Gardening aficionados often find charm in crafting succulent wreaths as a unique, lively, and creative alternative to traditional floral decor. Succulents, with their diverse varieties, enticing textures, colors, and hardiness have been fascinating individuals for their versatility and beauty. This essay will guide you through this botanical journey by helping you understand and select the right kind of succulents, along with insights on how to design your own succulent wreath. Moreover, it will also explore how to devise the perfect wreath frame, plant succulents into it, and maintain the beauty over time with proper care.
Dig in!
Understanding and Selecting Succulents
Understanding Succulents
Succulents are a type of plant with fleshy, water-storing leaves or stems that allow them to thrive in arid conditions. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors and can be an excellent addition to your wreath. To select the right succulents for your wreath, you’ll first need to understand their growing habits, watering needs, and sunlight requirements.
Generally, succulents prefer well-draining soil and a fair amount of sunlight. However, each type of succulent may have specific needs. For example, some succulents like the Echeveria prefer bright but indirect light and infrequent watering, while others, like the Jade Plant, can handle more water and direct sunlight.
Selecting Succulents
When choosing succulents for your wreath, consider where you plan to display the finished item. Bright, direct light will suit some succulents better, while others will prefer less light and cooler temperatures. Remember that a wreath will provide little or no soil, so succulents that require less frequent watering will likely be more successful.
It’s also important to choose a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors to add visual interest to your wreath. A combination of rosette-shaped succulents such as Echeverias or Sempervivums, combined with trailing varieties such as ‘String of Pearls‘ or ‘String of Dolphins‘, can create an attractive, textural contrast.
Size is another factor to consider. Smaller succulents are easier to work with in wreaths, but including a few larger plants can and an eye-catching focal point.
Research Specific Types of Succulents
Do your research to understand the specific needs of each succulent you are considering for your wreath. Some popular choices for wreaths include:
- Sempervivum (Houseleek): These rosette-forming plants come in a variety of colors and are very hardy, making them a great choice for wreaths.
- Echeveria: Another rosette-former, Echeverias are a bit more delicate than Sempervivums but offer a great variety of color and texture.
- Crassula (Jade Plant): These plants are sturdier and can tolerate brighter light and more water, making them a good choice for wreaths to be hung in sunnier locations.
- Sedum (Stonecrop): Sedums come in many varieties and are typically quite hardy, making them suitable for a variety of climates and light levels.
- Senecio (‘String of Pearls’ or ‘String of Bananas’): These trailing succulents can add an elegant cascading effect to your wreath.
By understanding the needs of your chosen succulents and providing the right care, you can create a beautiful, long-lasting wreath. With careful selection and a little creativity, your succulent wreath will be a stunning addition to your home or garden.
Creating the Wreath Frame and Planting
Creating the Wreath Frame
In order to start your succulent wreath, you will need to gather the necessary materials for the wreath frame. These materials include a wire wreath frame that can be found at most craft stores, sphagnum moss, floral wire or green garden wire, and a bucket of water. The size of your wire frame will determine the size of your succulent wreath, so choose accordingly. Many opt for a 12 to 14-inch frame to start.
First, fill your bucket with water and soak the sphagnum moss in it. The moss serves as the planting medium for the succulents and needs to be thoroughly moistened. Let it soak until it’s completely saturated and pliable, which may take several minutes. While the moss is soaking, take the wire wreath frame and bind any loose areas with the floral wire to ensure stability.
Then, take the wet sphagnum moss and start wrapping it around the wire wreath frame making sure to cover all the wire sections. Keep adding more moss until the frame is fully covered and you have a “moss pillow”. Finally, use the floral wire to wrap around the moss and the frame, securing the moss in place. Ensure that the wire is tight and the moss is secure, as this forms the base where you will plant the succulents.
OR there’s the option of buying a wreath form that already has the moss attached to it. The convenience of not having to deal with messy moss makes this worth it to me.
Planting Succulents on the Wreath
Before we start planting, it’s important to prepare the succulents. Make sure the succulents have been out of soil and have had their cut ends dried for a couple of days. Look to include a variety of succulents for a visually appealing wreath.
You might also like: Propagating Succulents 4 Ways: The Best Guide Ever
To begin planting, take the first succulent and insert the stem deep into the moss. If the stem happens to be too short, use a pencil or chopstick to make a hole and then place the succulent stem inside. The moss should be dense enough to hold the succulents securely. If not, use greening pins to secure them until they’re rooted.
Repeat this procedure, placing succulents close together until the entire frame is covered. To maintain visual balance, consider alternating the colors and sizes of the succulents. Some succulent wreath creators like to form a pattern or design with their plants, but an organic placement can be just as beautiful.
Once you have finished planting all the succulents, use the remaining floral wire to secure any loose areas on the wreath. You can also use at hot glue gun if necessary. It won’t harm the succulents at all. Turn the wreath sideways to make sure all succulents are well secured and add wire where needed. Always remember to handle the plants gently.
