It is amazing, given that my children have been going to school for over a decade, that I still forget teachers' gifts until the very last minute. I have discovered though, that even at the very last minute you can put together a meaningful, beautiful and inexpensive teacher gift by making a container garden.
Kids love to help craft these which makes the gift more meaningful to both teacher and student.
Also, if you want to get fancy, you can add a pair of gardening gloves, or a small tool or watering can to the gift.
This is my favorite container garden of all. It is unique, inexpensive and everyone loves them. They are also really hard to kill.
If you don't live in an area where you can find free shells on the beach, you can buy them at craft stores and stores like Target.
You will need a drill to put drainage holes in the shell. I find that hens and chicks work really well because they are tiny and easy to plant.
Step by step directions for clamshell container gardens.More »
I save Clementine orange boxes all year. They are great for lots of things, but my favorite is to turn them into spring container gardens that are perfect for teacher gifts. I particularly like filling them with pansies and violas, but any small plants would work. If you can, make them a week before you give the gift so they can settle down and grow in a little.
However, if you are like me, you will make them at the very last minute and that's ok.
Step by step instructions for making a Clementine orange box container garden.More »
I love the small lunch sized reusable grocery bags. I buy mine at Whole Foods and they cost less than a dollar. Plants love them and they make a great teacher gift. Fill them with lettuce, herbs or flowering plants.
Here are step by step instructions for how to make a reusable grocery bag container garden.
Here's a video on how to make a reusable grocery bag into an herb garden.More »
Terrariums make great gifts and can be very inexpensive and easy to make. You can use any glass container, with a top or without. You can usually find small houseplants at a nursery which are perfect for terrariums. Just look for plants that thrive in low or medium light.
If you have a lot of teacher gifts to bring, juice box container gardens are perfect. Inexpensive and very cute, you can make lots of these in less than an hour. I use pansies and violas, but any small plants or flowers will work. For a more substantial gift, you can even plant up three juice boxes with different herbs and tie them together with raffia for a mini-herb garden.
How to make a juice box container garden.More »
Kids love to help craft these which makes the gift more meaningful to both teacher and student.
Also, if you want to get fancy, you can add a pair of gardening gloves, or a small tool or watering can to the gift.
•Clamshell Container Garden
This is my favorite container garden of all. It is unique, inexpensive and everyone loves them. They are also really hard to kill.
If you don't live in an area where you can find free shells on the beach, you can buy them at craft stores and stores like Target.
You will need a drill to put drainage holes in the shell. I find that hens and chicks work really well because they are tiny and easy to plant.
Step by step directions for clamshell container gardens.More »
•Clementine Box Container Garden
I save Clementine orange boxes all year. They are great for lots of things, but my favorite is to turn them into spring container gardens that are perfect for teacher gifts. I particularly like filling them with pansies and violas, but any small plants would work. If you can, make them a week before you give the gift so they can settle down and grow in a little.
However, if you are like me, you will make them at the very last minute and that's ok.
Step by step instructions for making a Clementine orange box container garden.More »
•Reusable Grocery Bag Container Garden
I love the small lunch sized reusable grocery bags. I buy mine at Whole Foods and they cost less than a dollar. Plants love them and they make a great teacher gift. Fill them with lettuce, herbs or flowering plants.
Here are step by step instructions for how to make a reusable grocery bag container garden.
Here's a video on how to make a reusable grocery bag into an herb garden.More »
•Terrarium
Terrariums make great gifts and can be very inexpensive and easy to make. You can use any glass container, with a top or without. You can usually find small houseplants at a nursery which are perfect for terrariums. Just look for plants that thrive in low or medium light.
- Step by step instructions for making a terrarium.
- Video on how to make a terrarium.
- Making a Terrarium in a Mason Jar
•Juice Box Container Garden
If you have a lot of teacher gifts to bring, juice box container gardens are perfect. Inexpensive and very cute, you can make lots of these in less than an hour. I use pansies and violas, but any small plants or flowers will work. For a more substantial gift, you can even plant up three juice boxes with different herbs and tie them together with raffia for a mini-herb garden.
How to make a juice box container garden.More »