Phil Aynsley
Succulents make great hanging wall art as once their roots have formed, they’re happy to grow on the vertical. We made a hanging letter ‘H’, but you could also make a living house number to hang at the front of your home.
Gather your supplies
• Outdoor plywood panel (we used a 400 x 600mm offcut)
• Old fence palings n Cacti and succulent potting mix
• Sphagnum moss n Metal mesh with 20mm squares
• Selection of small potted succulents
You’ll also need Cordless drill; jigsaw; hand or power saw; thin 30mm wood screws; staple gun; tape measure; snips; seaweed tonic; clear polyurethane; paintbrush
Step 1 Put plywood on a work surface and mark out chosen letter or number
Step 2 Using jigsaw, carefully cut out shape. This will form base of frame.
Step 3 Measure lengths for side panels, remembering to allow for thickness of palings when calculating. Using hand or power saw, cut out lengths from fence palings. Arrange so joints are butted together, predrill, then secure in place with screws
Step 4 Predrill, then secure sides of frame to plywood base with screws.
Step 5 To extend life of frame, paint insides with clear polyurethane and leave to dry. Moisten sphagnum moss following pack instructions, then use to line base of frame.
Step 6 Top damp moss with a layer of cacti and succulent potting mix to about 2-3cm from top of frame.
Step 7 To help keep plants and potting mix in place, finish with another layer of damp moss.
Step 8 Place metal mesh over top of frame and, using staple gun, secure mesh to frame along all edges.
Step 9 Using snips, cut away all excess mesh around frame, taking care not to create any sharp edges.
Step 10 Remove succulents from their pots and shake away excess soil. Using your finger, poke holes in planting mix, position plants, then firm moss around stems. Water gently with a solution of seaweed tonic.
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