Panty Hose Succulent Wreaths

by Jacki
(Grand Forks, B.C. Canada)

back image of the wire wreath with the panty hose on

finished black panty hose succulent wreath

grey succulent wreath made with panty hose

twisting the legs seemed to work well

back image of the wire wreath with the panty hose on

finished black panty hose succulent wreath

grey succulent wreath made with panty hose

Finding new and creative ways to use succulents is also a lesson in recycling and repurposing. What else can you use your old panty hose for? I made two of these wreaths, and basically made up my own method, before I found some tutorials online.

Here's what I did:

I had picked up two wire wreath frames from the thrift store for $1, and was just waiting for the perfect way to use them.

Digging out some panty hose from storage, I filled both of the legs with potting soil until it was fairly full, but not stuffed. I tied the top of the panty hose in a knot, and then arranged the two legs on the wire frame, one on each side.

Once they were in place, I wound tie wire around to hold them.

The grey one was the first, and I poked holes in it to stick the ends of the Sedum cuttings into it, but on the second one, the black one, I simply put the cuttings in the creases. Hopefully they'll be strong enough to root in to the soil.

I'll leave them for a week or so, until they seem firmly rooted, then I can hang them up.

Comments for Panty Hose Succulent Wreaths

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Apr 15, 2015

Don't worry
by: Jacki

With topiary or other crafts, generally there is no chance of overwatering - it will just drain off.

I quite often dunk the entire thing in a tub of water, let it soak for a few minutes, then drain it off. Spraying with a fine spray will be fine - but just once a day until they root in, allowing them to dry in between.

Apr 15, 2015

how to
by: vicki

hi fellow planters ...i am new to succulent art and would like to know the best way to keep succulents watered when freshly planted ie fine water spray of leaves? im attempting to cover a maniquin with succulents but have already made a heart doin the stocking/wire trick and dont wont to over water hence my question......

Feb 18, 2015

Plants to use
by: Jacki

Vera, the choice of plants will depend on where you are, and what's available.

In most of the wreaths that I make I use smaller varieties and species of Sempervivum, especially one of my favorites, Sempervivum arachnoideum, which are the cobweb types. One of my all time favorites is the one known as Hookeri, which is tiny and spreads really well.

I also use some of the smaller lower growing creeping Sedum, like Sedum album Faro Form, as well as other Sedum album types.

The main thing is to find plants that are compact and low growing. Use what you find locally, if possible, because these will be hardy in your area if you want to leave them outdoors all year.

Take the Succulent Crafts E-Course where I go into a lot more detail.

Feb 18, 2015

Succulent Wreaths
by: vera

Can you tell me the names of the plants so when I go to purchase them I will know what to ask for?

Jan 07, 2014

Succulent wreath
by: Rebecca

I have been making these for many years now! I cover the dirt with moss and wire instead of pantyhose. works really well! I am going to try the pantyhose and see how it works. You can plant just about anything in them!

Nov 15, 2013

does this sounds right?
by: Roberto

I´m currently trying this, since i didn't had the same materials i got a little creative and did a tube out chicken wire and lined it with garden fabric (the kind nurseries use to protect seedlings from direct sunlight).

I'm planning to use peat moss mixed with pebbles as substrate, then close the tube up and use the spaces of the chicken wire to plant different kinds of succulents.

Do you think all this combination will work fine, i´m a bit nervous about meeting the plants needs with these setup.

I wonder if the pebbles will make it too heavy - I've used the chicken wire approach for some of mine, and even with the soil I use it's heavy when wet.

I might omit the pebbles, and see what happens - it also might be hard to re-wet it once it dries out if you use straight peat moss - that's why I recommend the Sunshine Mix because it has a re-wetting agent (water holding polymer) in it. Just a thought.

I would love to see what happens with it! It's all trial and error, to find out the best way to do this in your specific growing conditions.
Jacki

Oct 06, 2013

Succelent Wreath
by: Gramma Barbee

What a fabulous idea. I've always wanted to make a succelent wreath and now I can with left over pantyhose I must have been saving for this exact project

Will definitely be my first spring project.

Thanks, so much, for your creative ideas***

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Panty Hose Wreath; an update

by Jacki
(Grand Forks, B.C.)

June 2013

It seemed to take forever for the plants to really take off in the wreaths I made from panty hose; the roots cling to the fabric and eventually work their way inside to the soil, and a few sprinkles of compost tea or water soluble fertilizer soon had them showing their true colors.

I might use these lying down for a centerpiece - like around your umbrella on the table, or you can hang them on a wall or fence. Trim occasionally, and tuck the long strands into place so it fills in any bare spots, and take them down to water on the ground or in a shallow tub.

Because these are all hardy Sedum and Sempervivum, they just stay outside all winter under the snow; luckily, nothing decided to chew on them, and they emerged none the worse for being under two feet of snow.

It will be interesting to see how long these last - I'm imagining that the nylon fabric could eventually break down and they'll get runs in their stockings, but until then, I'll enjoy these gorgeous accent pieces.