Episode: #13 9/12/06
Presenter: Phil Dudman

With Christmas only moments away, now is a good time to do a few quick things around garden to help brighten it up. One of the easiest ways to do this is with potted colour.

It doesn?t take much; just a few nice pots around the place will work wonders. If you really want to get into the Christmas spirit you can go with a red and white theme. Petunias are always a good choice and you can plant them just about anywhere you find a splash of sunshine.

They make an eye-catching centrepiece in the water wise ?stack ?n grow? combos. Match them up with some Gerberas, Celosia and Alyssum and you really have something.

Tall pots are great because Petunias have a natural cascading habit. Phil used lovely ornate pots but really, you can utilize anything you have on hand. The important thing is you can do it yourself, and seedlings make it very economical.

Best to go with advanced seedlings though like Pohlmans 10 pots because they are already in bloom. If the red and white theme is not your thing there are other colour combos to choose from.

If you want something instant, then look out for the lovely Christmas baskets from Pohlmans. They look fabulous and they will last for weeks indoors or out on a shaded patio, which is great value. Not only that, all the plants inside the basket are potted individually so after Christmas you can plant them up in the garden and enjoy them for many years to come.

For a more contemporary look how about a couple of Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima cv.) in stylish glass vases and ceramic pots. They really do look terrific and make great little gifts too. Again, you can plant them out when they fade and use the containers to display new plants. It is sort of a gift that keeps giving.

For another long lasting gift idea think about an attractive indoor plant, they are always well received and recent studies have shown they have a remarkable effect in improving air quality especially around the home and office environment. You couldn?t get a healthier gift!

So there are a few more ideas to add to your Christmas list.

Pohlmans
www.pohlmans.com.au