October 08, 2018
How to Make a Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece For Your Fall Table
Fall is the season of dressing up. We dress up in cozy sweaters or scary costumes, dress up our drinks with pumpkin spice flavoring and dress up our homes with floral pumpkin decor. And if you’re looking for a fun way to dress up your plants, we have a pumpkin succulent DIY that will do the trick!
Pumpkin succulents are a unique way to display your favorite succulent variety this fall season. These pumpkin succulent planters can be personalized with your favorite design. We’ve included printable templates of three designs, or you can use any pumpkin decorating template you have.
Looking for chic pumpkin centerpieces for Thanksgiving? Try our “give thanks” template. For a spookier Halloween look for the front porch, our “moon and stars” template will do the job. Regardless of what you choose, your pumpkin succulent DIY won’t go unnoticed.
Start by printing the templates and then follow the instructions below!
What you’ll need:
Foam pumpkin
Stencil
Graphite paper
Scissors
Tape
Pencil
Permanent marker
Paint brush
Decoupage
Glitter
Glitter setting spray
Hot crafting knife (or regular knife)
Succulent potting mix
Moss
Variety of succulents
Step 1: Cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin.
Cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin with a heated craft knife. Heated craft knives are sold at most craft stores and will make this step much easier. If you don’t have access to one, a regular knife will work, it will just take more time to cut through the plastic and foam.
The size of the hole you cut depends on how many succulents you want to plant. In general, it’s safe to remove most of the top of the pumpkin. If it ends up being too big, you can always add more moss or succulents.
Step 2: Cut stencil and graphite paper to size.
Cut out the stencil so that it fits the size of your pumpkin. This will make tracing the design more manageable. Then cut the graphite paper to match the size of your stencil.
Step 3: Tape the stencil and graphite paper to the pumpkin.
Place the stencil on top of the graphite paper and tape it to the pumpkin. The stencil should be facing you and the graphite paper should be graphite (darker side) toward the pumpkin.
Step 4: Trace the outline of your stencil with a pencil on your pumpkin.
Use a pencil to trace the outline of the stencil, pushing down with medium strength. If you push too hard, it may cause a hole in the paper. If you push too lightly, it will prevent the graphite from sticking.
The pumpkin is round, so there will be some crinkles in the paper. You don’t need to worry about these, just trace the pattern to the best of your ability.
Step 5: Remove paper and trace graphite lines on your pumpkin with a marker.
When you’re done tracing, remove the stencil and the graphite paper from the pumpkin. There should be a gray outline where you traced.
The beauty of the graphite paper is that you can easily wipe off this gray outline. If you aren’t happy with the way it looks, wipe off the graphite and try again! If you are happy with it, trace the outline in permanent marker.
Step 6: Paint decoupage in the areas you want to fill with glitter.
Use a paintbrush to paint on the decoupage in areas where you want glitter. If there are multiple parts of the design you want filled in, do one at a time. If the glue dries, the glitter won’t stick.
Step 7: Cover your pumpkin with glitter.
Apply glitter to the areas you covered in decoupage. Do this over a trash can or in a place that’s easy to clean (glitter can be messy).
Step 8: Remove any excess glitter from your pumpkin
Once you shake the glitter off, use a clean brush to wipe away extra sparkles that are stuck in unwanted places. If the glitter did not stick to the glue, it’s likely because there wasn’t enough glue or it was dried in certain areas. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to cover the areas where glitter is missing.
Step 9: Spray pumpkin with glitter setting spray.
Set your glitter design with a glitter setting spray. Glitter setting spray can be found at most craft stores. It should be evenly sprayed 10 to 12 inches away from the pumpkin and left to dry for 20-30 minutes. This will minimize the amount of glitter that falls off over time.
Step 10: Fill the pumpkin ¾ full with soil.
Fill the pumpkin with potting soil that is made for succulents or cacti. Succulent care best practices include using soil that is coarse and drains well.
Step 11: Arrange moss around the rim of your pumpkin.
Place moss around the rim of the pumpkin so it hangs over the sides. You can use multiple types and colors of moss if you want to add more texture, or keep it simple with just one variety.
Step 12: Add a variety of succulents to your pumpkin.
Fill in the center with your favorite variety of succulents. Remove the succulents from their container and loosen the roots. Place them in the soil and add soil on top as needed.
Step 13: Display with your fall decor!
Use your pumpkin succulent display in your house all season long. Place it in the entryway to welcome the fall season or arrange it on your Thanksgiving dinner table as a unique centerpiece.
Pair your white pumpkin succulent garden with other fall-colored pumpkins and gourds to complete the look. If you run out of time, supplies or energy you can order a premade, professional pumpkin succulent garden that’s delivered right to your door!
