Potted Succulent Centerpieces and Bugs??? Is this a real worry?

geemonkee

I'm using succulents for all my wedding flowers. I will have 12-14 centerpieces and want to pot them all in dirt before the wedding because it's out of town and I just won't have time to do it at the venue. I want to do them in the weeks before the wedding and maybe add fresh flowers day of (if any). Problem is a friend (who always looks for the worst in everything and it's driving me crazy!) insists I will have bugs crawling out of the dirt and all over my table (and food). I say no way. Any one have an issue with bugs in potted centerpieces?

Anyone do succulents? If so, how early before the wedding did you make boutonniere, corsages and bouquets?  I'm hearing I can make them maybe on Wed/Thur for my Saturday wedding. Share pics if you want. Would love to see them.

mrscomposer

I have a little pot of succulents on my desk at home, and I've never noticed any bugs.  You'd potentially have the same issue with any type of living centerpiece, so I don't think this is any worse than a standard flower centerpiece.

Just make sure you use new potting soil, I guess.  I don't know how some dirt can be less dirty than other dirt, but it makes sense to me   Dirt you shovel from your backyard is going to have all sorts of creatures living/hatching in it, whereas fresh potting soil is likely going to be 'cleaner'.

geemonkee

Some potting soil has those little fungus gnats in it when you buy it but I haven't had that problem with the brand I use. And I will probably add some gravel. I'm doing it anyway. I can't even imagine having time to wire all the rosettes let alone make arrangements in foam blocks on my wedding day. That would be more of a disaster than bugs, IMO. I gotta stop listening to this woman! She keeps telling me to prepare for the worst, lol.

[Deleted User]

My cousin just used them for her wedding. They looked awesome and there was no big issue. She used air plants as favors which was also super cute and a big hit.

lachattefatale

If you keep them outdoors between potting and the wedding, yes, you might have some hitchhikers. If they stay indoors, the only bugs that might come along are the tiny gnats geemonkee mentioned, and those aren't super likely.

For what it's worth, I'm planning to do potted plant centerpieces as well.

Knottie45547263

We have several succulents - actually potted after taking my bouquet apart. I've never seen or noticed any bugs on them.