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Pot full of Christmas Cheer
This richly toned pot will bring warmth as a gift or to keep
The festive season is not always cold and we often don’t get snow, but red is always a welcome colour in the garden to lift our spirits. This pot has masses of rich reds and pinks with an icy fringe of grey senecio. It will give months of colour before it is taken apart in spring and the shrubs and pink schizostylis given permanent homes in the garden.
The skimmia and gaultheria prefer acid soil but you can use ordinary compost in the pot because they will be moved into the garden in spring when growth starts. The kale and cyclamen are temporary residents.
Added baubles, or bows would have transformed the pot from a decoration for the patio into a fantastic gift.
What you’ll need
Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ £9.99
Schizostylis
‘Fenland Daybreak’ £6.99
Gaultheria mucronata £6.99
Ornamental kale £1.99
Cyclamen £1.99
Three Senecio £1.50
Winter heather £2.50
‘Damaged’ red metal pot £10
Compost £1
Total £42.95
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A container full of cheer – this warming pot will brighten up a patio all winter
Click on image to enlarge
Step One
Put a small, upturned pot over the drainage hole and fill the container almost to the top with compost. Add some controlled-release fertiliser.
Step Two
Make sure all the plants are moist before you start, then knock the skimmia out of its pot and place it at the back, with the rootball covered in compost.
Step Three
Add the schizostylis and gaultheria on the opposite sides and tuck the kale into the centre as a focal point. Put the heather and cyclamen beside the kale.
Step Four
Finally add some senecio to prevent the display looking too rich and sombre. Make sure there are no holes in the compost, water well and place in a sunny spot.
