Paint & Plant Pumpkins

Paint & Plant Pumpkins: the full guide

Everything from your workshop in one spot: paint marker tricks, pattern ideas from real guests, how we planted it up, and how to keep your succulents thriving long after fall.

Paint marker tips

Paint markers feel like a pen but behave like paint. A few habits make a big difference.

  • Prime it the right way. Shake with the cap on until you hear the little ball rattle, then press the tip on scrap paper a few times until paint flows. Pumping it on your pumpkin is how blobs happen.
  • Test on scrap paper first. Try out your design and color combo on paper before it goes on the pumpkin. It takes the pressure off, and your marker gets flowing at the same time.
  • Slow lines are smoother lines. Use light pressure and move slower than feels natural. You can always go back over a line to thicken it.
  • Turn the pumpkin, not your hand. Keep your hand in a comfortable spot and rotate the pumpkin toward you. A paper towel under your wrist keeps you from dragging through wet paint.
  • Light colors go down first. Dark over light covers well, light over dark usually doesn't. Wait a minute or two between colors so they don't smear together.
  • Dots are the easiest win. Press the tip straight down and lift. Big dots with more pressure, tiny dots with less. Rows of shrinking dots look super polished for almost no effort.
  • Mistakes become design. Wipe fresh paint right away with a damp cotton swab. If it already set, turn it into a leaf, a dot, or a bit of vine.
  • Give it time. Let it dry 15 to 20 minutes before planting, and keep the paint away from water for a full day.

Pattern inspo

Real pumpkins from our workshops. Pick one idea or mix two. Simple always looks sweet.

Photo: falling leaves design
Falling leavesOutline, one center vein, done. Tilt each leaf a new way so they look like they're drifting.
Photo: dot flower design
Dot flowersOne dot in the middle, five or six around it. Connect them with tiny dot trails.
Photo: ribbed stripe design
Ribbed stripesFollow the pumpkin's natural ridges from stem to base, alternating solid and dotted lines.
Photo: little pumpkin doodles
Pumpkin doodlesThree curved lines side by side, then a stem. Scatter a few in different sizes.
Photo: vine and curl design
Vines & curlsOne loose wavy line around the middle, then hang little leaves and curls off it.
Photo: fall plaid design
Fall plaidEvenly spaced lines one way, then cross them in a second color. A little wobble is part of the charm.
Photo: scallops and dots
Scallops & dotsA row of little hills around the rim with a dot tucked under each one.
Photo: wheat sprig design
Wheat sprigsA stem line with small ovals angled up both sides, like a feather.
Photo: a pumpkin with a hand-lettered word
A little wordGrateful, gather, hello fall. Practice it on paper first, then thicken the downstrokes.

Planting it up

  1. Paint and let it dry

    Finish your design, then give it 15 to 20 minutes. This is the perfect time to pick out your three succulents.

    Photo: painted pumpkin drying next to the plant table

  2. Pour in your pumice

    Pumice always goes in first. Your pumpkin doesn't have a drainage hole, so this layer at the bottom gives extra water somewhere to go and keeps your succulents' roots from sitting in it.

    Photo: pouring pumice into the bottom of the pumpkin

  3. Add your soil

    Add succulent soil on top of the pumice, leaving room for the root balls to sit inside.

    Photo: scooping soil into the pumpkin

  4. Place your tallest plant first

    Gently loosen the roots and set the tallest of your three succulents toward the back. It becomes the anchor for the whole arrangement.

    Photo: the first succulent going in

  5. Fill in around it

    Tuck your other two succulents in front and to the sides, then press the soil down so all three stand on their own.

    Photo: the arrangement filled in

  6. Finish with moss and fall decor

    Tuck moss over any bare soil and add your fall decor. Step back, turn it around, and adjust until it feels right.

    Photo: finished pumpkin with moss and fall decor

Succulent care at home

Succulents are easygoing. The two things that matter most are bright light and not too much water.

Light

Pick your brightest window, ideally one with a few hours of direct sun. A south or west window is great. If your plants start stretching tall or leaning, they're asking for more light.

Water

Water every 2 to 3 weeks, only once the soil is completely dry. Pour slowly at the soil, not over the leaves. Your pumpkin has no drainage hole, so a few tablespoons is plenty. The pumice catches the extra, but it can't drain out, so less is always more. Water even less in winter.

Temperature

Normal indoor temps are perfect. Keep it away from heat vents and cold drafty windows, and bring it inside before nights drop below about 50°F.

Your painted pumpkin

Dust or wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth. No soaking and no dishwasher. It's happiest indoors, since sun and rain will fade the paint over time.

Your fall decor

Lift it out before you water so it stays dry and fresh. When fall wraps up, swap it for winter picks and your pumpkin becomes a year-round planter.

Down the road

If it gets crowded, move a plant or two into its own pot in spring. Leaves that fall off can root on their own if you lay them on dry soil. Free baby succulents!

Plant troubleshooting

What you see What it means
Soft, mushy, or see-through leaves Too much water. Let the soil dry out completely and water less often.
Wrinkly or deflated leaves Thirsty. Give it a drink and it should plump back up in a day or two.
Stretching tall, pale, or leaning Not enough light. Move it closer to a sunny window.
Crispy brown patches Sunburn, usually after a sudden move into strong sun. Ease it into brighter light.
A few bottom leaves drying up Totally normal. The plant is growing. Pull them off gently.

Show us your pumpkin

We love seeing where your pumpkin ends up. Tag us on Instagram: @theplanter757, @theplanter518, or @theplanter315.

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