye Candy.
Peanut pumpkin
Maintenance
It is best to keep the pumpkin outside in the chilly weather when you don’t want to show it off. I keep the decorated pumpkin out during the week on my front porch under cover, and bring it in on the weekends when we are around the house more. Pumpkins need cold weather to stay firm through the season. A warm house will speed up the inevitable decomposition and I want mine to last through Thanksgiving. Sometimes the succulent cuttings even root in the moss and you have more succulents to pot up.
Spritzing the pumpkinSucculent pumpkin without the berries and pods
Who would ever have thought of decorating pumpkins with succulents? Like bacon, succulents go with everything and make it better. The finished product is so different from the traditional carved Jack-O-Lantern, plus you don’t have to fool with the mess of seeds and rotten pumpkins. Unlike cut pumpkins these will last for months, and the succulents actually root in the moss if misted occasionally. This is a great new twist on decorating pumpkins for the fall holidays that is easy, no mess, and so creative. In the fall I have so many large succulents that I don’t have room for inside that I cut them up for decorations.
Lots of succulents from the summer need to be pruned to fit in my greenhouse
Better than losing the succulents to frost! The succulents actually root into the moss and you can transplant the cuttings to soil and grow them and set them out in the spring, saving on your start-up plant costs.
Pumpkin decorated with succulentsLittle pumpkins on top of big pumpkins!
Material List
A pumpkin or large gourd
Sheet moss, sphagnum moss, or reindeer moss
Assorted cuttings of succulents. I was moving most of my succulents indoors to beat the frost, and this gave me the opportunity to trim the growth back or actually uproot an entire plant, washing off the roots. I simply nipped large pieces of succulent tips from living plants, trying to vary colors, shapes, and textures.
Assorted pods, i.e. pine cones, okra pods, lotus pods, milk weed pods, and berries. For my example above, I used nandina berries and foliage which dries quite nicely, and okra pods. Mix it up with whatever you have on hand.
Tacky glue or glue gun
Spritzer for moistening moss
Berries, pods, and foliage to add to the pumpkin
Step By Step
Find a wide topped pumpkin and cut the stem off; I used “Cinderella” variety which has a grayish orange color, deep pleats or grooves, and a wide roomy top.
Glue moss on top about 1/2 inch thick with a glue gun or tacky glue.
Arrange your succulent cuttings to form a pleasing arrangement, making sure that you use the larger chunkier pieces first. Stick the stems into the moss with glue so that they adhere. Glue will not hurt the succulents.
Add berries, pods, or anything else that goes with the fall theme, gluing in place.
Spritz the moss so that it stays moist
There are so many unusual pumpkins on the market today that I also tried this arrangement with a Christmas theme using a white pumpkin, adding fresh variegated holly, winterberry, green amaranthus, and dried burgundy cockscomb to add a nice contrast to the white pumpkin.
White pumpkin with decorationsDecorated white pumpkin
Gourds
Gourds are also a great choice for these arrangements, appropriate for Thanksgiving and I chose a tall narrow one that fits into a smaller space. I had gathered some orange rose hips on the side of the road and blackberry lily berries and knew I had found the perfect use for them decorating the top of my gourd.
Gourd decorated with succulentsDisplay of decorated pumpkins on my front porch
Maintenance
It is best to keep the pumpkin inside in a cool spot, out of direct sunlight. Pumpkins need cool weather to stay firm through the season. If you want to keep them in an outside location, like mine on my front porch, be sure to bring inside when the weather turns colder with hard freezes. A warm house will speed up the inevitable decomposition, so don’t put your pumpkin on top of a radiator or in a sunny window. Last year, my pumpkins lasted into January!
Spritzing the pumpkinSucculent pumpkin without the berries and pods
If you crave the seaside atmosphere in the middle of winter, create a beach scene in miniature! Succulents are some of the easiest plants in the universe to grow and anyone can put this together to brighten up the dark days of winter.
Here is your supply list:
Clear glass container
Horticultural charcoal (not essential, but suggested)
Horticultural charcoal
Aquarium gravel
Cactus potting soil-This has better drainage than regular potting soil
2 small succulents
Play sand
Popsicle sticks for fence
Smooth stones for steppers (3)
Small shells
Blue colored decorative rocks for water
Tiny pieces of reindeer moss for seaweed
Miniatures ( I used a small Adirondack chair from Dept 56, wine bottles, wine and cheese tray)
Soft paint brush for brushing sand off succulents
Long tweezers to place accessories
Beach terrarium tutorial
Select a good-sized container, I used one 12″ x 8″, with straight sides
Lay a 1 inch layer of gravel
Mix in a handful of charcoal; this keeps the soil from turning smelly
Add about 2 inches of cactus soil, making hills and valleys to give the scene more interest
Plant the two succulents, watering lightly
Add a top layer of sand to cover soil
Brush off any sand with the soft paint brush, watering lightly again
Place and press into the sand the three smooth rocks
Add decorative blue rocks for water; I used crushed up and dyed mother of pearl
Add the rest of your accessories; break popsicle sticks and stick in the sand for a fence, add your miniatures, using the tweezers
Using tweezers to place minis in beach terrarium
Add tiny seashells and tiny tendrils of moss for seaweed to the water area
