Christmas trees have been part of holiday traditions since the 16th century, and while they certainly haven’t gone out of fashion, we think it’s about time for a style update! Evergreens are lovely and all, but after 500 years, we could use something a little more cutting edge. Our solution: the DIY succulent Christmas tree!
Making your own miniature DIY succulent Christmas tree is a super fun holiday activity for a chilly afternoon, and the end results are seriously stunning. They’re perfect for smaller spaces like apartments or condos that can’t fit a full-sized evergreen. Succulent Christmas trees also make gorgeous table centerpieces! Plus, once the holiday season is over, you can disassemble your Christmas tree and repot your succulents into new pots for spring.
Here’s everything you need to make your DIY succulent Christmas tree
Materials:
- Lots of assorted small succulents and rooted cuttings
- Chicken wire
- Wire cutters
- Sphagnum moss
- A holiday-themed planter
- Floral pins
Instructions:
- Roll your chicken wire into a cone shape, trim the loose ends, and fold them together, so the cone holds shape. Make sure the broad base of the cone will fit inside your chosen planter.
- Soak your sphagnum moss in a basin of water for fifteen minutes. Then, take it out in clumps, squeeze out the excess moisture, and stuff the chicken wire cone. Once it’s full, stick it into your planter.
- Start pinning your plants into place all over your Christmas tree. Floral pins are easy to use—just tuck them under one of the bottom leaves of each individual plant, and secure the plant to the chicken wire base. Try to press the pins in securely and arrange the plants so you can’t see the pins poking out. You can always remove and repin the plants to your Christmas tree if it doesn’t look quite right.
- Once you’ve completely covered your Christmas tree with cute, colorful succulents, it’s ready to be displayed! Remember to put it somewhere that gets plenty of sun, which will keep your succulents extra colorful.
Once the holidays have passed, gently remove all the pins and disassemble the Christmas tree. Your succulents may have developed roots that grip onto the sphagnum moss, so gently loosen them up to prevent stressing out or injuring the plants. You can use that old sphagnum moss in a new pot to reduce waste! Maybe think about what holidays are coming up that could use some cute succulent decor… Valentine’s Day, perhaps?
The Best Succulents for a DIY Christmas Tree
Tiny succulents that aren’t very heavy will work great for this craft. Alternatively, if you’ve got some big succulents at home, you can take off some small cuttings and leave them on a sunny windowsill for a week to encourage them to start rooting. Brushing a bit of rooting hormone onto their bases can help speed up this process.
Here are our recommendations for the best types of succulents to use for your DIY Christmas tree project:
- Echeveria
- Crassula
- Sedum
- Aeonium
- Senecio
- Sempervivum
- Kalanchoe
- Graptoveria
It might sound strange, but nothing gets us into the Christmas spirit like walking through our California greenhouse and gazing at all the colorful plants! It’s like Santa’s Workshop for adults—less plastic toys and more gorgeous greenery! Visit us at OC Succulents soon to get first dibs on the perfect succulents to complete your DIY Christmas tree.
