How many times during the Holidays do you need a present for someone that pops up at the last minute?

It happens to me so often that I keep small winter potted plants, like poinsettia, ferns, ivy, and cyclamen on hand to throw a gift basket together in just a few minutes.

The process is a bit more than just placing some pretty potted plants in a basket. Make sure that your basket has low sides and that you have a large surface area to showcase all the plants. Seen at a local garden center, the basket above retailed for $125! You can put something this nice together for a third to one half of the cost. These gift baskets will last for months instead of a few days that a regular cut flower arrangement could be kept. Just change out the cut flowers as needed.

Ingredients

• Low sided basket with liner

• 3 to 5 potted plants, making sure that you have a variety of green trailers and flowering plants

• Pieces of saturated oasis to wedge in between plants

• Short pieces of evergreens

• Bow, if you want one

• Fresh cut flowers such as lilies, carnations, roses, baby’s breath, and gerber daisies

Process

• Assemble all ingredients

• Place the potted plants in basket, keeping the taller ones in the back half

• Fill in spaces with chunks of saturated oasis

• Insert cut evergreen branches to cover oasis

• Insert fresh cut flowers in oasis for added color

• Add bow, berries, or Christmas balls

You are finished creating a beautiful living arrangement for someone that will last for months. Just be sure to tell the recipient to water the plants and oasis every few days to keep it fresh.

Merry Christmas!!