How To Make a Succulent Pumpkin Arrangement
I had the most amazing experience picking out everyone’s pumpkins for my Pumpkin Succulent class this year from our local farm, Spina Farms.
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Pumpkin Succulent Arrangements are the ultimate Fall Fantasy project to do with a friend, with your kids, by yourself, for yourself, or as a gift! I’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started!
My MIL introduced me to these a few years ago. I was intimidated and thought I needed more “florist skills” to make one myself, but honestly… just give it a go! They are very forgiving. I’ve recently seen some at Terrain (Anthropologie) for A HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT DOLLARS, but I’m sharing all the insider secrets to make them for MUCH less. You can use them as a table centerpiece, room decor OR they make the most amazing gift that will last much longer than flowers. When you’re done, you can replant the succulents and most pumpkins can be roasted and eaten (at LEAST by your dog!).
This is a great craft to get you in the spirit of #FallFantasy because you can look for leaves, pine cones, dried flowers, eucalyptus, etc. while you’re out on a walk. It’s also a great activity to do with kiddos, because they can help collect items, help pick a pumpkin, and help assemble.
Supplies Needed:
1 Heirloom Pumpkin: It helps if the top is a little bit flat. I like the look when the creases are more pronounced. You can work around scarring/scabbing, etc. but make sure the pumpkin’s outer layer is intact (no gashes) to ensure it will last the longest. I source my pumpkins from local Pumpkin Farms, and I encourage you to do the same to support your local economy! If you are in a bind, Trader Joe’s has some for $6.99 but you have to dig. It’s OK if you can’t find a perfect one, it is nature after all! The mini “Lil-Punk-Ke-Mons” or Tiger Stripes make really cute mini arrangements. I do not recommend regular orange carving pumpkins.
Tacky Glue: You do most of the gluing with the tacky glue. NOTE: NEVER glue the end of the succulents: only outer leaves.
A Hot Glue Gun: This is not required, but can be helpful at the end to add little dots around to ensure the moss and pine cones stick together, etc., especially if you will be transporting your arrangement. Use very sparingly with the succulents.
Moss: One Bag Of This will be way more than enough. Or you can get from a hardware store or Michaels/JoAnns, etc.
NATURE: If you are lucky enough to be by a flower market you can find some incredible nature elements, but otherwise: get creative! Eucalyptus is a particular favorite, especially the little berries/buds. Dried Flowers, acorns, tiny pine cones, leaves… see what you can find around your neighborhood! Try to get at least 3 little bunches of anything you get.
Succulents: You can find them at hardware stores or nurseries. These are the most expensive element. You can also see if you have friends or neighbors that you could get cuttings from. My MIL likes to say that you need “a THRILLER (gorgeous bigger succulent), FILLER (a few smaller/ more bland plants to be your ‘backup dancers), and SPILLER (some vine-y succulents like donkey tail or pearls/bananas or live Spanish moss to come down the sides). You need 1 medium or large succulent and at least 2 smaller ones. If you purchase succulents in dirt, get the succulent down to the minimum stem with a small amount of roots and as little dirt as possible. Dirt will rot the pumpkin and the moss provides moisture for your plants.
Clippers: These can be helpful for trimming the succulent roots, but you can always just snap it off with your fingers.
A trip to the local pumpkin patch is in order!!
LET’S DO IT!!! Once you have all necessary materials, you’re ready to start! It’s a little messy, so you can put down a trash bag or newspaper if you are inside. Light that Pumpkin Candle, heat a mug of cider and let’s get decorating!! Please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see how much fun you are having and your beautiful creations! @PoppieLady
This video gives you a general idea of how to construct your masterpiece, but a lot of it is tweaking the elements at the end. Be sure to use the rule of odd numbers (odd numbers look more organic and appear in nature). You can always arrange and rearrange until you like it. Or if you get stuck, message me and I’ll help you tweak it!
Apply glue to the outer leaves and or the stem.
TRACI’S TIPS: Make sure you have a good variety of nature-elements. At least 2 kinds of succulents and at least 3 kinds of “other” elements. Start in the center and work out. Use the rule of 3’s/odd numbers to make elements look more organic. Start with one larger succulent and then add two smaller next to it for the center. Then, you can add smaller succulents or elements farther out. You can use anything long and stringy to cascade out of the moss, down the creases (like vines). Arrange, tweak, re-arrange until you love it, then glue everything down. Sometimes less it more.
These arrangements like to live near a sunny window. You can BARELY moisten the moss every 7-10 days and just mist/spritz (don’t pour water on because we don’t want it to mold/rot). LESS IS MORE. They do better inside over outside.
Here are some other examples you can get ideas from:
This is the most simple and took the least time but is my favorite! It’s the arrangement from the video and I would only add a little more moss around the perimeter.
No, I wasn’t exaggerating about seeing a small arrangement for sale for $128!! They put a big blank space of moss in the middle and are using it as a candle holder.
This one is more of a “Harvest Explosion.” I got a bit creative but note how the little wheat berries and vine-y items come down. It makes the arrangement look really organic.
Pumpkin Succulent Arrangement: Note the little succulent sprigs coming out like vines!