Teapot Planters

What you need

An array of teapots in all sizes and colours (get charity shop hunting) (Ask a friend or maintenance team to drill a few holes in the bottom of the pots for drainage)
Small seasonal bedding plants, such as Marigolds, Busy Lizzies, Begonias, Pansies, Geraniums, Lobelia, Petunia
Soil in low-rise tubs (this will make it easier for people to scoop out)
Dessertspoons or tablespoons

Intro

Love tea? Potty about gardening? If the answer is “yes”, your residents will love this activity! We’re going to transform lonely teapots gathering dust in charity shops into cute little planters for the garden – complete with flowers, of course!

This get-your-hands-dirty activity is great for mind, body and soul. And it’s even more enjoyable to do outdoors on a nice day, so you really feel part of nature. Once your residents have filled each pot with soil and planted flowers, simply display these lovely live teapots outside wherever they can be seen and enjoyed easily.

The Activity

Put the soil and teapots on the table
Gather the group around the table (outside, if possible)
Ask each person to choose a teapot to plant in
Invite each person to scoop the soil into the teapot with the spoons
Once each one is almost full, poke a hole in the middle and put in a bedding plant – or 2 if the teapot is big
Hold the plants in place and fill around the edges, so the plants can stand up on their own
Give them a water and hey presto, your teapot planters are ready! Display them on windowsills where they can be seen from indoors and outdoors, or pop them on an outdoor table