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Poundland Medium Plant Pots
by k2705
After spending a small fortune on bedding plants last year my husband and myself decided we would collect seed pods from the plants and grow our own this year which is exactly what we are doing.
After growing all our seeds in trays we have now got some of them re-potted into small pots. As we needed a lot we bought them from ... our local Pound shop. The pots were sold in packs of 10 obviously for £1.00.
The Medium 4 inch Plant Pots are sold in a stack and wrapped in polythene, the packaging is easily removed and the pots pull apart with no problem. The pots measure 4 inches and are an ideal size for potting seedlings on or rooting small cuttings.
The plant pots are made from plastic and are the traditional terracotta style pots with a ridge around the top and drainage holes in the bottom. Being just a pound for the pack they obviously are not the best quality, the plastic is quite thin and flimsy, my husband dropped one and it split, despite this we used the pots and they have been fine, as long as you are careful with them.
Once full of compost the cheap plastic pots were ideal for our small seedlings, they actually seemed a bit less flimsy once in use. I cant say they look very attractive, the plastic looks cheap and they are a basic orange/brown colour, I definitely wouldn't use them in the house unless they were inside another more decorative pot.
I have only used these in my conservatory for seedlings and for this purpose they have been alright although I daresay empty yoghurt pots would have done just as well, but I don't think these would be any good for outside. They are not strong enough.
All in all these medium pots from Poundland are a case of you get what you pay for. They are not very pretty and are extremely flimsy, however they have served their purpose for this year and if treated gently may even last for another year but only if used inside.
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Haws Heritage Watering Can
by k2705
My mum has used one of these watering cans for several years to water indoor plants and when I moved into my own home she bought me one to use too.
The Haws Heritage Watering Can didn't come with any type of packaging, they were simply stacked on a carousel type display in a local garden centre. The can comes in several ... colours including dark and pale green, lilac, pink, red, grey, light and dark blue and yellow so something to suit most people especially if like me you like everything colour co-ordinated. I chose the lilac can as it went with my colour scheme.
The Haws Heritage Watering Can is a small traditional style plastic watering can which will hold 1 litre of water. The can measures approximately 34 cm's round and is 20 cm's high, it had a little spout which measures 18 cm's and this has a small copper rose on the end which had a diameter of approximately 4.5 cm's.
It has a thin rounded handle and also a little spout to put the rose on if you want to water without it, the rose just pushes on here and doesn't interfere with the water flow. The can also has a carrying handle on the top.
The watering can, as I mentioned, is made from plastic which feels really strong, you cant bend it at all its very sturdy. The watering can has a plastic diamond shape moulded into it along with the Haws logo.
I use this watering can with or without the sprinkler rose on the spout, with the rose on the can sends out a nice gentle spray which is ideal for delicate plants and seedlings which we currently have a lot of, the fine spray doesn't beat the seedlings down and it doesn't allow the compost to become too waterlogged.
I use the can without the rose if I'm watering my more established plants, it does the job quicker and directs the water straight to the compost where its most needed.
The can is nicely made and when full the water doesn't flop over the top when you tilt it to use it.
My Haws Heritage Watering Can came from a local garden centre but they are also available online from places like Amazon. My watering can cost £5. 50 when my mum bought it but they are now around the £8.00 mark give or take a few pence.
The Haws Heritage Watering Can would also be ideal for children to "help" with the watering, and coming in many bright colours would appeal to them.
If you use a small watering can for indoor plants I would definitely recommend this, I've had mine for 4 years and its still as good as new.
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Argos Artificial Topiary Balls
by jjrose
When my parents bought the house we're living in right now, the previous owners left the hanging baskets at the front door. The previous owners used real plants, and since we were busy with moving all our things into the new home, we neglected the hanging baskets and it was bare with no plants left by the time we noticed it. Even though ... we love gardening and looking after plants, my parents are busy with work and I am busy with university and we hardly have time to look after real plants. So I suggested using artificial plant to make the entrance looks nice and add a touch of green to come home to.
We saw these Argos Artificial Topiary Balls in the catalogue. They are retailed for £ 19.99 for a pack two. Since they are artificial, my parents were a bit hesitant to pay that much for it but, due to my persuasion and the promise that I will sort it out, we ended up buying them. Each ball is 30 cm in diameter so it looks a lot bigger when I opened the pack compared to the picture in the catalogue. Each ball comes with a metal chain of a little over a feet long for easy hanging.
First impressions were that these topiary balls look pretty nice. The leaves spacing is quite dense so you can hardly see where they are attached to the support inside. They don't have that cheap plastic-like look, so it is a plus for me. The green is quite dark and has the hydrated look, which adds to the look of realism. They are easy to hang and stays on; however, in certain days with strong winds, they might rattle a little bit but the topiary balls won't go off flying or anything.
These Argos Artificial Topiary Balls on their own would make a nice accessory on the front door or in the garden. However, I do enjoy modifying and accessorising these balls with artificial flowers and butterflies. During winter, I sometimes put up fairy lights wrapped around the topiary balls for some festive fun as well.
We have these Argos Artificial Topiary Balls hanging by the front door for more than 10 months now and the chains are looking a bit rusty. The cold weather and strong rain doesn't help. However, we had some leftover paint and my dad painted these chain white to freshen the look and it worked quite well. The ball left exposed to sunlight is getting slightly faded in colour but strategic placement of artificial flowers and butterflies hide the colour fading.
Overall, they are a nice accessory to get a welcoming front to any house or a garden. I reckon these would be to be replaced after 2 years or less. They are not the cheapest so I might try and look for something at a lower price elsewhere. I do enjoy having something green that is low maintenance for the house.
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