How to make a succulent wall garden

Succulent Wall Planters

Living walls are growing in popularity as green wall systems help brighten a room and bring tranquility to a space. 

Often honeycomb in their design, succulent walls are easy to maintain and, ultimately, hassle-free.

Versatile air plants and succulents on walls come in various styles, colours, and sizes.

Below, we provide details of everything you need to create your perfect wall.

What you’ll need to get started:

Wire mesh – chicken mesh is also suitable for succulents on walls, helping keep the soil and moss in place while supporting the planted succulents.

Succulents – a great option for plants for living walls. We recommend working with already established plants, especially if you don’t have time for the plants to grow from seedlings. We would also advise opting for smaller succulents so they don’t protrude too far out of your display. It’s also a good idea to select a variety of colours, textures, and sizes.

Scissors  -to trim away excess plastic sheeting around the planter.

Staple gun – to hold the mesh in place.

Glue gun – to use on the box to hold the plastic sheeting in place.

Shadow box frame – specifically designed for succulents.

Cactus soil – suitable for succulents as it holds moisture well.

Sphagnum moss – we opt for moss because it can retain water, providing your succulents on the wall with the perfect level of moisture. This live moss acts as a ground cover and can also be used to fill in any gaps.

Landscaping plastic – or any general thin plastic tarp to line the frame will work well.

Before you get started

Now that you have all of your equipment, it’s important to think about: 

• Your planter design
• Plant layout
• Sunlight exposure
• The size of the wall and placement
• If the wall in question can be weight-bearing 

It’s important to consider visual impact and remember that succulents do require direct sunlight.

Wall planter succulents

How to make a succulent wall garden in your home:

If you have purchased a shadow box frame, place it on a flat surface to begin.

Note: You can also build your own frame using pallets and wood, and felt packet panels can also be used to fill with soil and succulents. You could also introduce a ladder display where you could attach succulent containers to the ladder’s rungs.

Layer your box frame with landscape (or general) plastic, placing the plastic lining inside and ensuring you have enough to cover the outer edges of the box. Secure the plastic using a hot glue gun. Secure all the edges, and use your fingers to press the plastic down into place.

You can then cut and remove any excess plastic.

Fill your tray with a layer of soil, and after compacting the soil, add the sphagnum moss, filling the box entirely.

Once you’re happy that the moss is in place and evenly spread, place the wire mesh across the frame and secure it using the staple gun.

Before adding the succulents, make sure to do some pruning. Trim the roots of each succulent before planting to help ensure proper growth, and use your hands to remove all excess soil from the root.

Plant the succulents through the spaces in the wire mesh, using your fingers to create a small hole in the moss first.

Firmly press the succulents into the planter and repeat until the box is full and you’re happy with the results.

Keep taking breaks from planting to examine your design and change as you feel necessary.

Your succulent planter for the wall must stay horizontal for approximately 4-8 weeks to allow the plants to root securely.

Once the plants are rooted in the moss and soil, it’s time to hang your living wall plants in your chosen location.

Wall planter succulents

Now that your living wall is in place, you must care for it.

You should water your wall at least once a month, lifting the wall down, watering it, and letting it drain and dry before you rehang.

We recommend misting your display at least once weekly to help keep plants fresh.

Benefits of introducing a living wall into your home

• Succulents are low-maintenance.
• They come in various colours and thick leaves, making them an interesting feature to add to your home.
• They help to create green space within your home – a living piece of art.
• Shows your creative side.
• Supports sustainability, bringing a touch of nature to urban environments.
• Space-saving green solutions.
• Aesthetically pleasing.
• Help to improve air quality.
• Achieve better thermal regulation through natural insulation.
• Supports biodiversity, homing a variety of plant species. 

Living Walls UK

Succulent wall gardens are growing in popularity, and we’re not surprised. 

Bringing nature into your living areas as well as a touch of elegance and tranquillity, a succulent plants wall helps promote a sense of calm and improve wellbeing and mood. 

If you need a little inspiration for living wall ideas, check out our displays online or contact us for more information on how we can help create a beautifully striking wall in your home.