I like to use these gorgeous Cinderella pumpkins for my succulent topped pumpkins. Trader Joe’s is a great spot to pick them up. They had a ton in stock when I went, but I would call before to be sure. They get shipments weekly.
You will need some scissors, adhesive spray, glue gun (or tacky glue), plenty of glue sticks, moss to top off the pumpkins, and most importantly your succulent cuttings.
Make sure to have your succulent cuttings all laid out and ready to go.
You may want to wear gloves while spraying on the adhesive and attaching your moss. The first time I did it I may or may not have had moss on my fingers for about two hours. I like to form my moss first before I spray. Make it into a little “pumpkin hat” so to speak. I have it ready to go because the spray adhesive dries fast!
Give the pumpkin a good spray and grab your moss. Gently press it down to make sure it’s nice and stuck. If there are any places where the moss is lifting, you can go ahead and add a little more spray. Again remember not to get it on your fingers…you will thank me later!
Next we can begin attaching our succulents. I like to start with a larger one in the center. A beautiful rosette is perfect.
Since our cuttings are all ready to go, grab your glue gun and apply the glue to the bottom portion of the stem. The hot glue will not damage the succulent. They will actually continue to grow and root through the glue. Incredible I know!
It is kind of trial and error to see which succulents work best, so just play around with different options. Tacky glue will also work in place of the glue gun, but it does take longer to fully dry.
Keep adding succulents to the moss and be sure to mix up the colors and textures. If there is some root on the cuttings you will want to leave that on there as it will actually help the succulent to root a little bit faster. If the leaves fall off that is ok….more propagation right!? (see our leaf propagation video here)
Keep adding succulents to your pumpkin until your reach your desired fullness. I personally like almost all of the moss covered, but that is up to you! I also like to add a little bit of white when possible as it always makes the other succulent colors pop.
I like to add different textures and layers and be sure to get some different colors in there too. It is best to rotate your pumpkin as you go so that the succulents are evenly dispersed. Especially if plan on displaying it on the center of a dining room table or on a front porch where you would see all sides of the pumpkin.
I think these turned out just beautiful. I like the look best with a Cinderella or fantasy pumpkin, but any type of pumpkin will do. This would be great for a gift, especially for a teacher or neighbor. It will be sure to brighten up their day! We also topped mini pumpkins with succulents in this video here.
Make sure to clean up any excess glue and trim any of the little Moss hairs hanging down. Water every 1-2 weeks with a spray bottle or whenever the succulents are just starting to wilt a little. My absolute favorite spray bottle is the best of any spray bottle I have ever used, hands down! If you have not seen these before check them out!
I also try to give the succulent topped pumpkins at least an hour of indirect sunlight a day if possible. You will know if it is not getting enough light as the succulents will become etiolated. If you notice the succulents growing long and leggy, be sure to give it additional sunlight.
The succulents will eventually root into the moss. Once the pumpkin starts to die you can remove the succulents with or without the moss attached to the succulents. I like to remove them from the moss and plant them in a new pot. The succulents will continue to flourish long after your pumpkin has perished!
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