Succulent Christmas trees are all the rage. If you are a succulent lover, you are going to want to make yourself up a succulent Christmas tree decoration. If you are unsure what we are talking about, read this article to find out about this trendy succulent decoration.
Jump to:
- What are Succulent Christmas Trees?
- Who Are Succulent Christmas Trees For?
- What Succulents Should I Use For My Succulent Christmas Tree?
- How to Make a Succulent Christmas Tree
- Common Succulent Christmas Tree Mistakes
- Overwatering
- Wrong choice of soil
- Failing to trim and prune damaged parts
- Succulent Christmas Tree FAQ
What are Succulent Christmas Trees?
Succulent Christmas trees are mini Christmas trees that combine lots of small succulent plants together in a tree formation. These trees make great gifts during the holidays, especially if they are decorated with lots of sparkly Christmas decorations.
Who Are Succulent Christmas Trees For?
With more and more people downsizing their homes, large and flamboyant Christmas trees will not fit into many people’s new living space. If you are living in a small home, and want to decorate your house with decorations that won’t drown your living space, then succulent Christmas trees are for you.
Of course, you don’t have to be living in a small home to enjoy succulent Christmas trees. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be Christmas to grow these cute trees in your home!
They make great table decorations, and they certainly look wonderful in a brightly lit conservatory or on a large windowsill. Succulent Christmas trees are not hard to care for either, so if you are a notorious plant neglecter, these succulent Christmas trees are going to be perfect for you.
What Succulents Should I Use For My Succulent Christmas Tree?
Not every succulent plant is going to be appropriate for building a succulent Christmas tree. You need to choose low-growing succulents that are sturdy and don’t drape over pots or baskets.
Here is a list of the best succulents to use for your Christmas tree and a little bit about each plant:
- INCLUDED IN PURCHASE | (12) Succulents of different varieties. Each succulent may vary from pictures shown. Succulents come...
- WATERING NEEDS | Water 1x/week. During dormancy (winter), 1x every 2 -3 weeks. Completely soak the soil, then dry out...
- FERTILIZING NEEDS | During the growing season, a balanced fertilizer, which has been diluted to ¼ strength, can be added to...
- BEAUTIFUL, EASY CARE LIVE PLANTS: Featuring eye-catching foliage and flowers, succulents look exotic but are among the lowest...
- NATURAL HOME DECOR: Succulents are extremely versatile and look great when incorporated into a wide variety of room decor....
- PERFECT FOR GIFTS AND EVENTS: A succulent plant can easily be used in a wreath arrangement of real plants, table...
1.Echeveria Elegans
This succulent is native to the desert areas of Mexico. It is sometimes called the ‘Mexican snowball’ and is part of the Crassulaceae family.
2. Ghost-plant
The ghost-plant is part of the Jade plant family. It is native to Mexico and is sometimes called the ‘mother of pearl plant.’
3. Jade Plant
The jade plant’s scientific name is Crassula ovata. You might also know this plant as the ‘money tree’. This succulent is native to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
4. Aeonium
This plant is a genus of over 30 species of succulents. These plants are particularly popular in horticulture, and you might have heard them being called the tree ‘houseleek succulent’.
5. Sempervivum
This flowering succulent plant is often bright green or deep burgundy in color. ‘Hen and chicks’ and ‘live forever’ are popular names for this succulent plant.
6. Sedum
Sedum plants are part of a very large family of Crassulaceae. These flowering plants are perfect for building succulent Christmas trees as they are sturdy and aesthetic.
7. Crassula
Crassula succulent plants are native to South Africa. Crassula plants include shrub varieties of succulents.
How to Make a Succulent Christmas Tree
Before you begin to assemble your succulent Christmas tree, make sure you have all of your supplies ready. Here is a list of the things you will need:
- Small to medium-sized cone frame.
- Sphagnum moss.
- Geotextile fabric or breathable liner.
- Gather all of your small, medium, and large potted succulents.
Once you have all of your supplies ready, you can begin to make your succulent Christmas trees. Follow the steps below.
- Soak your moss in a bucket of water.
- Line your cone with your chosen fabric.
- Once the cone has been lined with fabric and the moss has soaked up plenty of water, squeeze out the excess water from the moss and stuff it in the cone.
- Stand your cone and line the sides of the structure with moss.
- You should then begin to plant large succulents in the corners of the pot and backfill with porous cactus potting soil.
- Cut a slit in the fabric and plant large and medium-sized succulents along with the frame.
- Fill in any gaps with small succulents and pack moss in between the succulents to completely cover the frame.
- If you are building this tree so that it can sit proudly in your home as a Christmas tree, you can put a star on top and lightweight decorations to make it a little more festive.
Common Succulent Christmas Tree Mistakes
Just like many of us make plenty of mistakes when caring for succulents, these mistakes are also made when making and looking after a succulent Christmas tree. If you want to avoid making some serious succulent mistakes, take a look at these common succulent growing mistakes listed below:
Overwatering
Overwatering is the number one killer of succulent plants. You should avoid overwatering your plants and check them on a regular basis to make sure the soil is dry before watering.
Checking if your succulent Christmas tree needs watering is a little bit more difficult as the soil has been exchanged for moss. You will need to touch the moss filling to see if the succulents need watering or not.
Wrong choice of soil
It is vital that you purchase the moss listed in this article as it is appropriate to use instead of soil for growing succulents in a Christmas tree formation.
Failing to trim and prune damaged parts
Succulents are not able to repair damaged leaves. This is a big problem when it comes to sunburn or scaring and can make your plant look very unaesthetic.
Succulent Christmas Tree FAQ
Q: Are succulent Christmas trees expensive?
A: Buying a succulent Christmas tree or making your own can be a rather costly ordeal. Make sure you purchase high-quality, healthy succulents for your Christmas tree.
Q: How long do succulents live?
A: That all depends on the type of succulent plant you are thinking about. Jade plants can live between 70 to 100 years, whereas the Christmas cactus will live for about 30 years.
Q: Can I mist my succulent Christmas tree?
A: No, you should avoid misting your succulent Christmas tree. Succulents do not like to be misted, and they hate humid weather. If you mist your succulent tree, you could end up with soggy, moldy succulents.
Q: Can I water my succulent Christmas tree with tap water?
A: Succulents prefer distilled water; however, tap water is ok for your succulent Christmas tree.
Q: Can I water my succulents from top to bottom?
A: Yes, you can water your succulents from top to bottom and from the base. Whatever works for you.
Q: Can I touch my succulents?
A: Do not touch your succulent plants. Succulents are very delicate and have a powdery film on top of their leaves. This powder can not be reproduced, and when the powder is removed, the succulent can not protect itself from the sun and may bet sunburnt and scar.
Q: How can I tell if my succulents are suffering from root rot?
A: Root rot causes your plants to deteriorate very quickly. Rotting roots will turn your plant black very quickly. Succulents suffering from root rot may become soft and soggy and appear to be brown.
Q: Can my succulent Christmas tree suffer from root rot?
A: Yes, if you overwater your succulent Christmas tree, it could very well suffer from root rot. To avoid this, water your succulent tree only when the moss filling is completely dry.