Yay Cactus Jungle! Their team of cactus experts put together a succulent wreath class and I was lucky enough to snag a seat. They made the process super simple, taking on much of the prep.

We were provided with a container of succulent cuttings with different growing seasons. In theory, this would make the wreath look full year-round. There were lots of color variations, including some pink-colored succulents which I hadn’t seen before. Throughout the class our instructor shared a succulent fun fact and tips for taking care of our wreaths.

The wreaths are made of a metal frame and moss, and held in shape with fishing wire. Cactus Jungle presoaked the wreaths for us in a seaweed solution. Apparently, moisture awakens the amoebas that live in the moss. (Amoebas?! No one warned me about amoebas!!). We were given a lesson in wreath making safety at the start of class and we wore puncture-resistant gloves to protect us from puncture wounds (and keep amoebas from getting into our bloodstream and causing a brain disease and then us ending up on that show Monsters Inside Me, OMG) because look at these intense pins we used to secure the cuttings in place.

(AH! Amoebas!)

I was super impressed with how my wreath turned out, and how easy it was to put it all together. Pro tips: work in triangles and start with the largest cuttings, filling in with smaller and smaller cuttings.

The wreaths came with a hanging hook and chain, and since the succulents were being held on with the giant staple-like pins, we could hang them up as soon as we got home. And in six to eight weeks when the cuttings will have rooted in the moss, I can remove the giant pins.

I’m so excited to put this on display! I’m hoping I can keep it alive for a long time.

After class I did some shop exploring; it was gorgeous out! I wish I could hang out here all day and learn about cactus varieties and make so many more wreaths (but I’m scared of amoebas) to give as gifts.