After planting, let the wreath lie flat in bright, indirect light (on a covered porch is perfect) for several weeks to get the succulents established. Too much direct sunlight at this point can scorch your cuttings. Water sparingly until roots form. When the wreath is ready for hanging, make sure the chosen location gets suitable light for the types of succulents you’ve chosen. Remember, most succulents love sun, but not all can handle intense, direct light.
If DIY just isn’t your jam, there’s always the option of buying a pre-made wreath from a small business! Check these out below!
Succulent Care and Maintenance
Understanding Succulent Needs
Sunlight Requirements
A succulent wreath must receive ample sunlight, ideally 6 hours a day, for its growth. This is particularly important if your succulent variety is colored, as inadequate sunlight can cause the plants to fade or lose their vibrant hues. Place your wreath in a location that receives plenty of indirect sunlight. If placed outdoors, ensure that it isn’t in a spot where the sunlight can scorch the plants at the peak of the day.
Watering Your Succulent Wreath
The key to watering your succulent wreath is finding a balance. Succulent wreaths need sphagnum moss that’s moist, but not saturated. Overwatering can lead to root rot and the death of your plants. As a general rule of thumb, allow the succulent’s sphagnum moss to completely dry out before watering again.
If your wreath is hung, an ideal way to water it is by taking it down and laying it flat. Sprinkle water until the moss is damp but not soaked. You can also mist your succulent wreath with a spray bottle, preferably one with an adjustable nozzle that can gently moisten the moss without displacing it.
In warmer climates or during summertime, your succulent might need watering once a week. However, in colder climates or during wintertime, watering once a month is sufficient. Always opt to underwater rather than overwater as succulents can handle drought better than waterlogging.
Fertilizing Your Succulent Wreath
While succulents can thrive without additional fertilization, using a specialized succulent fertilizer can help your wreath retain its vibrant colors and promote healthy growth. I like the kind in a pump bottle just for this purpose.
Succulent fertilizer available to purchase on Etsy.
Fertilize your succulent wreath during the growing season, which for most succulents is between spring and early fall. Apply a water-soluble succulent fertilizer according to the package instructions. Never apply fertilizer to dry moss as it can burn the roots.
Maintenance and Further Care
Monitor your wreath regularly for any signs of pests, disease, or stress. If you notice a plant that looks unhealthy, it may be best to remove it before the problem spreads to the other plants. Similarly, if your succulent wreath outgrows its frame, you might need to prune or rearrange the plants to keep it looking neat and tidy.
Design and Arrangement Strategies
If you want to get all artsy… follow some of these strategies below!
Understanding Color Harmony in Succulent Wreath Design
Color harmony is a crucial principle to consider when designing your succulent wreath. Succulents come in a myriad of colors from vibrant greens, pinks, purples to even blues. For a harmonious look, consider working with succulents of similar hues or those that contrast well. For example, a combination of various shades of green could give your wreath a subtle and calming appearance, while a mix of purples and greens could add a lively, contrasting pop of color.
Integration of Balance in Creating a Succulent Wreath
Balance refers to the visual equilibrium in a design. In the context of a succulent wreath, this could mean arranging your succulents so they are uniformly spread out around the wreath for a symmetrical design, or grouping succulents together in certain areas for an asymmetrical look. In both scenarios, it’s important to ensure that no one component overshadows the others – each succulent should add to the overall balance of the design.
Creating Focal Point through Emphasis
Emphasis involves drawing the viewer’s eye to a particular area or feature of a design. In the arrangement strategy for a succulent wreath, select one or two larger or brightly colored succulents to act as the focal point. Position this plant in the center or off to one side of the succulent wreath. To further highlight this focal point, surround it with smaller, more neutral colored succulents.
Using Texture and Form for Visual Interest
The texture and form of the succulents you choose also contribute greatly to the visual interest of your wreath. You can alternate between smooth, glossy succulents and those with a rough, matte texture to add depth to your design. Additionally, you can mix and match succulents with different forms – such as rosette-shaped, trailing, or spike-like succulents – to create a dynamic and interesting arrangement.
Considering Growth Habit in Succulent Placement
Finally, taking into account the growth habits of the succulents you select can aid in creating a continuously pleasing arrangement. Position slow-growing varieties in the center of your wreath, and place those with faster or trailing growth habits towards the outer edges. This allows the wreath to ‘grow into’ its design over time while maintaining its originally intended aesthetic.
The art and science of creating a succulent wreath requires profound understanding of the plants, a knack for design, and consistent maintenance. Armed with the right knowledge and skills, you can start creating your own living masterpiece that not only enhances the aesthetics of your space but also provides a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Remember, like any other form of art, building a sublime succulent wreath is a journey. Embrace the process, experiment with different varieties and designs, and you will surely end up with a wreath that you can proudly hang on your door or wall.
