Turn your yearly jack-o-lantern project into a unique, chic succulent pumpkin planter. Add your favorite variety of autumn colored succulents, which are both easy to maintain and care for. As summer turns to autumn, days become shorter, there’s a bit of a nip in the air, and, of course, the lovely autumn colors. With changing colors come thoughts of Halloween. The creepy costumes, black cats, cornucopia, and jack-o-lanterns… Especially jack-o-lanterns. This project is an opportunity to stretch your artistic muscles and create a pumpkin masterpiece for your home. Pumpkins transform from a basic, autumn fruit to a creepy crawly spider, an artistic portrait of your pet, or a “BEWARE” sign to scare away trick-or-treaters. Succulent pumpkin planters are a fun, creative way to use your green thumb and bring forth the Halloween spirit into your home.   What You'll Need:

• Medium-sized pumpkin (a flat topped pumpkin is ideal)
• Variety of 8-10 succulents (size- 2.5”)
• Moss
• Plastic spiders or other spooky figurines
• Scissors
• Knife
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Spray adhesive
• Plastic wrap

  Instructions:

1. Using your knife cut an opening at the top of your pumpkin. This hole should be large enough to house your plants comfortably. There is no need to hollow out the pumpkin.
2. Take your plastic wrap and place it loosely inside, creating a bowl-like barrier where you’ll be placing your soil. This will create an easy way to take out your succulents and replant them when the pumpkin begins to rot.
3. Once the plastic wrap is in place, tape it to the top of the pumpkin. Later, you will conceal the plastic wrap.
4. Begin filling the plastic wrapped hole with potting soil until it reaches a ½ to 1 inch below the brim of the opening.
5. Remove the first succulent from its pot, gently squeezing the soil-root ball, loosening the soil. Use a larger succulent as your focal point and plant it into the soil.
6. Repeat this process with all of your succulents until most of the opening is filled with succulents. We recommend using fillers such as Senecio rowleyanus “String of Pearls” to hang over the rim to create interest.
7. Take pieces of moss and add it in areas where either soil or plastic wrap needs to be concealed.
8. Wipe down your pumpkin with a wet rag to clean off any residual dirt.
9. Using your glue gun, glue your Halloween figurines (such as spiders) onto the succulent planter. Glue as many figurines you desire!

  Note: When it's time to plant the succulents elsewhere, just lift up your entire arrangement by the plastic wrap and carefully drop it into a new container.   Once your arrangement is complete, resist watering it for 2-3 days. When watering, mist the succulents with a spray bottle weekly. To keep your arrangement healthy, put your planter in a spot that will not receive harsh sunlight. Give your spooky pumpkin planter as a gift, use it as a centerpiece for a Halloween dinner celebration, or display it in front of your home as an alternative to a traditional jack-o-lantern. Photo used and story inspired by Inspired By Charm. Check out his unique succulent pumpkin planter idea!