How to Make a Living Wreath

A living wreath is easy to make and keep alive once you know all the tricks. In this post you will learn how to make an inexpensive wreath that looks like a million bucks – figuratively right? I mean a million bucks? Who would sounds that much?

Usually a premade succulent frame will cost you about $30. Here you’ll see how to make one for $6.50 by making a wreath form from dollar tree supplies.

Shopping List for a Summer Succulent Wreath

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• 2 wire 12″ wreath forms from the dollar store $2
• Floral Wire from the dollar store $1
• Floral Pins from Amazon .50¢
• Sphagnum Moss from Amazon $3.50
• Succulents from your local nursery or garden

The package of sphagnum moss is $13, but will do about 4 wreaths. The floral pins package will do anywhere from 5-10 wreaths.

1. Making the Dollar Tree Spring Wreath

Use the floral wire to connect each joint of the two wreaths together. Make sure you fold the ends of the wire pointing inside the form to avoid being poked later.

Next, zig zag the wire on the inside of the wreath where you have the largest opening. You can wire the bottom and sides as well, but leave the top two rows open for succulents.

2. Putting Sphagnum Moss in the Frame

Sphagnum moss is important because it holds the succulents in the moss and frame. This special moss also absorbs and holds a lot of water.

Soak the moss in a bucket of water. Then squeeze out the excess water. Be careful for pokey items. The company does a good job preparing the moss, but sometimes there are small sticks. Squeeze with care. ☺️

Press the moss into the wire wreath form. You want the moss to be thin and compact so you can’t see light through the bottom and sides when you lift it up.

Leave as much room as possible (by making it compact) that you have room for succulent roots and soil. Imagine you are making a nest. You need it to be strong, but you also need it to be wide enough to hold plants.

3. Assembling Succulents in Moss

Keep as much soil as you can around your succulent roots. Press the roots and soil into the succulent form.

Use floral pins to hold your succulents in the wreath.

Next press more sphagnum moss into the wreath form, covering any exposed soil. This will help hold your succulents in place and help hold in moisture for your plants.

If desired, you may also want to wrap your wreath, moss and succulents with twine. Be careful to go around plants and only touch the moss. This can help further hold the moss and plants in place while they establish themselves in the wreath.

Once the root system is strong they will hold themselves in the wreath. You may wonder how long do succulent wreaths last?

A succulent wreath can last up to 5 years. It will change over time. As it gets over grown you can trim back the succulents and use the succulent starts for more wreaths.

Succulent Wreath Maintenance

If you would like to place your succulent wreath on the door avoid South facing doors as the sun will be too hot. Also if you have a wooden door, place plastic behind the wreath to protect the wood finish.

How to Care For Your Succulent Wreath

• After planting, keep the wreath out of direct sunlight for a week. Gradually increase light levels to full exposure.

• For hot zones protect plants from midday sun. Indoors set your wreath in a south-facing window, greenhouse or garden room.

• Hang your wreath using galvanized hardware to avoid rust.

• If you’ll be displaying your wreath on a wooden surface (such as a door) consider covering the back of your wreath with plastic, using floral pins.

• Water your succulent wreath when it feels dry, every 3-10 weeks depending on temperature and lighting.

• Soak the wreath in a container of water for at least an hour.

Avoid misting the surface with water as this encourages shallow roots and effects the health of the plant.
Enjoy your living wreath!

One last dollar store tip: for easy watering purchase a round dollar store serving tray. It fits the dollar store wire wreath forms perfectly. Place your wreath on the tray. Fill the tray with water until the wreath won’t soak up any more water. Let the wreath dry out a bit, then hang back up.

If you enjoyed learning about succulent wreaths, you may also like Making A Dry River Bed with Succulents.

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and How to Make A Pinecone Garland

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