For me, there’s no gift quite as special as one that’s homemade and inspired by nature. And when that gift involves both succulents and recycling too then it ticks all the right boxes in my humble opinion. And this bit of craftiness we’re sharing today does just that. The succulent gift box planter is made entirely from recycled bits and will make any nature lover’ day.
Not only does it look beautiful, but it’s also a gift that will keep on giving, and you get to do your bit to save the planet. The succulent gift box can be put together in a morning.
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What you need
- Craft foam or plastic to make a lid
- Pretty ribbon or twine
- Moss
- Exterior plant-safe glue (E6000 works well)
- Green spray paint (optional)
- Succulent
- Empty Aluminum container
If you don’t have an aluminum container, a plastic one will work too. And if you’re struggling to find succulents at your local nursery, have a look at these watercolor-inspired succulents. They make great gifts too and are so simple to put together.
Is Aluminum Safe to Use as a Planter?
Yes, absolutely!!! Aluminum is completely “plant safe”. In fact, 8% of the earth’s crust is made up of Aluminium, which means aluminum planters are kinda like a home away from home for most plants. And when you recycle aluminum containers as planters, not only are you lowering your carbon footprint, but the aluminum keeps the soil warm in winter and cool in summer, and it helps retain moisture too. While most planters will break or fade over time, those made with aluminum are corrosion-resistant and durable too. So save those aluminum foil containers.
How to Make a Living Succulent Gift Box Planter
Right, let’s turn that empty aluminum container into a gorgeous mossy gift box that doubles up as a long-lasting, eco-friendly planter.
I chose to add a succulent to this one since they’re low maintenance and we have a whole bunch of succulents in our collection. Our container didn’t have a lid, so I used a piece of craft foam to create one.
Just trace around the aluminum (foil) container and cut it out. Test to see if the lid fits neatly.
Figure out where you’d like to plant the succulent. It’s kinda like deciding where the bow should go on a beautifully wrapped gift. Depending on where you’d like to place your succulent, cut a hole in the lid. The hole needs to be big enough to fit your little succulent inside.
Poke a few drainage holes in the bottom of the container and paint the outside of the container and lid green. This step is optional, but I do find it helps disguise the shiny aluminum and you don’t have to add as many layers of moss.
Once the paint dries, add a liberal amount of glue and stick the moss down.
Once the glue dries, fill the aluminum container with soil, and using the hole in the lid as a guide, figure out where to plant your succulent in the container.
I planted one of our many Gasteria babies in this one. Carefully slip the lid over and around the succulent and fold the edges of the aluminum container over the lid to secure. Glue some more moss down to cover the “fold-over”.
Add a pretty bow or some twine, and your succulent gift box planter is ready.
Not bad for something that would have ended up in the dustbin. And it’s so easy and budget-friendly too.
The succulent gift box is a gift that will keep on giving year after year. Once the little Gasteria makes babies of her own, I can subdivide her and fill up some more wine glass coconut planters or perhaps make another moss pillow planter.
If you like the idea of making a living succulent gift box, don’t forget to pin it for later.
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Oh and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you ;-)
And if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then maybe these beauties will appeal.
And as always, wishing you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit.
Last update on 2026-04-15 / Source Amazon Affiliates
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