These pretty glass hand blown bulbs come as a set of 8. They are self watering devices for potted plants. As long as it’s not going to freeze you can use them outdoors in pots too so they can look fantastic on the patio.

There’s some instructions that come with them reminding you that these are made from glass and need a little care when you put them into the plant pots. It says to make a hole first and then put them in. This certainly makes sense as many pot plants will have a matted root system that will be hard to push through.
As they are self watering it’s important to start with a plant that’s been watered recently. If you put them in a dry plant then they will just empty out really quickly and you’ll think that they’re not working properly. When your plant is watered right to start with they will top up the water the plant needs.


The pack of 8 consists of blue, green and red ones and a pair of multi-coloured ones. They can be used together in one pot if it’s big enough, small plants might be happy with one but bigger plants will need two or even more.

They are very pretty to look at. As they are handmade they will all be different. They are great for gifts too – so if you know someone with a conservatory packed with lovely plants then these will be fantastic.

The bulbs are easy to fill and I’ve used a wooden spoon handle to poke a hole into the soil on my pot plant and once you’ve turned the bulb over pop it into the hole quickly. The bulbs are different sizes – each colour has a big one which is 35.6cm (14″) in length, and a small bulb measuring 20.3cm (8″).

Set of 8 Hand Blown Coloured Glass Self Watering Bulbs for Plants are available now at QVC

Getting the bulbs inserted right takes a little care. I’ve found that a slight angle helps and having a freshly repotted plant with lots of nice soft compost really helps too. Some older bigger plants are too solid with roots to make it easy to insert them, but in a big pot these blubs look really lovely.

If you find they release all the water too quickly then see whether tha plant was properly watered, whether the bulb was in at a slight angle – is the angled end be facing upwards and pushing into soil?

Being able to use them outdoors on your patio or even in your greenhouse means you can add a splash of colour to pot plants. The are delightful to look at and they glint in the sunshine too. They are very pretty and cheerful and would look great in a conservatory or on your windowsill in all your plants. Mix and match the colours, or pair them up. However you arrange them they are sure to look lovely!

These look great as the afternoon sun streams through the coloured glass and you appreciate how lovely they look – and better than that they’re also watering your plants for you.


Experiment to see how many you need in larger plant pots! Repotting pot bound plants will also make it easier to use these in fresh compost – and encourages you plant to grow more!

BeautifulHand Blown Coloured Glass Self Watering Bulbs for Plants at QVC

New products added today at John Lewis

Fat Boy Bean Bag, Brown £150.00
Big, squashy square beanbag in brown. Made from high quality nylon, with a PVC coating that’s dirt and moisture repellent and can be easily spot cleaned. Polybead filled.

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Price reduction at GreenFingers

Onion – Red Baron was £1.00 now £0.79
The Red Baron onion won The Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit 2005. They are a mid-late maturing variety with flattish-round bulbs which are a beautiful dark red colour. They are an excellent cropper and produce attractive firm well-flavoured bulbs which keep well. These make an attractive addition in the salad bowl. Plant onion from mid-February to March 15cm apart in rows 30cm apart. Lift the onions when they are mature and allow them to dry before using. Position: full sun Soil: any soil Harvest: AugustRate of growth: average Hardiness: fully hardyApprox. 50 onionsSize: 14-21

New products today at Crocus

Pink Mist £47.99
Imagine a country garden shrouded in a soft delicate mist. That is what inspired this Pink Mist Bouquet.White Trachelium nestles amongst strong scented pink Oriental Lilies with soft pink Bouvardia, Spray Roses and flowing white Lisianthus. While dark green spikes of Ruscus complete the bouquet.What you get for your money4 pale pink spray roses3 pink oriental lily4 white Trachelium3 white Lisianthus5 Ruscus4 pink BouvardiaOrders will be delivered between 8am and 8pm.What if we run out (click here)

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Sea Weed Extract Foliar Feed – Sea Weed Extract Foliar Feed
This is a small fat tub of magic! It contains lots of different elements and nutrients that plants use. Several allotmenters near me believe this is the bee’s knees!

