Need a pretty centerpiece for Thanksgiving? Need a craft project for tweens? Want to make a guest feel needed? Or do you need a hostess gift? PS Sorry this post is late. My computer died last week and I just got it back.
How about crowning a squash with long lasting succulents for a tabletop piece of art?
What you need:
Dried moss (buy a bag cheap at Lowe’s)
Succulents (I bought mine on Etsy from Fine Vine Nursery and was super happy with the assortment I ordered. Also ordered some for a daughter’s birthday and she loved them, too. Use this code for a 15% discount: HMSS15) Succulents make a great gift for family and friends who enjoy indoor plants.
Adhesive spray (any craft store or office supply has it in aerosol cans)
Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
Squash or pumpkin
I like neutral colors so I chose a pale green squash from my garden and bought dried gray sphagnum moss from Lowe’s. You could choose a bright orange pumpkin and deep green moss for a more colorful centerpiece.
Spray the top of the squash with adhesive spray. Follow can directions for how long to allow to set till tacky. Spread moss over the top of the squash, pressing into the adhesive.
With a hot glue gun attach succulents being careful not 
to get glue on the end of stems which would inhibit water absorption. Arrange so it looks great from all angles if it will be a centerpiece. I added some moss and cedar cones I found outdoors, but it isn’t necessary.
Dampen the moss once a week being careful not to get water on the succulents. Ideally, put near a window for the best health of the plants. When you’re finished with the arrangement, just disassemble and plant the succulents in special soil mentioned below. They will root and make a lovely permanent addition to your home.
Succulents are all the rage right now. Is it just me or is this a full blown fad like orchids were in the last decade? Remember when every interior designer put an orchid in nearly every living room? Well, now it seems that succulents are showing up in well-dressed rooms featured in magazines, catalogs, and online. I dare you to enter succulents into Pinterest!
Should you jump on the bandwagon? Last year I would have said only if you decorate in a contemporary style. But actually, succulents lend themselves to country, transitional, mid-century modern (sometimes called retro- another era when they were popular), and even traditional style, depending on the container in which they are planted and the choice of shapes and colors of the plants.
Can you easily grow succulents indoors? A qualified Yes. If you choose types that require less sunlight and if you learn the secrets of watering.
Succulents with bright colors need more light than green or pale succulents. Below you can find a great little pdf that has photos of the types that are easiest to grow indoors. In general, succulents need 6 hours of sunlight per day, but direct, hot sunlight can dry out the planting soil quickly and stress the plants.
Watering succulents correctly is key to their health. They hate to be soggy. Overwatering is their death sentence. Just ask me. I nearly killed mine by fretting that the moss they were in was too dry. I kept misting the poor dears until some of their petals shriveled and rotted. Uh, oh. Better get online and figure out what’s gone wrong. “Rule #1. Don’t overwater. And depending who you ask, Don’t mist.” OK. I needed to back off with the water. And sure enough, the poor little dears are fine now. They seem happy in a west window with a minimum of water. Many succulent owners water with a syringe to avoid getting water on the plants themselves and also to measure the water. An appropriately sized syringe can be purchased online here: syringe for watering
Let’s talk about what soil to plant in. Temporarily, say 1-2 months, succulents will tolerate being bedded in dried moss that is dampened every week. But long term, they need a place to put down their roots. There are two types of soil that support succulents. One is a specialty mixture of coarse, loose materials available online here: specialty succulent planting medium . This type allows water to run off, preventing the plants from getting wet feet. The other soil is available at Lowe’s and resembles normal potting soil. It’s called Cactus and Succulent Planting Soil by Miracle Grow.
Resources:
A website full of info on succulents.