Almost Free Christmas Gifts for Everyone

Who would have thought that you'd have plenty of Christmas gifts just laying around in the yard? Could gift giving be so simple? Yes, it can. Going green is the latest craze, plus it's also light on the wallet when you turn going green, into a green Christmas. And what gets greener then live plants? Everyone either has plants in their yard, or know someone who does. And most people who are plant lovers don't mind sharing.

To make your planted gift you will need the following items:

Potting Soil : You can find 40 pound bags of potting soil for less then $2.00 at most home improvement stores or Walmart. A 40 pound bags goes along way if your using small containers. For example, a 40 pound bag is enough to easily fill 8 gallon sized nursery pots.

Containers: Buying store bought flower pots can run into some money, thankfully we are going green remember. You can buy used nursery pots from your local nursery for 10 - 20 cents each if you choose to go that route. Another idea is to use what you already have. You can make a flower pot out of anything that you can make holes in the bottom of. Just remember that you want your pot to be deep enough for the plant. Allowing 1 inch of free space between the root and the bottom is a great measurement to keep in mind. You can use a nail or an Ice pick to make holes in the bottom of your containers for drainage. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind when looking for good containers to turn into flower pots.

Soup Cans, Dog Food Cans, Water Bottles, Soda Bottles, Juice Bottles, Old Cookie Tins, Sand Pails, Plastic Take Out Containers, and so much more.

Plants: You can find several things in your yard to pot up. If you don't have any small plants growing, look for ones that can be broken apart such as aloe. You can also look for plants that root easily such as pencil cactus, to root. If you have plants that are semi easy to root you can buy root starter also called plant growth hormone. You can expect to pay around $5.00, but a small container goes a very long way (over 100 clippings). You will want to keep you plant watered every day for the first week if it has roots, and for the first 2 weeks if your planting it from a clipping.

All Wrapped Up: You will also need to make your plant look more like a Christmas gift before you give it away. First cut a piece of cellophane that is 1 inch taller then your container. Place your container in the center of it, pull the sides up, and secure it with a rubber band or string. Next do the same thing with a piece of wrapping paper only cut it 2 or 3 inches taller then your container. Secure the wrapping paper with a rubber band or string. You can use curling ribbon to cover the rubber band / string for a little extra holiday glam.

Plants seem to cheer people up, and they are really fun to share. And this method is easy enough that anyone can do it. Save money, and the environment at the same time, it's a win win situation. Happy Holidays and Enjoy!