The Eco Planter Company (green homes for your plants!)

The Eco Planter Company creates delightful plant pots, all made with clean energy in a variety of styles and sizes. Made from organic and recycled materials, using a low-waste process.

Don’t leave full watering cans around, as small creatures could drown. Many plants (including all bulbs and sago palm) are unsafe near animals (read more on pet-friendly gardens). Avoid facing indoor foliage to outdoor gardens, to stop birds flying into windows.

The planters are made from a wood and corn-based bioplastic composite, which makes them as durable and water-resistant as plastic, but far better for the planet. They look, feel and smell like wood (they can be industrially composted, look for take-back schemes at garden centres and councils).

There are also eco-friendly vases, again the material is fine for filling with water, before placing your organic flowers inside.

You don’t need flower food or bleach to keep flowers fresh. Just  trim  the stems 1/2 inch at a 45-degree angle, and remove leaves below the water line. Change the water every couple of days and add 1 tablespoon sugar (nourishment) and 1 tablespoons of white vinegar or lemon juice (bacteria control) as natural preservatives.

This company even makes eco-friendly Christmas tree decorations made using the same process. Keep these away from animal friends (read tips on keeping pets safe at Christmas).

Where to Recycle Plastic Plant Pots

Enter your postcode at Recycle Now to find out where – some gardening centres accept them. Black plant pots (like black bin bags) can’t be recycled, as sorting machines don’t recognise the colour, so they have to go in your normal rubbish bin.

Each year, over 500 million plastic plant pots (and trays) are thrown away in the UK, generating waste at landfills or incineration depots. Yet most councils don’t accept them, due to being ‘contaminated with soil’.