Give the Christmas present that keeps on growing: a plant

What else can you give someone that grows and gets bigger and better as it ages?

Plants are so popular that they make the best gifts to give at Christmas.

What else can you give someone that grows, and gets bigger and better as it ages?

The other thing I love about giving plant is that every time the recipient sees the plants, they think of you. With four weeks until the big day, now is a great time to make plants as gifts for friends and family that look great, but don’t cost the earth, and should look luscious by Christmas.

POTS OF COLOUR

You can create a stunning gift simply by making a great combination of a flowering plant in an attractive pot.

At this stage, planting from punnets may not give you a full enough size by Christmas, so choose the large punnets or six packs of potted colour such as the ever-popular annuals like geraniums, petunias, begonias or impatiens, or anything else that takes your fancy.

An orchid plant or a flowering lily also look good.

Give the gift that keeps on growing.

SUCCULENTS AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Succulents are hugely popular and making gifts with them is so easy.

If you already have some growing, you simply take a few cuttings or divisions and plant them into a pot or container. You can either make a mass of one variety or make a collage of different sorts, showcasing their amazing colours and diversity of form and size.

Once you have planted your pot up, top it off with a fine gravel, sand or pebbles.

You can also have fun by planting them into a quirky container from an op shop or salvage yard, such as an old teapot, mug or vase, although it’s best to put a drainage hole in the bottom.

Most succulent cuttings taken now should have developed roots and be growing well by Christmas. If the gift is going to remain inside it need not have a hole in the bottom but if it is going to be outside, you will need to drill a hole in the bottom of the container.

If you haven’t got any succulents already, many nurseries carry succulent six-packs which are quite reasonable or you can choose plants which can be split, or are bushy and branched enough for you to take cuttings from immediately.

Gift a plant and they will always be thinking of you.

Make sure you keep at least one division for yourself and rest assured that despite being pruned severely, a branched succulent will reshoot so you don’t miss out.

For something a bit different, why not make your own Japanese moss ball or kokedama with succulents?

There are lots of videos available online to show you how to do them.

VEGE GARDEN STARTER PACK

Seeds sown now will not be ready for planting by the time Christmas gets here, unless you choose quick germinating varieties suitable for planting in mid-summer, such as loose-leaf lettuce (either buy a mixture like Combo or the separate varieties including Cos, mignonette and oakleaf); spring onions, chives, garlic chives, basil, rocket, and parsley.

For something a bit more exotic you could make up a mix of Asian Greens including bok choy, pak choy and coriander, or even make up a mixed punnet of mustards with mizuna (Japanese mustard), ruby streaks mustard and the giant red mustard.

A packet of seed will fill many punnets with plenty left for your own garden, and the only other thing you need to buy is some seed raising mix. Use your own second-hand punnets if you have some, or ask a gardening friend if they have any you can spare.

Get prepping now and they will be perfect by Christmas Days. Picture: Jeremy Piper

If you don’t have time to grow your own seeds, you can buy vegetable punnets and simply pot the plants on into second-hand six packs or 100mm pot and by the time Christmas gets here, they will be ready for planting into a garden bed and almost ready to start harvesting. Choose a tomato, three lettuces, a rocket, and a basil and you have a great mix of edibles which could even be grown in one large pot.

HERBY HEAVEN

Herbs are a great present for those just starting a garden or who love cooking.

You can either give them a collection of herbs in small containers or make up a themed mixed herb pot.

Buy herb varieties which are available in four or six-cell punnets such as chives, parsley, coriander, basil, thyme and oregano and simply transplant them into small pots.

You could use terracotta or glazed pots or for something more quirky, use recycled containers such as washed 400ml or 800ml food cans with a few holes punched in the bottom for drainage.

Choose two or three varieties which work well together in cooking styles such as such as parsley, thyme and oregano for Italian cuisine, or coriander, garlic chives and basil for Asian cuisine.

Strawberries, nice and sweet but also good for you. Picture: Peter Ristevski

These herbs may not be able to stay in these small pots for a long time but they can be repotted as they fill the pot.

If you have no time to do this, buy 100mm herb pots for a more instant effect. For a mixed herb pot, choose a glazed or terracotta pot (ideally at least 30cm across) and choose a selection of compact, less vigorous herbs to plant three to five different varieties in the pot.

Larger herbs such as lemongrass, rosemary, sage will smother other less vigorous herbs so give them a pot of their own.

You can also have fun with herbs in old containers such as an old teapot (with a hole drilled in the bottom) and add herbs which are suitable for herbal teas such as mint or lemon balm.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS

The traditional terracotta strawberry pot has holes in the side for planting as well as the opening at the top of the pot.

A 30cm strawberry pot will give you space for about 10 strawberries. You can buy them in punnets of small seedlings, 100mm pots or advanced six packs. With the larger plants you might even have fruit by Christmas.

With all of these potted plants, always use premium potting mix and for the herb, strawberry or vegetable pots it would be worth adding one-third compost or cow manure.

Feeding them every two weeks with soluble fertiliser and a seaweed tonic will help them grow well and they will be looking lush and full by Christmas.

HOW TO MAKE A SUCCULENT WREATH FOR CHRISTMAS

Succulent centrepiece.

All you need is a few handy items to make a living wreath for your table setting this Christmas

You will need:

● A circular wire frame or wire wreath (find at your local nursery, hardware store or craft shop)

● Wire scissors

● Fine wire, such as hobby wire, and fishing line

● Sphagnum moss ● Bucket of water

● Potting soil enhanced with peat

● A variety of small succulent cuttings (approx 20-30 pieces)

Start with the wire.

String thin wire around the wire wreath, which will hold the growing medium in place.

If the sphagnum moss comes in a block, pull it apart and add to a bucket of water to hydrate it.

Squeeze out excess water, then start adding a bottom layer of sphagnum moss all the way around. Next add a layer of potting and peat mix

Potting and peat mix are key.

Repeat with a top layer of sphagnum moss. Tie any loose bits of moss in fishing line to keep it together.

Meanwhile, remove succulents from their pots and shake off any excess soil and give roots a trim if needed.

Shake off excess soil and trim.

Then, lay them out in your desired pattern, so you know where each will go.

Poke holes in the moss and hook succulent pieces under the fishing line. The moist moss will allow them to take root.

Arrange so you have a variety of succulent shapes, colours and sizes, once it starts to grow. If you need extra support keeping succulents in place, use floral pins (find at craft stores)

Keep it out of direct sunlight and spritz with water occasionally.

Make a living succulent wreath.

Originally published as Give the Christmas present that keeps on growing: a plant