Succulent Wreaths for Fall

Despite what my mother says, I have never been the creative child in the family. That role always fell to my older sister. She makes all her own centerpieces and wreaths for all the different seasons and holidays. For Christmas one year she made me a wreath and it was beautiful.

After living with my sister for years I learned that wreaths are not just for Christmas but can be hung year around and make the appearance of your front door very welcoming to guests. While looking into making my own wreaths I came across living wreaths. I really loved the idea of having a living wreath and the wonderful scents that come with it.

After doing some research on the ease of making a wreath as well as longevity of the wreath I settled on succulents. There are so many varieties to choose from and they last for so long with very minimal maintenance. Succulents are also easy to find and you can buy cuttings of particular succulents you like as opposed to buying the whole plant.

These are some of the cuttings I have found online that I really loved and would like to incorporate into my fall wreath. 

I liked the look and density of this wreath as well as the bursts of color.

I also liked this one because of the color and the little tendril type cuttings that are coming off of it. The oranges, reds, and pinks are beautiful and would make for a great fall wreath. I have a green front door and I think this one would really stand out.

Wish me luck!

Tricks for your Halloween décor… enjoy your new treats!

Fall is blustering through October quicker than you can say… boo! As you start to unpack your old Halloween decorations have you thought about how you may possibly be able to spruce up some of the more dated decorations you've accumulated over the years? If you’re anything like me you get bored with the same decorations year after year; however you may not have the luxury to purchase all new décor. So what is a gal/or lad to do?

The key is to bring your old (possibly dull) decorations to life. Adding some plant life may just do the trick. 

Add succulents!

Not only do succulents have the ability to add pizzazz to your Halloween decor but they will last for the years to come.  Here are some ideas that I will be using this Halloween. Enjoy!

Sempervivum Live Forever

Every once in a while, I will use this forum to cover one of my favorite succulents in detail. Today I chose to discuss one of the first succulents I was introduced to: Sempervivum.

Sempervivum is a Latin word, and when translated to English, it means Live Forever. Nice, right?!

Now, these succulents do not actually live forever. Sempervivums typically live for about 3 years. So how do they “live forever” then? The answer lies in propagation.

Sempervivum’s are succulent hen and chicks. For those who don’t know, the hen is the mother plant. The chicks are the offsets (cuttings) the mother plant produces around itself.

The first year of a Sempervivum’s life will not produce chicks. They need this time to develop good roots and hardiness.

The last couple of years during the Spring and Summer months, you can expect a Sempervivum hen to produce many chicks.

Take these chicks, gently remove them and their roots, and simply replant these into any porous soil media you see fit.

There are many types of Sempervivums, and you will notice different color variations based on factors such as maturity and sun exposure.

Some Sempervivums require you use a knife to cut off the offsets. Most of the time however, you can just simply remove the offsets using your hands.

When you notice a tallish stalk starting to grow from the center of the Sempervivum hen, it has one last bloom before it dies. I know, it’s sad, but all part of the circle of life.

While the Sempervivum’s mother plant you started with has come and gone, you can expect an endless supply of offsets in memoriam!