DIY Blooming Pumpkin the EASY Way

5 Materials
$25
1 Hour
Easy

Create a blooming pumpkin as a centerpiece for your fall or Thanksgiving table the easy way~ no cutting required!

Flowers and pumpkins are two of my favorite things and I love to combine the two for a seasonal centerpiece for a fall or Thanksgiving table!


I like to use a shortcut method to create a blooming pumpkin, eliminating the time-consuming step of hollowing out the pumpkin to make a vase for flowers. Cutting through the hard skin and flesh can be hazardous, so skipping this step saves time, prevents accidents, and extends the life of your pumpkin. This is a variation of that method, made even easier!

I started with a Fairytale Pumpkin I bought back in September from the Farmers Market. Fairytale Pumpkins are deeply lobed with prominent ribbing and have a squat, flattened shape. This pumpkin’s stem was broken off when I bought it, but it makes ideal to create a ‘blooming’ pumpkin. You can also use any stemless pumpkin to create a ‘blooming’ pumpkin with this method.

Start with a brick of wet floral foam. Cut your floral brick with a knife to the size you need for the top of your pumpkin (I used half a brick). Soak the floral foam in water until it’s fully saturated. When your foam is saturated (about 5 minutes or less) use waterproof floral tape to secure the wet foam to a clear plastic plate.


Tip: When using wet floral foam, use the “float soak” method and place the floral foam brick on top of the water. Let the floral foam gradually absorb the water until it’s fully saturated. Plunging the floral foam in the water traps air bubbles and will prohibit the transfer of water from the foam to the flower stems.

I used a 7-inch clear Chinet brand plastic plate from the grocery store. The plates have a slight curve to them so they will catch any water that might drip from the floral foam. I also stacked two plates together before using waterproof floral tape and taping the foam to the plates to support the weight of the wet floral foam.

I cut some sprigs of foliage cut from the shrubs and yard. . . abelia, lorepetalum and goldenrod, added as filler to the arrangement.

For flowers, I used a combination of carnations, mums and roses from the grocery store. Tip: Walmart is a great place to buy fresh flowers if you get them as soon as they put them out and when they're fresh. I found two bunches of 6 roses for $3.33 a bunch.

Floral arrangement top for pumpkin

Tip: Place the plate with your arrangement on your pumpkin, checking periodically as you work, making sure you’re adding enough floral material so the edge of your plate is concealed.

Top your pumpkin with your floral arrangement and voilà. . . a Blooming Pumpkin Centerpiece, without any cutting or extra work!

You can see my blooming pumpkin as a centerpiece for my fall table.


What I prefer about this method:


  • No cutting involved so your pumpkin will last longer
  • Easier to transport the flowers and pumpkin, separately
  • The floral top can be refrigerated to prolong the life of your flowers
  • You can add water to the arrangement if needed as the plastic plate will catch drips and excess water


More photos, details and table sources at the original blog post!

Resources for this project:
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Mary @ Home is Where the Boat Is
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Joyce Joyce on Sep 18, 2022

    Love this! Turned out beautiful. I think I may try it. However, I may also try one with fake flowers if I can find some nice ones. Then I can put it away and use and use it every year. Unless I want that fresh flower smell, which I love. Thank you for sharing!

  • Pean7198 Pean7198 on Sep 19, 2022

    Yes

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