Got a windowsill full of baby succulents and nowhere cute to put them? These 15 DIY succulent crafts are your answer! You’ll find tiny planters made from wine corks, eggshells and an old light bulb, plus bigger statement pieces like a living wreath for the front door, a wooden garden wall and a vertical pallet garden. There are terrariums tucked into a thrifted brass light fixture and mini birdcages, a purple sand zen garden you can doodle in, and quick faux succulent magnets for the fridge. Most of these take an afternoon or less, and plenty cost just a few dollars. One tip before you start: let fresh cuttings sit out for a day so the cut ends dry before planting, and they’ll root much better.
1. DIY Light Bulb Mini Planter
Don’t toss that burnt out bulb! A DIY light bulb mini planter gives the round glass a cute second life on your desk. Carefully separate the glass from the metal base and sand the opening smooth. Paint the glass, add a second coat if it needs it, then draw little flowers on top with POSCA pens. For the stand, hot glue 2 inch sticks into A shapes and join them in a ring. Fill the bulb with a tiny succulent, or go faux with crumpled paper and rolled paper grass that never needs watering.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
2. DIY Succulent Jar Magnets
DIY succulent jar magnets are about the quickest craft in this whole roundup. Pull the corks from a few small glass vials and stuff each one with moss, using a pencil to push it down. Pack it firmly but not too tight, so it can still grip a stem. Dab hot glue on the bottom of a faux succulent and press it into the moss. Once that’s dry, glue a small magnet to the back of each vial. They’ll hold notes, school photos and recipe cards right on the fridge.
Get the full tutorial at The Country Chic Cottage.
3. DIY Succulent Planter Centerpiece
A DIY succulent planter centerpiece is a long, low wooden box packed with rosettes, and it’s made for a table. Build or buy a simple rectangle box in raw wood, line it and fill it with cactus soil, then tuck in a mix of succulents in different shapes and shades of green and purple. Push them close together so the box looks full from day one. Clip a table number or a place card in the middle for a wedding or shower. Afterward, it moves right to a windowsill.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
4. Old Chair Succulent Planter
An old chair succulent planter turns a wobbly thrift store find into a garden showpiece. Pull out the seat and any loose rungs so only the frame is left, then dry brush it in a color you love. Shape poultry netting into a deep basket where the seat used to be and secure it well. Line it with sheet moss and burlap, fill with potting soil mixed with perlite for drainage, and tuck in your succulents. Backfill around them so they stand upright, water them in and you’re done.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
5. Succulent Eggshell Centerpiece
A succulent eggshell centerpiece is spring in a carton. Crack a dozen eggs near the pointed tip, pick away bits of shell until the hole is big enough, then rinse each shell clean. Spoon about half a teaspoon of cactus potting mix into every shell. Pull apart small succulent clusters, choosing the tiniest pieces, and settle one or two into each egg before covering the roots with more soil. Set them in a ceramic egg crate for the table. Later, plant them shell and all in the garden.
Get the full tutorial at Little Inspiration.
6. Cork Succulent Planters
Cork succulent planters are the perfect excuse to save every wine cork. Work over a box or newspaper, then punch a starter hole into the top of each cork with a screwdriver. Wiggle a paring knife around to carve the hole out until it’s about halfway down. Hot glue a small magnet to the side of each cork, fill the holes with soil and plant succulent clippings. They’ll live happily on the fridge, and a spritz from a spray bottle about once a week is all the watering they need.
Get the full tutorial at Upcycle That.
7. DIY Metallic Geometric Succulent Planters in 5 Minutes
DIY metallic geometric succulent planters hide those ugly plastic nursery pots in about five minutes, for less than $1 each. Measure the height and widest part of the pot, cut scrap cardboard to fit, and lay it on copper contact paper with a 3/4 inch border all around. Score the cardboard every inch or two to make the sides of a hexagon or pentagon. Press it down, slit the paper at each score, wrap the flaps around and join the ends. Marble contact paper works great too.
Get the full tutorial at Curbly.
