The perfect symmetry of these two formal Christmas planters makes a rather grand frame for your front door. The box cones and lead planters might be a little costly, but you’ll have them for life once you’ve made the initial investment. The display is perfect for a smart, city front door and you can easily replace the seasonal bedding plants to ring the changes for summer.
Put safety first: be sure to buy lights that are safe for outdoor use, which usually means they’ll have a transformer between the plug the first light of the string. The transformer converts the electricity to a lower voltage suitable for use outside, and must be positioned indoors. The wire on the ‘outdoor’ side of the transformer will be thin enough to pass through a window or door for a limited period, while still allowing it to close. Don’t plug into outdoor sockets if the transformer will be exposed.
You Will Need
- Box cones (2)
- Miniature cyclamen (6)
- Senecio cineraria (8)
- Large pot or container
- Crocks
- Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
- Slow-release fertiliser
- Battery-operated fairy lights
Total time:
Step 1
Put a few crocks in the base of the pots, half fill them with compost and add a fertiliser tablet to each one.
Step 2
Plant the box cones in the centre of the pots and carefully fill around the edges with more compost.
Step 3
Plant a senecio on each side of the pots, along with a cyclamen on each corner. Fill any gaps with more compost.
Step 4
Move the containers to their final position and water them well. Try not to let the compost dry out.
Step 5
Wrap the lights around the box cones. Make sure the bulbs are evenly spaced then connect to your power supply.
Kevin Smith says
No outdoor power supply? Don’t worry; it’s possible to create the same effect with battery operated lights. They’re available in all shapes and colours meaning you’re guaranteed to find some to match your Christmas scheme.