It’s a powder and comes with a tiny little scoup to measure out the right amount.The dilution ratios for different stages of plant growth are listed on the tub so you don’t lose the instructions. It’s easy to mix – just add water and give it a quick swirl round.

* Contains over 60 naturally occurring trace elements and nutrients
* Soil and foliar application for easy absorption
* Stimulates plant growth, productivity and cell renewal
* Increases plants’ own defences against pest and disease attack
* Super concentrated – so that a tiny scoop goes a long way!
* 100% soluble – makes up to 1500 litres

I’ve used this in a two litre watering can – so had to alter the amounts accordingly – but if you have the right size watering can for your plants you can make it up directly as it says.

This is recommended for the potato growing kits but can be used on any other plants and seeds. Just make sure you dilute it properly.

SB Plant Invigorator

This is a new product and is an environmentally friendly, growth gtimulant and pesticide for use on all ornamental and edible crops!

250ml of this amazing concentrate makes up to 25 litres of dilute spray – so it’s amazingly concentrated. It’s suitable to be used all year round and pests will not become resistent to it.It helps improve plants leaf colour and vigour. Great if you have little storage room for large containers of plant food – this small bottle will sit under the kitchen sink!
You need to store it out of direct sunlight above 0c and below 30c – so not in the shed or greenhouse. It’s safe to use without gloves though – but as with everything if you have sensitive skin avoid contact and wash your hands after use.

10 ml concentrate to 1 litre of water – you get a measuring cap with it to ensure you measure out the right amount. 10ml is two teaspoons – not a lot – so you know it’ll go a long way. I’m a keen fan of ensuring different plant foods are kept in different watering cans. So decide which one you’ll be using for this and use only that to water it on. It’s just a minor safety precaution to take – label it so you remember. It’s a good habit to get in especially when it comes to weedkillers which could be devasting if you got that mixed up with plant food.

You can apply with a fine sprayer – but avoid flowers which may have their colour affected. Apply to all leaves top and bottom on a weekly basis. Avoid very young seedlings though – especially in very hot sunshine as they may get damaged by the liquid being heated by the sun.

No harvest interval means you don’t have to stop using it before you can eat the crops you’re growing.

Spalding Plant & Bulb Company Vouchers
Spalding plant and bulb company discounts and codes
Free Digital Weather Station – enter code JA when completing your basket
Free Powerful Secateurs – enter code JC when completing your basket
Gardening Body Warmer – enter code JD when completing your basket
All codes expire 30th November 2010

What do they sell? Tons of amazing plants and bulbs!
With a bargain section which has on top of their anniversary specials of discounts up to 65% , Spaldings are now giving a special 30% discount
Bulbs
Climbing plants
Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides
Flower seeds
Garden accessories
Garden decor
Garden Statues
Hedges and conifers
Indoor
Patio and balcony
Plants
Ponds
Roses
Silk Plants
Trees, shrubs and conifers
Vegetable seeds
Vegetables and fruit

New items at John Lewis

John Lewis Aspley Teak Sidetable £55.00
Slatted FSC-certified teak side table, with inwardly-curved trestle legs. The wood ages to a beautiful silver finish over time.

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Gardening Direct has this new item today

Petunia Tumbelina Clara £7.69
Beautiful display of rosie pink coloured double flowers with a cascading habit up to 1m long! This Petunia looks its best planted in hanging baskets, window boxes and large containers.

Reduced items at Gardens and Homes Direct

Suntime Nimrod Garden Swing (Black) was £49.99 now £44.99
With virtually no effort, your relaxation time will be enhanced with the gentle back and forth rocking motion of this sturdy garden swing. The simple and well-defined lines of the stylish black frame with shaped cushions will look fabulous on any patio and be a striking feature on your lawn. The framework is a matt black, powder coated, rust resistant steel and and has a black polyester fabric for the canopy and seating area. The wipe-clean black cushions are luxuriously deep and comfortable. This swing can be left outdoors all year round and requires extremely low maintenance. All that is needed is a wipe down with a damp cloth or a hose down with a gentle spray as and when required. It is advisable to cover this item in winter or during inclement weather conditions.Dimensions:W190 x H200 x D140cm Features:Rust resistant black steel framePolyester fabricEffortless swinging motion

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