Reuse potting mix safely. I fill a 3 litre plastic ring basin with the old mix (moist) and give it 12 minutes on high in the microwave. Give it a stir at about 10 minutes. I test with my big thermometer and if its reading over 90 degrees so all the nasties have been zapped. […]

Collect water for your pot plants, place a bucket in the shower, and collect the water you waste waiting for the shower to reach the right temperature. I leave the bucket in the shower and collect what I splash around.

To keep pot plants watered, punch a column of small holes down the side of a thin plastic bottle. Bury it in the pot with the top poking above the soil, and the holes facing the plant. Fill the bottle up and it will act like a reservoir and drip feed the plant.

Keep you packets of seeds in the bottom of the fridge in a container and they will stay usable for years. I once grew carrot seeds that were 5 years past the use by date.

We had no luck growing capsicum from packets of seed so brought a fresh capsicum, scooped out the seed and planted that fresh and it worked a treat – lots and lots of plants.

When the milk bottle is emptied fill with cold water with lid on shake well, and use the residue on all your plants. If you have a fish tank, when emptying save the water for pot plants etc. These hints work well – you don’t have to buy plant food.

Next time you think about throwing out your old ice cream boxes cut them into strips and make little plant markers with them. Make sure you use a waterproof marker when writing on them.

Be sure to write the name on the lower part of the label as well as it won’t fade so quickly underground.

Use broken up polyurethane packing in the bottom of your pot plants. it keeps them warm and is lighter when you need to move your large pots.