Episode: #13 9/12/06
Presenter: Fiona Bruyn

Christmas is only days away so what can you buy for your garden loving friend? Luckily, gardeners are easy to buy for and you can?t go wrong with pretty much anything from a garden centre.

A plant as a gift will last a long time and if it is cared for, maybe even a lifetime if you choose the right one. When selecting a plant, don?t just grab the first one you see, it is a special gift so you should grab the pick of the bunch.

Lean towards low maintenance plants unless you know they will look after them other wise your friends will feel very guilty if they die and you come to pay a visit.

Big is not always better in the plant world especially when choosing pot plants. I know it is tempting but a root bound plant will need special attention when potting up a lot of the roots will have to be cut to free it up and that causes stress and may even kill some plants.

Succulents excellent for children and groovy adults who like the look of a modern, unusual plant that requires little work.

Conifers, mini Christmas trees, look for a dwarf form at least if they plant it in the garden later it wont grow into a monster, believe me it happens a lot.

Steer clear of pots with other things growing in them as weeds are not some thing your friends will thankyou for.

Yellow leaves are a sure sign of trouble, they either need a good feed or may have been over or under watered .Unless of course it is a characteristic of the plant like variegated flax and Gold Diosma.

Because it is a gift it pays to put some effort into its presentation a plant in a black plastic pot is OK but a plant with the personal touch is even better. There are many of decorative pots to choose from these days that will jazz up your Christmas gift.

There are many potting mixes on the market but Yates Thrive Premium Potting Mix contains nutricote and will feed for up to 9 months also has a wetting agent to help get the water and nutrients to the plant roots. It has the ticks of approval so you are guaranteed it is good

Once potted up all you need to do is top it off with a ribbon and maybe some colourful pebbles. Wrap a pack of Garden Gold up to give with your living gift as it is a complete fertiliser high in nitrogen excellent for indoor outdoor and potted plants and feeds for 3 months.

What more can a person want for Christmas!

Featured Product

Thrive Premium Potting Mix

• Ideal for all potted plants and shrubs including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegetables and herbs
• Contains Nutricote controlled release fertiliser to feed up to nine months.
• Added wetting agent allows the mix to absorb water quickly thoroughly and allows for easy re-wetting of the mix.
• Organic based blend.

Garden Gold Fertiliser

• Contains MoisturAid wetting agent to encourage penetration of water and nutrients into the soil.
• Contains fast acting nitrogen for quick results, and slow acting nitrogen to feed plants for up to 3 months.
• The release of nitrogen is controlled by moisture and soil microbes, and matches the nitrogen requirements of plants.
• Low application rate therefore very economical.
• Easy to use shaker pack.