8. Succulent Wreath
A succulent wreath is a living door decoration that lasts for months. Soak peat moss in warm water for 10 to 20 minutes, wring it out and mold it around a wire wreath form. Wrap floral wire firmly around the moss until it holds tight. Then tuck 20 to 30 succulents into the moss, roots and soil still on, and wire each one in place as you work around the ring. Loop a ribbon at the top to hang it. Mist it often, and give it morning sun with afternoon shade.
Get the full tutorial at Andrea's Notebook.
9. DIY Garden Succulent Wall
A DIY garden succulent wall turns a plain wall into a living art piece. Cut a plywood sheet to size, then cut 1 by 6 pine boards into 6 inch pieces, four per box plus a small bottom. Nail them into square cubes. Stain the cubes and plywood, and even the same stain can come out two tones on the two woods. Screw each box on from the back in a level grid, then drill three drainage holes in every bottom. Plant with cactus soil mixed with small stones to keep succulents thriving.
Get the full tutorial at East Coast Creative.
10. DIY Painted Planters
DIY painted planters start as plain little bell cups, and they’re ready for succulents in just a few minutes. Make sure each cup is clean and has a drainage hole, using an awl to widen the existing hole a little. Then decorate however you like: bright paint, gold leafing or lines and dots from a metallic paint pen. The cups are small enough that you can drop the whole plant right in, no extra soil needed. Finish with a top dressing of small rocks for a polished, modern look.
Get the full tutorial at Succulents and Sunshine.
11. Vertical Pallet Succulent Garden
A vertical pallet succulent garden is a living wall you can hang under the eaves. Pack the pallet with soil and small succulent cuttings, then let it lie flat for about a month so the roots can take hold before you hang it. Two weeks isn’t enough, and cuttings will fall out. Screw heavy duty hooks into a spot that can handle the weight, since it gets very heavy when wet. Morning sun is ideal. Indoors, try faux succulents instead, because live soil inside can attract gnats.
Get the full tutorial at Anythingology.
12. DIY Succulent Zen Garden
A DIY succulent zen garden swaps beige sand for bright purple, and it’s so relaxing to play with. You’ll need a squat glass dish, one small succulent or cactus, an old pair of tights and about 3 pounds of colored sand. Snip off the toe of the tights, slide the plant’s root ball inside and tie it closed so the soil stays hidden. Set the plant in the dish, pour sand all around it and shake until it’s smooth. Then doodle swirls with a pen or an unbent paper clip.
Get the full tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
13. DIY Succulent Plant Stands
DIY succulent plant stands might be the easiest project here, and they start with a thrift store lampshade. Pick one with wires that run from the top ring to the bottom ring. Cut off the fabric or plastic cover, then snip out the small center piece that usually holds the bulb. Rub off any sticky residue with Goo Gone and spray paint the frame white, black or brass. Set a pot with a rim slightly wider than the top opening on it. Make a few heights for a pretty cluster.
Get the full tutorial at The Merrythought.
14. Miniature Succulent Bird Cages
Miniature succulent bird cages hold tiny gardens behind little wire bars. Look for small cages that open at the top, since that makes planting so much easier. Soak sphagnum moss in water, then press a handful into the bottom of each cage, with a dab of floral glue if you want it to stay put. Deeper cages can take a bit of succulent soil too. Tuck in a mix of trailing and rosette succulents, letting a few spill through the bars, then close the lid. Hang them with twine.
Get the full tutorial at Succulents and Sunshine.
15. Upcycled Brass Light Fixture Succulent Terrarium
This upcycled brass light fixture succulent terrarium started as a $2 find in a ReStore lighting bin. The old 90s glass and brass ceiling shade, missing its wiring and hardware, makes a glam open terrarium once it’s flipped over. Give it a good scrub, then fill it about a third of the way with soil. Pull six small succulents from their nursery pots, loosen the roots and arrange them, filling in with more soil around each one. It balances well, but keep it where it won’t get bumped.
Get the full tutorial at May Richer Fuller Be.
