Grow All of Your Christmas or Hanukkah Gifts for Under $5

Frugality is in this year. Times are tough for many people. Also, green living is a new mandate for many people. So, rather than buying lots of commercial stuff in stores, why not grow your own holiday gifts this year?

Buy Packs of Flower Seeds for Under $5

Flower seeds don't cost much. You can buy several packs of them for under $5 in stores like Kmart. And if you start now you will have some seedlings to give out as holiday gifts.

It is fun to grow seedlings for flowering plants at home. Plant them now and they will be sturdy enough to put outside in the early spring. This will provide lots of glorious flowers that will last all summer.

To get started with this project purchase or gather some seeds for flowering plants like a geranium or petunias. Then collect milk cartons. Cut them down to about 6 inches in height. Then add dirt and plant the seed. Put in a place with mild sunlight and water regularly. Soon enough you will start to see some seedlings sprouting.

You may wish to transfer the seedling to a pot. Or just wrap a ribbon around the milk carton or stick a bow on it for an instant holiday gift. Some people like to pick out a pot of their choice or already have a lot of pots at home so just giving the gift in the milk carton works for them.

Geraniums

Geraniums are very easy to grow from seed. This flower comes in many colors including red, light pink, hot pink, coral and white. Thus for whatever color scheme a home has there's a geranium that will blend in nicely. This flower is a great gift idea.

Geraniums are a sturdy plant. They survive well even when you forget to water them for a bit. And the flower extensively. When outside on a porch they will bloom all summer. They even bloom inside during the winter months, bringing a bit of the color of nature inside to add joy to the winter.

Petunias

Petunias are also easy to grow from seed. This flower comes in shades of purple, red, white and pink. The petunia flowers profusely. This flower adds a lot of color to a front porch. It is ideal for flower boxes.

Some petunias even have a nice spicy smell in the evening hours. I once used to visit a spot that had petunias planted along the entrance walkway. It felt magical to walk among the beautiful flowers and smell the spicy scent wafting in the air.

It is mid-October now and the petunias I've had outside all summer are still in full bloom. The hot pink flowers make me smile every time I see them.

Gather Your Own Seeds

If you have a garden you can gather your own seeds from summer flowers going to seed in these fall months. Put some dirt and some of the seeds in a flower box or pot and tell whoever receives it to keep it in the garage or outside until the spring and then flowers will bloom.

Sources:

Personal gardening experience

Martha Stewart