Upcycling our existing open fireplace

My first post / question :-)

I upcycled the open fireplace, sanded the rust, and repainted to make a flower plant bed.

I was wondering what third plant would look nice, and happily live in the space provided on the right hand side of the bed. Hopefully keeping a similar colour theme.

I would like something to climb up and out (left and right) with the aid of being trained. However something not too overpowering that will end up being high maintenance. (Lots of variables sorry)

Also second question, in terms of drainage, will water pass through the coconut liner, or is the fibre of the liner too thick to let water pass through... should I drill / cut a few mini holes at the base of the liner?

 

Great upcycling.

 

Thanks Jacko

 

I'm hoping you are not thinking long term for the plants you have in there.
Both will die down in winter, is one a morning glory, if so that will die, the fuchsia will maybe survive, depending on the winter, it will go on flowering until the first frost though.

The water should drain through the liner without a problem.

 

Great looking planter @Christophe1 , well done!

Are you planning to use it as a permanent planter or just for seasonal (summer) bedding? If you want a permanent display the liner may need replacing after a while.

Planting depends on what you like and what kind of conditions there are on the spot. Is it very sunny or in shade? Can you water it daily over the summer? What style are you after?

First idea that came to my mind is that ferns would look classy in the planter, but obviously they wouldn't flower.

 

Thanks Pete.

Ah, I thought they would re flower next year.

Thanks for the feedback and advice

 

How about strawberries? Or something like golden oregano? For summer I don't think you can go far wrong with petunias if flowers are your thing. I find they grow quite prolifically but without getting out of hand, and just keep flowering with hardly any effort. Or, seeing as it's a fireplace, something fiery. There's a smaller relative of crocosmia that produces fiery orange flowers. I think it's called montbretia. Or another plant that springs to mind but I can't remember it's name, looks like a spider plant but it's foliage has orange and red hues.

 

Ah thanks.

That's a good shout re ferns. Once the morning glory dies for the year, I'll put a fern either side of the fuscia.

 

Crocosmia and Montbretia are just different names for the same plant. I call them Montbrecia the boss calls them Crocosmia. There will be smaller varieties I don't doubt.

 

If it was me I would go for a winter/spring planting which you would plant up in October and then in late spring /early summer, replant with summer flowering bedding plants.

Its the only way to get something interesting to look at for most of the year.

Some perennials only have a short flowering season, which is probably OK in the open garden but in containers you need to update the planting so you dont get long "dead" periods.

 

Indeed, but I thought most people associated the name crocosmia with the massive bold red crocosmia lucifera or something like that, while the montbretia is the smaller orange one.

 

Slightly off topic but I suggest you consider moving it away from the apparently newly installed air vent to its right. Spreading foliage may obstruct the louvre, or worse, be a harbour for spiders !! Enjoy your new gas-fire or stove?

 

Crocosmia "Lucifer" is a big red vigorous variety, there are many varieties of Crocosmia some are only 18 in high. I have a number of different varieties including "Paul's Best Yellow" vigorous, "Severn Sunrise" small and Salmon Pink, "Honey Angel" yellow orange and "Dusky Maiden" red with purpley green foliage.
Crocosmia are naturalized in parts of the South West and are known as Montbretia.

 

Personally, Montbretia or Crocosmia, I certainly wouldn't put it in there.

 

My Crocosmia have not enjoyed this summer, they have flowered, but the flowers didn't last any time, leaves turning brown soon after flowering.