- Working Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Estimated Cost: $25 to $40
- Yield: Framed succulent wall art
Add a little charm and greenery to your home with beautiful succulent wall art using plants and an old picture frame. Succulents are a natural choice for vertical gardens since they grow slowly and require little water. As a bonus, they come in so many shapes and colors that it's easy to create a unique design. Use this step-by-step guide to make living succulent wall art.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
- Small pruning snips
- Saw
- Hammer
- Staple gun
- Paint brush
- Clean cloth
- Chopstick or pencil
Materials
- Succulent cuttings
- Shadow box made of redwood or cedar 1x3s, cut to fit the back of the frame
- Picture frame with back and glass panel removed
- Nails
- 1/2-inch hardware cloth, cut to fit the inside dimensions of the frame
- Staples
- 1/4-inch plywood backing, cut to fit the back of the shadow box
- Paint
- All-purpose potting soil
Instructions
How to Make Succulent Wall Art
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Make the Cuttings
Taking cuttings from established succulents growing in your home or garden is easy. With small pruning snips, cut stem sections one to two inches long. Remove the lower leaves. Roots will sprout from these leaf nodes. Let the cuttings dry on a tray for a few days before you plant them. This curing process causes cut ends to callus (form a thin layer of cells).
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Cut the Shadow Box Frame
A shadow box adds depth to the back of the picture frame, allowing space for soil and plant roots. Cut naturally water-resistant redwood or cedar 1x3s to fit the back of the frame. Nail or screw into place.
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Set the Hardware Cloth
With the frame still face down, insert the hardware cloth. The 1/2-inch grid is small enough to hold in potting soil yet large enough to accommodate stems. Staple the hardware cloth to the edges of the frame.
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Add Backing
After setting the hardware cloth, lay 1/4-inch plywood backing on the back of the shadow box and secure it with nails. This backing will be the finishing touch to your shadow-box frame.
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Paint the Frame
Turn the frame face up. Brush on a coat of outdoor paint, offering protection against the elements. For an antique effect, let the paint dry for a few minutes and then wipe the frame with a clean cloth. If desired, paint the underlying box, too.
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