The Easiest Way to Make Succulent Pumpkin Decor for Fall

It might look fancy, but any DIY newbie can create this pretty succulent pumpkin decor! Try your hand with this simple project and enjoy the fall vibes.

At a school fundraiser last year, a fellow mom taught a few of us how to create these pretty succulent pumpkins.

We each made a couple and used them as centerpieces at a fundraiser dinner, and at the end of the night they were auctioned off. They were a huge hit!

And as a DIYer, I was so excited to learn how easy they are to make.

So whether you’re creating these for a fundraiser, a Thanksgiving centerpiece, or just for some pretty fall decor, you’ve come to the right place!

Psst — before you dive in, be sure to sign up below for my VIP group, where I’ll send my very best seasonal and holiday ideas straight to ya.

Fall Decor for Display

While these succulent pumpkins would look gorgeous on a front porch or as a centerpiece, we also have a few tricks up our sleeve for decorating the rest of your house this fall!

Whether it’s for Thanksgiving, Halloween, or just the autumn months, I think you might love these ideas:

I love this textured wreath — it looks so chic but is incredibly easy and affordable to make.

Here’s a free fall printable and lots of home decor inspo for the autumn months!

And I love black and white in the fall, don’t you?

Prepping Succulents for the Pumpkin

One of the things I love about this project is that it can be very low-cost!

If you have succulents around your yard, you’re half way there. And if you don’t, you can check around with friends to see if anybody is willing to share a few cuttings with you.

It doesn’t take many to create a lush, gorgeous succulent pumpkin.

Just use sharp, clean pruning shears or scissors to snip off some succulent cuttings.

This project looks great with a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Just keep in mind that you probably don’t want any cuttings that are overly large or they will take up too much space on the pumpkin.

It’s also nice to clip your cuttings so that they have a bit of a stem. This makes it easy to attach them to the pumpkin.

Once you’ve clipped your cuttings, allow them to dry for a day or two before diving into the project.

Supplies You’ll Need

Succulent Cuttings. See above for lots of detail about how to cut your succulents!

Pumpkins. Pumpkins with a nice flat or concave top work well for this project. The flat area gives the succulents a nice base.

Dried Moss. I like this bag of moss because it has a few options for texture and color.

Spray Glue. Spray glue will adhere the moss to the top of the pumpkin and create a little bed where you can nestle your succulents.

Glue Gun. If you’re trying this project with kids, consider a low-temp glue gun to avoid burns on little fingers.

Optional: Faux filler. I’m not a huge fan of faux florals but sometimes for this project, they add a little sturdiness and structure to your creation! Use your best judgement here.

How to Make Succulent Pumpkin Decor

1. Start by wiping down your pumpkin to rid it of any dirt or debris. You want to try to select a pumpkin with no gouges or scratches so that it stays fresh as long as possible.
2. Spray a thin layer of spray glue onto the top of your pumpkin, in the area where you’d like to apply succulent decorations.
3. Cover the spray glue with a thin layer of moss. Stretch the moss out a bit so it’s evenly spread and creates a bed for your succulents.
4. One by one, select a succulent clipping and use hot glue to adhere the clipping to the pumpkin. I like starting with a bigger clipping as kind of an anchor, then moving to smaller pieces.
5. If needed, add a few accents from your faux floral filler.

Caring for Your Succulent Pumpkin

One of the coolest things about this succulent pumpkin centerpiece? It’s living decor!

This will stay fresh for weeks if you spritz the succulents every few days with a few sprays of water.

If you’re displaying your pumpkin outside on the porch, I recommend setting it on a small piece of cardboard to preserve the bottom of the pumpkin and prevent it from taking on moisture. This can lead to premature rotting.

If you’re displaying inside, try to find a place with some indirect sunlight to give the succulents a chance to send out new shoots and grow!

How to Plant

Once you’re done with the centerpiece, you can plant the succulents to give them extended life!

If possible, simply pull the moss off of the pumpkin in one big sheet, bringing the succulents along with it.

You can then place the whole arrangement in a pot with some soil and treat it as you would a succulent plant. (Remove any faux filler you included if you like.)

If the moss won’t pull off, gently slice the top of your pumpkin off with a sharp knife, bringing with it the moss and the succulents. Place in a pot on some soil.

Eventually, the pumpkin will decompose (creating great fertilizer!) and you’ll be left with a potted succulent arrangement.

Enjoy! xoxo

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