This step-by-step photo guide will show you how to make a wreath out of living succulents. This is a fun project that will look great on your front door.
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Hello everyone, my tutorial on how to make a succulent wreath is finally here! I know you’ve all been looking forward to it I made a video out of the pictures I took along the way. Making the wreath was fun, but it took a lot of time. But it was well worth it in the end. I cant wait until the roots develop and it gets warm enough to hang outside!.
Let me start off by saying that this process was a lot more difficult than I expected. Its not terribly hard, but it definitely presented some challenges. Overall Im pleased with how the living wreath turned out and Im excited to see how it grows. At the end, there’s a short video that shows what I did with the wreath from beginning to end.
Living wreaths are a beautiful way to decorate for any season. These lush green wreaths made of living plants can adorn your front door or enhance your holiday decor. Making your own living wreath is surprisingly easy and allows you to customize with your favorite greenery. Follow this simple guide to craft a stunning living wreath!
Supplies Needed
Gather these supplies before starting:
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Metal wreath frame, 10-14 inches. Choose round, square, or oblong.
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Sheet moss, enough to cover frame. Look for sheet moss sold for crafts.
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Assorted greenery like ferns, ivy, creeping wire vine, mondo grass. Mix textures!
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Garden soil for container plants, Aim for lightweight potting mix
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Florist wire, 20-24 gauge. You’ll need 6-10 feet.
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Garden pruners or scissors for trimming greenery
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Bucket for soaking moss
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Tray for dirty cleanup
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Water mister or spray bottle
Step 1: Soak the Moss
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Place sheet moss in a bucket and add water until fully submerged.
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Allow moss to soak 15-20 minutes until thoroughly wet. This prevents the moss from absorbing moisture from the soil too quickly.
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Gently lift moss from the water and squeeze out excess moisture. Set aside.
Step 2: Add Moss to Frame
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Take your metal wreath frame and place it on a flat work surface or tray to contain mess.
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Lay the soaked sheet moss on top of the frame, pressing it into the frame so all metal is covered.
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Use additional moss pieces if needed to patch any gaps.
Step 3: Add Soil
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Sprinkle potting mix over the moss, covering it completely.
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Press soil gently to form an even 1-2 inch layer over the moss and frame.
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Fill frame fully with soil, mounding slightly if needed.
Step 4: Insert Greenery
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Time to add greenery! Start by making small holes in the soil with your finger.
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Cut 6-8 inch pieces of ferns, ivy, mondo grass etc. Remove any dead material.
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Insert each stem into the soil holes, spacing evenly to achieve a full look.
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Plant 5-10 stems per square inch for lush results. Continue until wreath frame is full.
Step 5: Secure Greenery
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Use florist wire to secure the greenery firmly in the soil.
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Cut 10-12 inch lengths and wrap the ends of delicate ferns or stems to anchor them.
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Hide wires by tucking under additional moss as needed.
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Check wreath for any gaps and fill by tucking in extra stems or moss.
Step 6: Hang and Maintain
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Attach a wire hanger to the back of the frame. Hang on front door, wall or holiday decoration spot.
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Mist with water daily to keep moss and plants hydrated.
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Soak wreath weekly by submerging in tub of water for 15-20 minutes. This ensures it stays fresh.
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Prune or replace any dead or damaged material. Living wreaths last 1-2 months with proper care.
Tips and Inspiration
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For holiday wreaths, add berries, pinecones, ribbon etc. Remove promptly after display to avoid drying plants.
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Make a woodland-themed wreath with ferns, ivy, mondo grass, creeping jenny.
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Try succulents like hens and chicks and sedum for a low-maintenance desert wreath.
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Rotate wreaths seasonally! Make a spring wreath with grape hyacinths, a winter wreath with holly and ivy.
With this easy method, you can create stunning living wreaths for a fraction of the cost of buying pre-made. Let your creativity run wild with different greenery, themes and seasonal decorations. Impress your family and friends with your handcrafted living wreath!
Buy or Create a Spangham Moss Wreath Frame
I chose not to make my own wreath base after seeing what other people have done with living wreaths and succulent wreaths. Instead, I bought one. Daniel (who I bought my original succulent cuttings from) recommended getting a form from Topiary Artworks. After looking around a little more, I decided they were the best option. They have great quality wreaths and their prices are terrific. I bought the 15″ Living Wreath. It is a good size, and the 200 succulent cuttings I bought gave me plenty of plants to put inside.
Soak the Moss Wreath
Basic instructions for making a wreath came with my purchase. At least at the start, making sure the wreath is fully wet before you start adding cuttings is the most important part of this whole process. I had thought it would be nice to work with the wreath dry, but it just falls apart. After being soaked all the way through (I did mine in the bathtub for about 15 minutes), the wreath is easy to work with but heavy. I can’t wait for it to dry out a bit so it’s not so heavy.
I realized after the fact that it would have been smart for me to take a picture of how I designed the wreath before creating it. Basically, I just laid out all of the cuttings in a circle the approximate size of my wreath. This was a really great thing to do. I was able to see if the overall design is what I wanted and I got an idea of how many cuttings it would actually take to make it look right. Unless you are very confident in your design skills (and even if you are…) this is a step I would not skip. It will help your wreath look better in the end and youll use your cuttings more efficiently.
Check out this post to learn about the concept of “thriller, filler, spiller”. It inspired the design for this wreath. I planned to add a larger cutting near the bottom (thriller), and I bought a big pot of the String of Pearls variety of succulent to tie the wreath together and make it look more natural (spiller).
How To Make a Living Wreath
How do you make a living wreath?
There are a few different ways to make a living wreath. One method is to use wire and tie branches or other plants together to form a circle. To make a living wreath that’s a little more stable you’ll need a wire frame. You can purchase this at any craft store or even form your own out of chicken wire.
What are the best Halloween wreath ideas?
Carving a pumpkin with the biggest smile and placing it in the middle is one of the brilliant Halloween wreath ideas that you can do at home. Don’t forget to add a nice mix of autumn leaves and flowers to really make it stand out and look nice. 4. Gothic Bird’s Nest Halloween Wreath
How can I add a hanging loop to a wreath?
I added a hanging loop by threading a bit of embroidery cotton through one of the tips using a needle. You could go to town with fancy Christmas papers, upcycled glossy magazines, text from an old book – the origami wreath world is your oyster.