Top 10 DIY Succulent Gardens – Teacher Appreciation Gifts

End of the School Year
It’s that time of year! The time to say thank you to your children’s teachers for an incredible year. As a general rule, teachers are amazingly kind, giving souls who entered their profession with the hopes and dreams of changing the world one student at a time. No matter the grade level they teach, no matter the subject, no matter how long they’ve been teaching, it would bring a huge smile to their face to be acknowledged for the work they do all year. These DIY gifts are perfect for doing just that!

As a teacher’s wife I’ve seen my fair share of end-of-the-year gifts come through our house. While they are all thoughtful and sweet, there have been some that are more well received than others. Hint: They come with a gift card. 😉

On the other hand, as a mom of four, I realize how quickly the expenses of teacher gifts can multiply. That’s why I’ve decided that the perfect gift is a succulent garden. Bold assertion, I know. Maybe it’s just because I want all the succulents. All. of. them. Even though it’s not about me, I maintain my position! Here’s why.

Four Reasons a Succulent Garden is the Perfect Teacher Appreciation Gift

1. They are low maintenance. Your teacher barely has time to go to the bathroom during the day let alone time to devote to keeping a “regular” plant healthy. These babies can withstand a few missed waterings when the classroom gets extra busy.
2. They are a blank canvas. Your teacher wants to know that they are making a difference. Below you’ll find links to a handful of adorable tags that say “Thanks for helping me grow!” They are just too cute and tie in perfectly with a succulent garden gift. It’s a great way to show your teacher the impact they’re having.
3. They are inexpensive. You want to preserve your budget, I totally get it. That’s why most of the succulent gardens in this post can be made for just a few dollars. Combine one with a gift card and BOOM. You’ve got an incredibly inexpensive way to say thank you. Better yet, have the whole class chip in for a gift card together. (I know for a fact this is a teacher favorite!)
4. They are just beautiful. That is all.

Top 10 DIY Succulent Gardens
So let’s start the roundup. Here are the top 10 DIY succulent gardens hand-picked with teachers in mind.

1. This darling garden from A Pumpkin and A Princess has the perfect printable to go with it!
   
2. Of course! A container made of rulers! This succulent garden from Tilly’s Nest has teachers everywhere clapping their hands. And the pencil says, “You Rule!” Just stop.
   
3. There is just something oh-so-sweet about this succulent gift from Alice and Lois. I love their printable and how it’s suspended above the succulents like a bunting banner. And I love the vibe the burlap and ribbon give it.
   
4. Maybe I’m just in love with buntings because I find this one from A Pretty Cool Life adorable as well. Spoiler alert: she used washi tape! Genius!
   
5. This beauty from The Idea Room is perfect for teachers! She used a bucket as the planter and mod-podged “teacher” and “grow” dictionary pages onto it. Plus she created a sweet free printable gift tag to boot!
   
6. Another awesome succulent garden idea comes from Three Little Monkeys Studio. She paints the bottom of an inexpensive terracotta pot gold. Swoon! Add a little gold to your gift tag holder and use her printable and you’ve got one amazing gift.
   
7. This one from Shanty-2-Chic is a little more time intensive but so worth it. Something about this rustic little box with its twine and clothespin just gets me.
   
8. Oh, Mason Jars, is there anything you can’t do? I love the idea of using a painted Mason Jar as a planter like Live Randomly Simple did.
   
   Or, you could really step up your game and paint your mason jar like a No. 2 pencil like this Hobby Lobby pin. (I can’t find a tutorial link anywhere – sorry folks!)
   
9. Look closely, my dears. These succulents from Craftberry Bush are actually pens! Talk about low maintenance AND super useful. Plus, students can’t walk off with one of these without their teacher noticing. 😉
   
10. Last but not least, there is this amazing creation from House and Fig. While the wooden letter box may be on the pricey side, you can always hollow out a cardboard letter for a much more budget-friendly option. This tutorial from Urbanic Paper can show you how to do that.
    

There you have it, my loves! I hope you’re inspired to go succulent shopping and give your children’s teachers a gift they’re sure to love! Happy DIY-ing!

xoxo,
Meg