3 Easy Ways To Make Your Own Mistletoe Using Fresh Greenery

By  Stephanie Gerber Updated
a mistletoe wreath, ball, and traditional hanging cluster all mounted on a ceiing Ana Stanciu for Hunker

This year, skip the fake mistletoe and make your own arrangement using fresh greenery — it really does make a difference in your holiday decor. We've created three easy designs to try. Why not make a few and strategically hang them in places that get high traffic. (Wink, wink.)

Mistletoe Posy

a diy bunch of mistletoe with a red ribbon is hung in a doorway Ana Stanciu for Hunker

Things Needed

Supplies for making mistletoeAna Stanciu

Step 1

Cut a 6-inch piece of twine, and then tie a knot to make a loop at one end.

a crafter ties a piece of twine into a loopAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 2

Gather the end pieces of the twine with the stems of the mistletoe (and any other greenery you want to add). The twine loop should stick out away from the greenery to make a easy loop for hanging the mistletoe.

a diy bunch of mistletoe is secured with twineAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 3

Wrap the ends of the stems with green floral tape to secure the greenery together. You can leave the exposed stems sticking out or wrap the floral tape all the way down to cover them.

a diy bunch of mistletoe is secured with floral tapeAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 4

Tie a bow with the ribbon over the green floral tape. Then find a festive spot to hang the mistletoe.

Tying a bow on mistletoeAna Stanciu

Step 5

When the holiday season ends, hang the mistletoe on a DIY herb drying rack to preserve the arrangement and reuse it next year.

a bunch of mistletoe is hung from a rack to dryAna Stanciu for Hunker

Mistletoe Wreath

a finished diy mistletoe wreath with a green ribbon hangs from a ceiiing Ana Stanciu for Hunker

Things Needed

a wreath formAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 1

Place two mistletoe pieces end to end at the bottom of the wreath. Overlap the ends slightly. Wrap the floral wire around the mistletoe ends and the wreath to secure them to the base of the wreath. Use more floral wire to secure other mistletoe areas, if needed, to help it curve along the shape of the wreath.

a woman attaches mistletoe to a diy wreath in progressAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 2

Cut a 6-inch piece of twine. Circle it around the top of the wreath form and tie a knot. Tie another knot at the ends to form a loop for hanging.

a woman wraps twine around a diy mistletoe wreath in progressAna Stanciu for Hunker

Wrap the ribbon around the top of the wreath and tie a bow. Center the bow to cover the twine string.

a woman wraps green ribbon around a diy mistletoe wreath in progressAna Stanciu for Hunker

Mistletoe Kissing Ball

mistletoe and other greenery arranged in a spherical form around a foam floral ball Ana Stanciu for Hunker

Things Needed

a foam floral ballAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 1

Soak the floral ball in water for 15 minutes. Remove from water and set the ball on a small towel or paper towel to catch excess water.

Step 2

Use a straw to punch all the way through the ball, making a tunnel through the center of the ball. Remove the straw and the excess foam from the middle.

a straw pokes through a green foam floral ballAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 3

Cut a 36-inch piece of twine. Fold it in half and feed the end pieces of twine through the hole. Use the straw to help push it through. Tie the end pieces of twine into a knot. If your hole is big enough that the twine might pull back through, then make the knot around a piece of stem or greenery.

twine is threaded through a hole in a green foam floral ballAna Stanciu for Hunker

Step 4

Cut pieces of greenery into roughly two to three inch pieces. Strip the leaves off the ends so you have at least ½-inch of stem to stick into the ball.

Adding greenery to kissing ballAna Stanciu

Step 5

Hang the foam ball from the twine loop to add the mistletoe and pieces of greenery. Start at the top of the foam ball and poke the stems into the ball. Keep them close together to cover the foam ball. Keep adding stems in circles going downward until the ball is covered with greenery.

How to make a mistletoe kissing ballAna Stanciu

Add a bow at the top of the ball, if desired. Then hang the kissing ball from the twine loop.

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