Learn how to make a beautiful fall pumpkin centerpiece perfect for your holiday table! This easy DIY project adds a festive fall vibe to any home.
I’ve already told you about my love for mini succulents when I showed you this great Succulent Centerpiece tutorial. You knew I couldn’t stop at just one succulent project, though, right?! Not when they’re on sale!
As I was picking up some pumpkins to clean off the porch, I noticed how perfectly one of my mini pumpkins could fit some of these mini succulents I hadn’t planted yet. It was that simple–A great idea was born.
Supplies needed for a Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece:
- Mini pumpkin
- Mini succulent
- Knife & spoon
- Cactus potting soil
I imagine you could also make a similar centerpiece using a larger pumpkin and larger succulent. I used the minis because it’s what I had. Plus it’s easier to mix a couple mini pumpkin centerpieces in with these Birch Candlesticks I love so much!
How do I make a Pumpkin Succulent Centerpiece?
This is an incredibly simple DIY! Easier than carving a pumpkin, even. We start out the same way, though… Cut off the top of the pumpkin and hollow it out.
To make sure the opening is large enough, you can place the succulent pot on top of the pumpkin and draw a circle around the base. Instead of cutting that small circle, though, I took off an extra 1″ or so around. This ensures that the succulent will have some room to “stretch out,” and I like the way it looks.
After you remove the seeds and scoop out enough flesh for the plant to fit, place the plant inside. Fill any open space with the cactus potting soil. You can use other potting soil, but I’ve found that the cactus-specific mixes work super well for succulents since they need such good drainage!
Finally, water your succulent. Succulents don’t like to stay wet, so make sure you allow it to dry out between waterings. The pumpkin can last around a month before it starts to get too soft, so you’ll likely only need to water it a handful of times.
When the pumpkin is finally too soft and begins to rot, you can take your succulent out and plant it in another container. This living centerpiece is a beautiful way to bring interesting and festive flair to the holiday table!
How can I use my pumpkins for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and more?
Uncut pumpkins can last 2-3 months, especially if they haven’t been exposed to extreme temperatures. So instead of tossing those pumpkins you’ve had sitting on your porch, why not work them into your holiday home décor?
Thanksgiving Pumpkin Decorations:
- Cutting the top of your pumpkin to create this beautiful succulent planter centerpiece is a great way to reuse your Halloween display! It should last about a month before the pumpkin gets too soft and begins to grow moldy on the inside. To make it last as long as possible, you can wash the inside and outside of the hollowed pumpkin with a 10% bleach solution, rinse, and allow it to dry out for one day before planting.
- Whether you are cutting your pumpkins for a planter or wanting to keep them whole, you can easily paint or apply vinyl lettering to incorporate them into your holiday display! Thanksgiving is all about being appreciative and spending time with loved ones, so phrases like “give thanks,” “count your blessings,” “happy fall,” or other seasonally-appropriate sayings would immediately give the pumpkins a Thanksgiving vibe instead of a Halloween one. You could top it with a fall-themed bow, too!
- Using fall leaves as stamps on your pumpkin can also be a cute, seasonal decoration! First, gather leaves from the yard (all different types for an eclectic look or all the same for a more polished pattern) or find silk versions you like. Next, lightly brush the leaves with paint, then place them (paint side down) onto the pumpkin. Lift the leaves to reveal a beautiful nature-inspired print! You can choose all different colors for fun, white for a more classic look, or any color that matches your home décor!
Christmas Pumpkin Decorations:
- If you’ve taken great care of your pumpkins, they can last until Christmas! You could easily replace your succulent with a mini poinsettia or something more festive, depending on the size of your pumpkin. It’s unlikely you’d be able to use the same pumpkin for both Thanksgiving and Christmas… You’ll most likely need to cut a fresh one.
- Vinyl lettering or a steady hand painting seasonal sayings is also super cute for Christmas! Painting the pumpkins white also gives a more “wintery” vibe, or you could use red and green, or paint them to match the ornaments on your tree! Creatively wrapping your painted pumpkins with beautiful ribbons and bows automatically gives them a more “Christmas-like” touch!
- Using some paint and clever tricks, you could turn your pumpkins into classic Christmas characters! A green pumpkin with a sly grin and a Santa hat suddenly turns into the grinch… Three white pumpkins stacked on top of one another suddenly become Frosty the Snowman! (If you replace the top pumpkin with a painted butternut squash, you can have an Olaf.) Pumpkins could easily be painted to resemble Santa’s suit, too.
[…] Pumpkin Centerpiece […]