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Our Favourite 'Green' Reads
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 23 October 2015
There’s nothing better than curling up with a fresh cup of tea and your favourite gardening book, don’t you agree? Here are our top 7 gardening reads, there’s a nice mix in here...let us know what you think. 1. The House Gardener – Ideas and Inspiration for indoor gardens (Isabelle Palmer) Jam packed with ideas, inspiration and new projects relating to home gardening . We love this. 2. A Garden of Inspiration – Quotations for lovers of gardening and growing (Jo Brielyn) This is just the sweetest little book, the perfect gift...
Oley Oley, it's the Olive tree!
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 26 October 2015
Olive trees are one of the world’s oldest cultivated trees, dating back to ancient Greece. They’re tough, drought hardy and famous for their delicious, plump fruit, which can be picked, pickled and enjoyed – no wonder these beauties are still popular today. But if fruit isn’t what you’re after, olive trees (Olea European) are also evergreen, have stunning silver foliage and clip well, making them ideal for topiary, hedges or espalier. We think here at GTG’s the soft green and grey tones of the olive tree, make the perfect addition to any outdoor area. They're perfect potted individually in a beautiful aluminium bu...
Gardening Get-up
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 30 October 2015
We think here at GTG that it’s super important to have a few funky gardening accessories for those days that you need a bit of motivation to hit the garden. We have some beautiful gardening accessories on offer...happy shopping Greenies ! xx 1. Ladies Garden Set 2. Laura Ashely Garden Set 3. Laura Ashley Wellington Boots 4. Rosemary and Big BBQ Gift Set ...
The Do's and Dont's of Growing Coriander
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 2 November 2015
Hot tip 1. Select an appropriate pot. ...
Early Morning Pick me Up
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 3 November 2015
We don’t know about you but some mornings it’s a little tough to get going... We think the perfect early morning task is a quick tidy, rearrange, clear out and freshen up of your desk space. Here is our ‘Early morning pick me up’... 1.Recycle any old papers that are lying around (scan and file them on your computer...or just get rid of them all together!) 2.If there are any papers that you need to keep hard copies of, find a folder to pop them in and on the bookshelf they go 3.Take a clean damp cloth (no need for harsh chemicals, it’s only dust) and gently wipe over all surfaces 4.Open your windows wiiiiiiide up...
Composting. It's a win win!!
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 4 November 2015
We have been reading up on composting here at Green Thumbs this week. And we are chomping at the bit to get home and start our very own compost pile. Composting is a super way to make nutrient rich soil by reusing food waste from your kitchen. What you will need... • An airtight bucket, with a lid to collect scraps • A shovel or pitch fork to work the scraps into the soil • A nice shady spot in your backyard What goes into the compost pile... • Fruit and vegetable scraps • Eggshells • Newspaper clippings • Grass • Lea...
Crop Rotation
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 9 November 2015
Crop rotation is commonly associated with plant propagation on a larger scale than your backyard garden...i.e. in commercial farming. But if the same principals are applied to your garden at home, wonderful results can be achieved. Crop rotation reduces the likely hood of pest and disease issues and also maximises soil fertility. The concept is to try and avoid growing the same thing in a patch of soil, year in year out. If you do, this can promote pests and disease to fester in that area. Instead, it is a better idea to rotate plants between two or three patches of soil, allowing them to recover and rebuild between cycles. Annual herbs, such as par...
Indoor Hanging Plants - Making the Right Choic
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 10 November 2015
We all know how effortlessly plants add warmth, purity and a sense of luxury Zen to a space. We think hanging indoor plants are particularly spectacular! Check out our top 3 indoor hanging plants ... Philadendron A vining philadendron is a beautiful hanging plant choice. The long stems will droop perfectly over the edges of a hanging pot and add that ‘little something’ to your indoor space. When caring for your Philadendron, it’s really simple! Just follow these steps... 1. Pop this little beauty in a bright spot with indirect sunlight. 2. A...
Fabric Planters...The Next Big Thang!
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 11 November 2015
We think that fabric planters might just be the next big thing! Here is 5 things we love about fabric planters... 1.They don't break. Hoorah! 2.They come in the most fabulous colours and prints 3.They have this super cool scrunchy look, sort of like Harlem pants but in plant form 4.They’re waterproof and easy to clean...throw them in the washing machine and hang them out to dry 5.They’re affordable and will give your home a real lift Check out our beautiful plant range for a super cool gift idea :-)) ...
Propagating Succulents
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 18 November 2015
As you may have noticed, we have been addicted to our Pinterest feed lately. It’s filled with amazing tips for your gardens, some seriously delicious food, beautiful places and plants, DIY, and so much more! (You can check it out here – just click !) It has inspired us to give a few fun DIY projects a go...first cab off the rank is propagating succulents. These super hip little plants are all the rage at the moment and if you're anything like us, you would like every surface of your house sprinkled with them! So we thought it was time to try our hand at propagating our own. The cu...
