Places & Spaces Urban Jungle Bloggers

Urban Jungle Bloggers – How to dress Your Plants

June 26, 2014

It’s June, it’s sunny and it’s Urban Jungle Bloggers Thursday.

Urban Jungle Bloggers is a monthly series, devised by Igor and Judith. The idea is to get some green into our homes, especially for us urban folks! Every month they invite bloggers to share ideas for creating an urban jungle through styling challenges, DIYs, green tips and tricks. Every month there is a different theme on the topic. You can follow and get more Urban Jungle Bloggers inspiration on Pinterest and on Facebook.

June’s theme is: ‘How to dress up your plants’!

What I enjoy a lot in the summer is to move my plants around as the mood takes me. Some live outside on the roof terrace, others inside but from time to time I’ll swap things round and pretend I’m re-decorating:-) For today’s purposes I’ve shot everything on the terrace as the sun was out and it’s more about showing how we dress our plants than where they live.

I have been collecting night light holders, glass storage and tins forever and so I enjoy planting my finds in the more unusual dress ware!

This is a BIG cup, the kind the french like to have their café au lait in. I never really used it for drinking. It’s perfect housing for my lovely Howarthia succulent.

urban jungle bloggers - how to dress your plants
Howarthia

Staying with succulents, these next 3 little beauties were recently gifted to me by a friend. Initially I wasn’t sure what to put them in. Then I remembered these 3 hand-painted little night lights that I bought about 15 years ago from a gorgeous vintage shop in Battersea, which sadly closed down not long after. I’ve cherished them ever since. Aren’t they charming?

urban jungle bloggers - how to dress your plants
Various baby succulents

I’m a great fan for using food tins. I like how they rust if left outside. Just put a couple of holes at the bottom.

urban jungle bloggers - how to dress your plants
Back: Sedun – yellow | Front: Pink Potentilla

I own many teapots. I have quite a number of these eclectic ones that I bought from Paul Smith. Why not use it to dress a plant?

urban jungle bloggers - how to dress your plants
Pink Potentilla

Talking of tea. Kismet does a great job with their packaging. I might not be the greatest fan of their tea (too gimmicky for me) but I certainly keep them for planting herbs or plants when given one of their teas as presents. Again, a couple of holes at the bottom will do the trick!

urban jungle bloggers - how to dress your plants
Dahlia

Glass is a favourite of mine. Of course there is no drainage but if watered little but consistently, it works. The Oxalis (a beauty, no?) is planted in a simple clip top glass storage jar. I simply removed the lid. The Lobelia lives in a smart black glass vase that I bought years ago at Abigail Ahern. I have 2 of them so use the other either as a vase for fresh flowers or as a teal light holder.

urban jungle bloggers - how to dress your plants
Left: Oxalis | Right: Lobelia

I am always on the hunt for great plant holders. Unfortunately I don’t get very excited by a lot that’s on the market. I love being creative with what I’ve got to hand. As summer progresses and I pick up more and more plants, I look forward to dress them accordingly. I can’t wait to see how the other fellow urbanjunglebloggers tackled this month’s theme.

How do you dress your plants?

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22 Comments

  • Reply Igor June 26, 2014 at 10:44 am

    I love this, Tina! It is very you and reflects your colourful personality! I love the use of old tea boxes, cups and tea pots:-) A wonderful British touch! Thank you again for joining our green fun my friend!

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:39 am

      Thank you Igor and you’re very welcome. I enjoyed participating yet again:-)

  • Reply gudy June 26, 2014 at 11:02 am

    Hi Tina, I like the last proposal, it looks neat. Not sure that’s the normal color and it stays like this but it’s a easy DIY at least. Sending you a hug over! Gudy

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:40 am

      Hi. Not sure what you mean by ‘does the colour stay? It’s simply clear glass filled with compost.
      Happy new week Gudy:-)

  • Reply Judith June 26, 2014 at 5:45 pm

    Wow, you choose some fun & British dresses for your plants, Tina! Oh and I love your Oxalis, such a sophisticated shape of the leaves. Like clovers, but better! Thank you for showing us your unusual plant-wear! xx

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:41 am

      Ha. British and patriotic:-)
      Isn’t that Oxalis stunning? I agree, such sophisticated leaves. I enjoyed being part of UJB xx

  • Reply Giova Brusa June 26, 2014 at 8:21 pm

    I love them all, because funny enough is exactly how I keep some of my plants. And thanks for the flashback with those candle holders, I wonder now where mine ended up 😉
    xo

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:41 am

      Ha. We obviously think alike.

      It’s funny how you don’t use some things for years and then it comes in handy:-))

  • Reply Katy June 26, 2014 at 9:10 pm

    I love ALL of this, Tina. I also have exactly the same succulents as you – did you buy them on Bermondsey Street by any chance?! All of the ideas that you have used make your plants doubly as attractive and a real talking point.

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:43 am

      Yay, in love with my succulents.
      No, the baby ones were gifted to me and the one in the teacup I bought in Hampstead!

      Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it…:-)

  • Reply Yasmin Chopin June 27, 2014 at 7:26 am

    I’ve just brought home two plants I won in a raffle, they have only little brown plastic pots and are desperate to be dressed. Your post has inspired me to find some suitable clothes. I’ll tweet a pic when they’re decent!

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:44 am

      Hahaha, loved this. OK, let me know how you progress. If you need some help in the dressing department, give me a shout. Thanks Yasmin:-)

  • Reply Shona Lockhart June 27, 2014 at 10:10 am

    Love your creative pots. Terracotta is so last year.

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:44 am

      Hahaha. Yes, agreed. Terracotta is so last year…LOL

  • Reply Emily June 27, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    Beautiful and creative selection of plant pots Tina. Love the colours and patterns. A happy mix indeed x

    • Reply tina June 30, 2014 at 12:45 am

      Thank you Emily. Just saw you joined the UJB community this months. Nice choice.
      It’s fun isn’t it to go through cupboards and fraws and see what one can use to pot a plant. More fun than buying one I think (unless it’s a special one).

      Thanks love x

  • Reply alisonsye June 30, 2014 at 10:22 pm

    I actually called into some charity shops on the way home today, with the intention of buying some nice cups. I didn’t find any, but will keep looking. You have inspired me!

    • Reply tina July 1, 2014 at 4:17 pm

      Ha. Thanks Alison. I’ve been lately scouring charity shops for the same thing…. let me know when you find a gem!

  • Reply Gerard @WalnutGrey July 1, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    Fancy pots & holders, quirky, odd and colourful. Very you my dear 🙂 Bright, cheery colours are inspiring a happy mood here 😉

    Thanks for that xx

    • Reply tina July 6, 2014 at 7:49 am

      Glad to have been of service, in whichever way:-)

      Thanks Gerard, wish I could enjoy my terrace a little be it more. Dying for some BBQ’s but there hasn’t been a longish spell of good weather yet:-(
      xx

  • Reply Doris July 9, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    Gosh what an array of lovely pots! The rusted tin is a great idea. I’m going to try that one. I also love that you used teapots also. As expected a colourful variety of pots for your plants 🙂

    • Reply tina July 20, 2014 at 12:07 am

      Hi. Glad you’ve joined the UJB again.
      I’m fascinated by different uses to plant pots. Makes it so much more interesting.
      I’m currently really enjoying the terrace x

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