How to Make a Pumpkin Planter with Succulents

Last updated September 7, 2023
A pumpkin planter makes a cute centerpiece on a Halloween-themed table or eye-catching outdoor decor on your front steps or porch. Stuff this planter with your favorite fall flowers, succulents or edibles, like mustard greens. Read this guide for step-by-step instructions on how to make a pumpkin planter.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Duration:
Under 2 hours
Table of Contents
Design Your Pumpkin Planter
Cut Out the Design
Remove the Pulp from the Pumpkin
Fill the Face
Fill with Soil
Decorate with the Pumpkin Planter
Design Your Pumpkin Planter

Once you’ve settled upon a choice of pumpkin for your planter, the first step in how to make a pumpkin planter is to create an eye-catching design.
- Use a marker to draw the design
on the pumpkin, much like you would if you were creating a design for a jack o’ lantern. - Draw triangles for the eyes. They're easy to cut out and offer that classic Halloween jack o’ lantern look. Of course, you can get as creative as you want with your design.
- Place a flowerpot on top of the pumpkin and draw a circle with the marker.
Cut Out the Design

Use a knife or carving tool to cut out the design of your pumpkin planter. Follow the marker lines and take your time. Carve out the top of the pumpkin using the circle you traced as a guide.
Remove the Pulp from the Pumpkin

Use a small garden trowel to scoop the pulp from the inside of the pumpkin. A trowel makes the job quick and easy, but a serving spoon also works for this task.
Tip: Set aside the pumpkin seeds from the pulp to make a toasted snack. Toast the seeds in your oven with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
Fill the Face

There are many varieties of succulents, but for this project you’ll use Sempervivum for the face of
your pumpkin planter. Commonly known as houseleeks, these succulents grow well indoors and out in cool and hot temperatures.
- Remove the succulents from their nursery pots.
- Tap off the soil until you can them
fit through the slots cut in your pumpkin planter. Use larger succulents for the eyes and smaller succulents for the mouth area. - Use hens and chicks for the mouth area. Several hens and chicks come in one nursery pot, making them a cost-effective option.
Fill with Soil

Fill the main pumpkin cavity with potting soil. Choose a potting mix for succulents to give them the nutrients they need to grow and live longer.
Once filled with soil, plant additional succulents
of your choice in the planter. Spilling sedum gives the pumpkin a fun, hairy look. Next, add a bright plant that takes up plenty of room, such as purple mustard greens.
Alternatively, fill the body of the pumpkin with kale, Swiss chard, ornamental cabbage, coleus, mums or other colorful plants you love.
Decorate with the Pumpkin Planter

Once the pumpkin planter is ready, it's time to decorate with it. Pumpkin planters look beautiful on steps, a porch, balcony, deck or as a table centerpiece. Create more pumpkin planters or use other gourds, squash and mini pumpkins to create a full display.
Making pumpkin planters is a great activity for the whole family. Pair them with jack o' lanterns for Halloween or create a simple pumpkin planter without a face so you can enjoy them at any time during the harvest season. Ready to find the supplies you need or more autumn decor? Download The Home Depot Mobile App to locate and buy the products you want.
Special thanks to Rambo Nursery, Melissa Haghighat and Lucy Mercer for assistance with this project.