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DIY Boho Succulent Planter (Step-by-Step)

 Get creative with your very own DIY boho succulent planter. It’s a beautiful centerpiece for your home and just a great project for teens and adults.

diy boho planter

Just take a look at this gorgeous planter. It’s not just any old, plain, or boring planter, no. This one’s like a little terrarium in one single pot.

What I love about it is the bohemian vibe that it throws off in spades. There’s a lovely touch of rusticity, too. But all those textured rocks and succulents just scream earthy boho-chic, don’t they?

diy succulent planter

What if I told you that this planter was actually super easy to make, and you can make one—or three—all on your own for your home? No, really, you can recreate this planter, too, if you’ve a mind to.

Go on and take a look at the supplies you’ll need, and then read ahead to find out exactly how you can make this DIY boho succulent planter.

diy planter with succulents

Supplies and Tools You’ll Need

Here’s an exhaustive list of everything you’ll need for this project:

craft supplies

Watch: DIY Boho Succulent

Would love to watch a video for this instead? Check full tutorial here!

How to Make a Boho Succulent

Now you know what you’ll need, so go ahead and gather all the materials. You will have noticed by now that we’re not going to be using real succulents. That’s because this planter is essentially a display piece.

Step 1

It seems like a shame to cover up such a pretty cardboard box, doesn’t it. But, if you’re using one of those generic ones, then you’ll be glad for the make-over. You can also use a plastic or a metal box to the same effect.

So, grab your hot glue gun to get started. Line the board with glue starting at one end from the bottom and lining up to the top.

using glue gun

Step 2

Take a skewer and press it into the line of glue to adhere it. Hold it in place for a few moments while the glue dries.

glueing stick to board

It might be easier to apply multiple lines of glue at a time and stick the skewers in place. The process will be quicker that way.

lining skewers on board
adding more skewers

Just keep an eye out for the glue—you don’t want it to cool down while you’re working your way across the board.

filling board with skewers

Step 3

Grab a pair of pliers and clip the skewers as evenly as possible. The ends should not be longer than the height of the box.

cutting ends of skewers
cut skewers

Continue to work your way through the entire box alternatively gluing and clipping the skewers.

adding more skewers
holding skewers

When you’re done, your box should look something like this. It’s already so pretty, isn’t it?

box lined with skewers

Step 4

Now, it’s time for sandpaper to come to the rescue. You remember when you clipped the skewers? Well, we need to even the ends out so they don’t look too jagged.

Grab a bit of sandpaper and scrub the ends as much as you like. You can even skip this step if you like the rusticity that the uneven ends add to the box.

sanding skewer ends

Step 5

Grab your paint and brushes and start painting the skewers. You can start by applying a nice base coat.

painting skewers
adding paint to skewers

Once that coat has dried completely, proceed to add another coat or two till you’re happy with how it looks.

painted box

Step 6

It’s time to line the bottom of the box with a sheet of styrofoam. You can use ready-made sheets or even buy an entire block. Then, just cut either of them down to size to fit the bottom of the box.

Tuck the styrofoam in there, as seen here.

putting styrofoam in box

Step 7

Next, layer the box and line the styrofoam sheet with a white paper towel or napkin. You can also use fabric if you like.

lining box with paper towel

Step 8

Next, decorate the inside of the box with different stones, pebbles, rocks, and more. You can even add a few bits of pumice stone in there for added texture.

filling box with rocks

Step 9

Sprinkle some sand between the gaps to fill them up. You don’t want the white bits from the napkin underneath to show, do you? You can also add in a few seashells and other embellishments.

That can add a bit of a beachy-vibe to your bohemian box.

adding sand to box

Step 10

Finally, grab your faux succulents and place them around the stones, tucking them in place as you see fit.

adding fake succulents
planting artificial plants

There you go—looks like something you bought from a shop, doesn’t it?

completed planter

Who Can Make This Boho Succulent?

While younger kids can help you decorate the planter—I bet they’ll love filling the box with sand and shells—this project might be more suitable to an older crowd.

It can be a little risky working with all those skewers, so if younger kids are working on this project, parental guidance and supervision is a definite must.

side view of planter

Where Could I Place the Succulent Planter?

This planter would look pretty amazing just about anywhere around your home. Here’s a few ideas about where you might consider placing your bohemian planter:

  • On the deck
  • As a centerpiece
  • On a coffee table or sideboard
  • Up the front porch steps or
  • On the front porch
  • Around the garden path
displaying planter

Other Crafts You’ll Love

DIY Boho Succulent Planter

diy succulent planter

Create your very own DIY decoration from a cardboard box and skewers. This is a beautiful centerpiece anyone can make and use as a decoration!

Active Time 1 hour
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty Medium
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • 1x cardboard box
  • Styrofoam sheets
  • White napkin
  • Artificial succulents
  • Stones
  • 100x skewers (more for a bigger box, fewer for a smaller one)
  • Acrylic paints (brown and metallic gold)

Tools

  • Pliers
  • Hot glue gun
  • Paintbrush
  • Foam brush

Instructions

  1. Gather all your materials to get started on this project
  2. Grab your hot glue gun and vertically line the box with glue. Carefully adhere a skewer to the glue and hold it in place for a moment or two.
  3. You can apply multiple lines of hot glue and adhere multiple skewers along the box at a time to speed up the process.
  4. Grab a pair of clippers or pliers and clip the ends of the skewers off at the rim of the box. Try to clip them as evenly as possible.
  5. When you’ve worked your way around the box and have clipped off all the ends, grab a piece of sandpaper and scrub the ends till it becomes smooth. Alternatively, you can choose to leave it as it is if you like the ruggedness it provides to the planter.
  6. Next, paint the planter with two-three coats of paint, allowing enough time for each coat to dry before applying the next.
  7. Layer the inside of the box with a sheet or block of styrofoam that has been sized to fit the box.
  8. Next, fold a paper towel, napkin, or cloth and place it on top of the styrofoam.
  9. Decorate the box with stones, pebbles, rocks and shells. You can also use sand to cover up any open spots where the napkin peeks through.
  10. Finally, artfully arrange the faux succulents between the rocks and tuck them in place firmly.
  11. Your DIY boho planter is ready and you can set it up wherever you like!
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