What gift could be better for a gardener and plant enthusiast than wearable houseplants? Live plant jewelry is a thing, and it’s easier to make than you think. Give them out as gifts and keep one or two for yourself.
Jewelry for Plant Lovers
A living plant necklace, bracelet, or ring is a truly unique gift for someone on your list who loves plants. You can follow these guidelines and get creative, using your choice of plants and bases for stunning jewelry.
The best choices for live plant jewelry are air plants and succulents. An air plant, of course, doesn’t need soil. To keep it alive, you’ll just need to spritz it with water. Succulents will need a medium but not much water, so they hold up well in jewelry settings.
How to Make Air Plant Jewelry
To design jewelry with air plants, start by choosing small specimens. Then, choose the jewelry base. There are a couple of ways to secure and style air plants for jewelry:
- In a small container. For a necklace, look for a small container that can serve as a pendant, like a miniature terracotta pot or a glass bottle pendant. You can find both at craft stores.
- With glue. Use waterproof glue to adhere an air plant to a plain ring or bracelet or a flat pendant. You can use multiple plants or arrange with gemstones or rocks for a unique design.
For container jewelry, make sure you choose a plant that fits snugly. When not wearing, spritz the plant with water and set it in indirect light. If using a glass pendant with a cork top, open it up to give the plant fresh air.
How to Make Live Succulent Jewelry
You can also use small succulents to create stunning jewelry. You will need some soil and a container if you want the plants to survive and thrive.
A glass pendant is a great choice for a necklace. Place a little bit of soil and some glass beads or other decorations in the pendant. Use tweezers to gently settle the succulent inside the pendant. Give it a couple drops of water once or twice a month and leave in a sunny spot when not wearing.
You can also glue small succulents to a flat jewelry base, like a ring or cuff bracelet. They may root with regular misting, but they likely won’t last more than a few weeks.