I resurrected one of the last issues of ReadyMade (RIP) and flipped to this tutorial on using potting tiny pines for holiday decor. I liked their idea, although I didn’t quite follow what they did (which was buy actual saplings and plant in mason jars):
I snipped a handful of pine branch tips from Pete’s parent’s luxurious property (an abundance of trees from which to cut from is a dream), and set out to make some mantle decor that would (hopefully) last until Christmas week.
The branches felt healthy after having soaked the the cut ends in water for a few days, so I brought out some potting soil and clay pots from the basement. I’m not sure how long they’ll last “planted” in potting soil, because I don’t intend to keep watering them like you would a Christmas tree. I did line the bottom of each clay pot with a piece of plastic to keep any loose soil and hint of moisture from falling through the drainage hole of the clay pot, so I could probably water lightly if I wanted, but in a perfect world, they’d need to be much more saturated than what sitting in damp soil would permit. If I had used Ball Jars instead, I could have soaked them, but then what’s the point since they aren’t going to re-root themselves? (Bonus: The potting soil can be reused, no waste.)
I don’t know enough about pine species, but one tree that I cut from had long, soft needles. The branches are droopy, more like a Charles Schultz tree. I think it’s charming. Plus, this tiny branch was planted in my tiniest pot, increasing the petite-cuteness factor.
I’m probably way more obsessed with these little guys than I should be considering they’ll likely be dead by Christmas day. The whole project had me singing Queen’s Keep Yourself Alive chorus (jump to 1:10).
Ok, distracted. I transitioned some items off the mantle and top of the bookshelf, I grouped these little guys together to decorate the whole room. I left the color block art and a sketch of Cody just because I like them + the pop of color they bring to the living room.
I found some branches that still held tiny pine cones. Adorable.
Anyone else attempting creative holiday decor with freebies found in the backyard?
4 Comments
Thanks for the early morning jam! Hah. The pups and I will have to go on a mission for pine cones and now evergreen snippets :D
Awesome! Glad to have inspired :)
Great idea! I will have to try singing that song to my next plant endeavor because everything I plant is pretty much going to die… Soon!
Ooh, unrelated to the post but related to dying plants: I had been trying to give the house plants loads of light and some were starting to look bummed out in the last month, so I took a chance and moved them all out of the light but next to the baseboard heating and within 12 hours (no joke) they were all happy and looking as spry as if they were on the deck in the sun. I think they were just too cold. Try it?