If you have something that’s made of wire, you have the beginning of a great plant craft project or succulent display.  Since succulents don’t need much soil, and because their leaves don’t wilt while they are getting their roots established, you can use them in a variety of craft projects.

Recently I found a couple of wire dress forms that were, I believe, intended to hold earrings or other jewelry. They were only a couple of dollars at the local thrift store, and I immediately saw their potential for a fun planting project.

I used these materials:
Moss from my yard.
Potting soil that I had on hand.
Small succulents that were off-shoots of some plants I’d over-wintered in a sunny window.
A piece of wire.
Oasis Florist glue
My thrift store wire dress forms.

I packed some of the moss in the waist to hold both the upper moss and soil and the lower materials in. Next I turned the form upside down, lined part with moss and packed a lump of soil in the skirt area. I put another thin layer of moss on the bottom of the form, and I used three strands of green wire to prevent it from falling out once I stood the form vertically.

Next I carefully tucked the small succulents into place, poking what roots they had into the dirt. I secured them in place with a small dot of florist glue on the wire form. This doesn’t hurt the plant but holds it in while the roots grow into place.

Here is my dress form when it was in process, along with all of the ingredients.

Once the skirt was planted, front and back, I added one succulent on the top. I water this only when it feels lightweight so that I know it’s quite dry. The moss can tolerate watering once a week, as can the succulents.

You can use any wire form for the same purpose: recycle a model bicycle wheel, onion basket, or other ornament. Use these for your own home display (indoors or outdoors) or for a centerpiece for a special event.

Look at thrift store offerings with new eyes!