Go Vertical!
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 30 November 2015
When you have limited garden sapce, it can be hard to grow everything you would like to...especially if you’re a plant collector like us! Garden trends are making way for vertical gardening, a new gardening approach where you can create a growing space in a confined area. It is a great way to keep garden maintenance down and promote a healthy growth rate in your plants . Here are some easy and really gorgeous DIY garden project ideas for this coming holiday period. 1. If you happen to have an old dresser lying around or can pick one up on the cheap, pull all the drawers...
Growing Citrus Plants in Pots
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 3 December 2015
To get the most out of your potted citrus plant, you will need to give it regular care and attention. Below are a list of the most important factors that we believe will give your citrus plant a long and healthy life! 1. SUNLIGHT This citrus plant family needs full sun, this means placing them in the sunniest possible place in your garden or on your balcony. Where you place them in your garden will also need to be sunny during the winter, as this is when they bear fruit. 2. DRAINAGE The pot will need to have several large draining holes at the base and be slightly elevated from ground level, as citrus plants lik...
Christmas Gift Ideas for the Boys
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 8 December 2015
If you’re stuck this Christmas and need a gift idea for your partner, father, grandfather, brother or some other gem of a male in your life...then take a look at what we have on offer at Green Thumb Gifts . It can be hard to choose a gift for that special man in your life, we get it. Here is a list of gifts that we think they will just love! Unique, long lasting and practical. Take a look! :-) 1. For Him Pamper Gift Box 2. ...
Our 2016 Green New Years Resolutions
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 13 January 2016
From the team here at Green Thumb Gifts , we hope you had a beautiful Christmas with friends and family, filled with laughter and love. With the new year brings a new burst for life. We think this is the best time to clean up bad habits and start a fresh. Here are our top 5 Green New Years resolutions: 1. To propagate a brand new plant or flower that we’ve not grown before 2. To repot those plants that are bursting out of their pots, into a beautiful big new home 3. To grow a vegetable garden, just start with...
Minty Freshness
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 1 February 2016
With all of this beautiful weather we have been getting here in SA, it has motivated us to plant some new herbs. We popped a new mint plant into a pot about a week ago and it is absolutely thriving! It has a nice spot on a window sill with indirect light and gets a touch of afternoon sun, it has honestly been growing about an inch a day. We have cut off a few stems for propagation and are intending to pot them for gifts to our fiends and family in little terracotta pots. We think this is a beautiful heartfelt gift idea for someone you care about. If propagation isn’t your thing, that’s ok. We also have a beautiful range of herbs, including mint...
Combining Forces
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 5 February 2016
We read an article today on the interconnection between architecture, horticulture and technology. A modular terrarium has been designed in a collaborative effort between architects, designers and technologists. It is a beautiful reminder of just how much we can achieve if we work together and join forces. It is an inspirational example of nature and human kind, together producing something really wonderful. Check it out for yourselves! ...
Children and the Great Outdoors
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 8 February 2016
With the school holidays coming to an end, we wanted to do a shout out to all those children returning to school and also to those starting school for the very first time! How exciting! Gardening and the great outdoors are so important for children. It offers them a fun filled activity outside in the fresh air and also teaches them so much. It teaches them about nature and the interaction between plants and animals and also about the relationship between humans and nature. We love nothing more than seeing a child’s face light up at the sight of a beautifully coloured butterfly. Or the look of excitement and confusion as they touch the furry stems&nb...
Plants and their Meanings
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 16 February 2016
Every now and then something happens in our lives that is to be celebrated, commemorated or remembered in some way. A plant gift is a unique and special way to do this. Whether it is a wedding, a funeral, a birth or an anniversary...there is a beautiful live plant gift to suit almost any occasion! Here is a list of some plants and their meanings... * Lavender – Devotion * Lily – Purity * Magnolia – Love of Nature / Strength * Oak Tree – Strength * Protea – Courage * Rosemary – Remembrance * Begonia – Beware!...
Fun In The (last of the) Sun!
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 18 April 2016
With school holidays kicking off today, we thought what better idea than to help all those Mum’s, Dad’s and nanny’s out there desperately racking their brains for activities. With the beautiful Spring weather outside, there’s no better way to pass the hours than in the garden. A beautiful opportunity to spend some quality time with your little one...and get your hands dirty! Here are our t...
Why Are My Terra Cotta Pots Turning White?
Author: Verity Webb Date Posted: 18 May 2016
If you love your terra cotta pots half as much as we do, then your veranda is most likely covered in them! Every now and then though, we notice a build up of white powdery residue on the out sides of these pots. After a little research we discovered what this is and how to best treat it. ...
