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Easy Modular Monogram Succulent Wall Planter From Wood Crates!

by / 8 Comments / 2294 View / February 19, 2014

I'm going to show you how to make a trendy, modular monogram succulent wall planter from wood crates you buy at the craft store.
There are no tools involved and this is probably one of the easiest vertical wall planters you can make.

 

Have you been watching the Home & Family show on the Hallmark channel where I appear as the garden lifestyle expert?

 

One of the producers asked me if I could make a monogram succulent wall planter that they saw in a popular garden magazine.

The design was gorgeous but too complicated for the average person to make, so I redesigned it as a modular planter using store-bought wood crates.

Take a look!

 

 

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The letters "H" and "F" succulent wall planters are displayed at the Home & Family deck.

 Some of the unique design elements of this vertical succulent wall planter include:
 
  • The planters are made from ready-made, lightweight wood crates from the craft store, so there's no heavy wood construction involved.
  • The succulent monogram design is created by hanging a series of large and small crates to form block letters.
  • This succulent wall planter is a "no-soil" planter.
  • Succulent cuttings are planted in moist moss so the planter is very lightweight.

 

MATERIALS FOR THE EASY MONOGRAM SUCCULENT WALL PLANTER

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Gather these materials and start making your monogram succulent planter!

 

 

 

  • Wood crates from Joann's craft store. Price ranges from $4 to $8 dollars depending on size.
  • Spray paint for wood in your favorite color, glossy finish. I chose "Sunny Yellow" from Krylon.
  • "NeverWet" waterproofing solution by Rust-Oleum. NeverWet is a two step solution designed to create a moisture repelling barrier on a variety of surfaces including metal, wood, aluminum and more.
  • Moist moss as a planting medium.
  • Plastic chicken wire to keep the moss and plants from falling out.
  • Succulent plant cuttings.
  • Staple gun for securing chicken wire to crates.
  • Screws for hanging on wall.
        

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING SUCCULENT WALL PLANTERS

 

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Helpful Hint: Use a Lazy Susan when painting for easy access to all areas!

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1. SPRAY PAINT one or two  coats of color paint, inside and out and let dry.

 

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2. Apply the BASE COAT APPLICATION of  Rust-Oleum® NeverWet solution.

Shake the can of NeverWet Base Coat vigorously for one minute before spraying and then frequently during use and between passes.

I love this product, it has revolutionized the materials that I can use to make planters because of it's effective waterproofing abilities!

Spray Base Coat approximately 6-12 inches from the surface.

Spray two light coats of Base Coat (right to left, then up and down).
Wait for 30 minutes for the Base Coat to dry.
Apply a second coat if desired, waiting 30 minute before moving to the next step.

 

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3. Apply the TOP COAT APPLICATION of Rust-Oleum NeverWet solution.

Shake Top Coat can vigorously for one minute after mixing ball begins to rattle.

Shake often during use.

Spray Top Coat over Base Coat approximately 6-12 inches from the surface.

Avoid soaking the surface.

 

Spray two light coats (right to left, then up and down).

Wait 1-2 minutes and then spray two additional passes, taking care not to soak the surface.

Wait at least 30 minutes before exposing to water, 12 HOURS IS IDEAL.

 

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Painted and water-proofed crates, ready for chicken wire and after, planting!
 
 
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4. PREPARE PLANTER with moss and chicken wire for planting.

Staple chicken wire inside of crate

 

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Fill tightly with wet moss

 

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Secure the moss in the front of the crate with green plastic chicken wire.

I prefer the plastic chicken wire to the metal one because it's much gentler on your skin!

 

HOW TO PLANT SUCCULENTS IN MOSS BOX

There are a few plants besides succulents that can be planted bare root in moss.
Bromeliads, tsillandsias and orchids are among them.
You could probably add some of these plants to your vertical planter along with the succulents if you wanted to.
 
 Haworthia-succulent-plantlet-with-roots-exposed-no-soil-plant-in-moss-edenmakers

Push small plant cuttings through chicken wire opening and secure into moss.

After a few weeks, the succulents will begin to root in the moss, wrapping their roots around moss clumps.

Succulents are able to grow and thrive in the soiless medium with the advantage of slower growth.

Use a small bent coated wire to wrap around plant stem and anchor into the moss if needed for security.

 

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Continue to add more succulents but don't overplant!

 

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Leave some space for the plants to grow.

 

Planting Tips:

Plant creeping plants such as Senecio on the lower areas of planters so that when the plant grows, it doesn't cover other plants.

Buy  small succulent plants (4"-inches and smaller) so that your plants don't  outgrow the planters quickly!

Use cuttings from larger succulents to save money. 

 

HOW TO WATER YOUR SUCCULENT WALL PLANTER

Mist the moss in your succulent wall planter until fully wet once a week or take your planter down from the wall and gently water.

Be careful not to dislodge your newly planted succulents.

I never fertilize my succulents that are planted in moss and they still grow well and last a long time.

One of the advantages of planting in moss is that you can hang your vertical wall planter immediately after planting as their is no soil that needs securing.

 

Do you have any questions about creating a  modular monogram succulent wall planter using wood crates?

 

 

8 Comment

  1. Thank you Regina.

    You can make a “boxy” R using rectangular and square premade wood crates.

    Check Joann’s and Michaels. 
    It may have to be large if you use two rectangular crates to make a long first line for the R.

    Then, use a square crate for the round part of R and another rectangular one as the “foot” of the R.

  2. I love the H and F planters! How can I make the letter R as a planter using your techniques? Love, love!

  3. You got it Deb.
    Next time you watch the show, look around at the yard, it’s full of projects and landscape projects I’ve done!
    THe bare root roses I planted a couple of months ago are now starting to flower. Very exciting!

    Thanks for watching. I want you to post a photo of your project when you finish it.

    Shirley

  4. I missed this episode of H&F but noticed the planter hanging on the wall during outside discussions on the couch. Glad I found the instructions. Thanks for sharing such a cute project and one that is easy to make!

  5. Hi Mary,

    Good idea. The succulents will take a long while to grow but when they do it will be cutting time~ Thanks for visiting and watching the show.

    Shirley

  6. Thank you for watching the show Pat! Appreciate your visit to EdenMakers. Come back and visit again.

    Shirley

  7. Nice idea. Next one should be on when the planter gets overgrown. How to divide or take apart and replant. Thank you for telling people not to fertilize.

  8. Loved the idea of the succulent planters on home and family show.

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