Show us your purchases 2024

I bought more rough sawn wood for down the garden, so I should have enough now. I hope to get that job done soon !

I also bought 4 cacti, which I didn't really need to do, but two of them were ones I lost a few years ago, and the others - well, I just wanted them
I knew I shouldn't have gone to that garden centre yesterday, but it was on my way to get the wood ... well 'sort of' on the way

I passed the other garden centre on the way home but I drove past it again !

 

I went to the GC today as I had 30 Euros points value on my account which will end this month.

I got a 30cm square terracotta pot (they call it an Orchid pot),a Punica granatum 'Nana' (miniature Pomegrate), a Spathiphylum, a Chocoate Mint, three Geraniums, 2 Cyclamen, a Felicia and a Marigold.

 

I do like your terracotta orchid pot, @Victoria. Such a thing would be very handy, but I have never seen them in the UK. Must have a look...

 

I didn't put it in the photo as I plan on potting the three Geraniums in it tomorrow. However, it is the same as this ...

Terracotta, 30cm, 14 Euros (£10,78)

 

Oh yes, I see now, @Victoria, that is more rustic. Also, how rude of me not to notice your lovely plants! I think you found several bargains there, with your extra account points.

 

@ClematisDbee Here is a better view of the orchid pot with the Geraniums which I see from the kitchen window behind whilst at the sink ... lovely Winter colour!





The pots come in smaller and larger sizes. I think square is a different shape to have and now have three.

 

I like your wooden trestle too @Victoria .

 

Oh yes, @Victoria, your terracotta really catches the sun. I thought your pot looked more shallow before in the previous pictures with different perspectives . I would have terracotta all over my garden if I could start again and wave a magic wand.

 

I call them Moncique Chairs as they are made in Monchique near here. They fold up. I have one with a back too by the fireplace.

I am all terracotta now. But I have lived here for 23 years now!

 

Your photo looks so relaxing, @Victoria. The terracotta looks wonderful in your photos. I have recently discovered a brand called Tramontina. I think it is Brazilian. They do plastic-based planters. For the bigger sizes, I am using their wares, but for smaller pots I am collecting more terracotta.

 

@ClematisDbee - do you find terracotta cracks? I'm sure it's great for @Victoria in her climate, but I find the standard ones on sale (stamped Italy) can't take frost because they aren't fired very hot. I have a couple of older terracotta containers that are much paler, and they've survived everything.

 

The only ones I have that have survived everything that winter has thrown at them are a couple of Whichford Pottery pots. All the cheapie B&Q ones and Italian or Spanish imports give up and crack under the combination of wet and frost.

 

As they say, you only get what you pay for.
Frost proof terracotta is usually a fair bit more expensive.
I've got a couple of fairly convincing plastic ones.

 

For pots that don't crack you need stonewear ones. The terracotta ones that are said to be frost proof are not strong enough to withstand a lot of freezing, they will cope with a bit of ground frost but that's all.

 

I have some really heavy duty terracotta pots, but even those get cracks in them due to the weather here. I've had them for about 12 years though. The others all eventually fall apart, especially the edging round the top which flakes away. Wet then freezing is the main problem with terracotta.
I expect if they were empty over winter and kept undercover, they'd last a lot longer, but mine usually have bulbs or similar in them over winter, and I expect most people do something simillar.