BBC Gardeners World Magazine https://www.gardenersworld.com/tag/watering-plants Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:30:49 GMT en hourly 1 The best 9 garden hoses in 2026, as tested and reviewed by our experts https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/tools/watering/best-garden-hoses/ Wed, 06 May 2026 11:20:12 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/tools/watering/best-garden-hoses/ Need a new hose? See which models our experts scored best

Jump to our 3 top-rated expandable garden hoses

Jump to our 4 top-rated garden hose reels

Jump to our 2 top-rated bare garden hoses

A hose is an essential bit of kit for a gardener. It makes the daunting task of watering your garden much easier when you don't have to heave a heavy watering can backwards and forwards from the tap.

There are a huge range of garden hoses available to buy:

Hozelock_Wonderhose_30m_IRL

In general, hosepipes are constructed with layers of vinyl, polyurethane and rubber, often reinforced with nylon or metal mesh. Expandable hoses feature a tough, woven fabric outer layer that allows them to expand and contract. On the whole, cheaper hoses have fewer layers, which affects their strength and durability over time. Rubber hoses kink easily and can even get in a tangle, whereas expandable hoses, with their fabric outer layers, are designed to be anti-kink and anti-knot.

And while it's great to have all these options, it can also be overwhelming if you're not sure which type of hose will work best for you. That's why our experts have tested a wide range of hoses and put together a guide on how to choose the best hose. Check out our garden hose guides and product reviews below to help you make the right decision.

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Our best garden hoses to buy at a glance

Our 3 top-rated expandable garden hoses

Our 4 top-rated garden hose reels

Our 2 top-rated bare garden hoses

Comparison table: best garden hoses

Our expertise

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team tested a range of hoses, using them through the year in different gardens and situations to see how they fared. Each hose in our review has a detailed list of pros and cons and has been rated according to preparation & storage, handling & performance, quality & features, and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on hoses that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list. Every hose in our round up below has scored a minimum rating of 3.5/5, so you can buy with confidence.

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Our 3 top-rated expandable garden hoses

Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose

Our best expandable garden hose for performance

RRP: £37.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Robert Dyas (£27.99)

Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

It's great that this lightweight extendable hose comes with connectors and a seven-dial spray gun, both of which you have to buy separately with many of the other hoses I tested. When I filled the hose with water, it expanded up to 30m, or three times its length, retracting back to its original size in next to no time when the tap was turned off. It's made from hard-wearing materials, with the combination of polyester outer and rubber-like inner tube. The woven fabric also prevents the hose from getting tangled up when you unwind and use it. The only less durable elements are the plastic universal connectors that won’t last as long as brass alternatives.

The spray gun has seven settings, making it extremely versatile. It can tackle anything from gentle watering tasks with the mist spray, to more vigorous jobs that require a single jet of water, such as cleaning outdoor furniture, cars and windows. This hose is the cheapest I tested, and as the spray gun is included, I'd say it represents great value. Although there isn’t a warranty, Robert Dyas will offer an exchange or refund if it develops a fault within a year, as long as you can provide proof of purchase. Cinead McTernan

Read the full review of the Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose

Latest Deals

Hozelock Superhoze Expandable 30m Hose

Our best expandable garden hose for durability

RRP: £78.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: OnBuy (£63.99) and Wickes (£52)

Our best expandable garden hose for durability: Hozelock Superhoze 30m expandable hose

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

I found this expandable hose easy to use in a small garden. Because it shrinks to a third of its length when empty, it's also convenient to store when not in use, making it good for small gardens, patios and balconies. It comes with two easy-to-attach universal connectors and one nozzle, and it's compatible with Hozelock’s range of hose ends and accessories, which can be bought separately. The hose comes in a range of lengths, including 7.5m, 15m and 40m. I also liked that you can attach two expandable hoses together - though you’ll have to buy a special connector - useful if you have a big garden.

The Superhoze can produce anything from a fine mist spray to a powerful jet of water, giving it real versatility whether you’re watering plants in pots or cleaning the car. It's lightweight and tough, with a five-year warranty. Another good point is that the packaging uses 100% recycled materials and water-based ink, so it can be composted or recycled. Cinead McTernan

Read the full review of the Hozelock Superhoze expandable 30m hose

Latest Prices

Hozelock Wonderhoze 30m

Our best expandable hose for flexibility

RRP: £82.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£57.99), Ebay (£68.89) and ManoMano (£64.99)

Hozelock_Wonderhoze_(3)_Large

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

The Wonderhoze is perfect for those who can’t manage a hose reel or don’t want the clutter and space that a hose reel takes up. This flexible hose is distinctly floppy when not in use, but the fabric shell is like a concertina, and the 12.5mm hose expands in use up to 30m, three times its original length. It’s very handy that it comes out of the box ready to use, with a spray gun with five different settings and a universal, multi-size tap attachment, so you can literally pop it on and get watering. I like the fact that it’s lightweight and incredibly flexible, which, in use, is kind to plants where it brushes up against them.

Hozelock Wonderhose 30m

It’s slightly unwieldy to handle, as it’s so very flexible. When not in use, I wanted to put it away or hang it on a hook; otherwise, it’s left as a messy pile on the floor. It comes with a five-year warranty, and the 30m length is easy and comfortable to use and covers a good portion of my garden. Jane Moore

Buying an expandable hose - video

Follow our guide to choosing the right expandable hose for your garden

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Our 4 top-rated garden hose reels

Claber Kiros Kit 20m

Our best garden hose reel for versatility

RRP: £53.14

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£52.90)

Claber Kiros Kit 20m

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This is a very neat, compact and low-key hose reel which comes neatly boxed, complete with spray nozzle and a universal, multi-size tap fitting. The black and silver hose, the Claber Silver Elegant Plus, has a 12.5mm bore, which makes for a good volume of water. It’s very smart, and the subdued colour doesn’t shout in the garden.

Claber_kiros_IRL

While you can fit it to the wall, the brackets look a bit lightweight, and there’s no need, as the reel runs freely when pulling it out, but also winds in nicely without tipping or dragging on the ground. I like the fact that you can attach the handle on either side and that the hose reel works exactly the same each way round. It’s easy to carry, featuring a snap-on grip which is great for wet hands, and has a two-year warranty. Jane Moore

Hozelock Pico Reel

Our best mini hose reel

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Tooled Up (£38.95), OnBuy (£42.24) and Wickes (£35)

Our best mini hose reel: Hozelock Pico hose reel

Reasons to buy:

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I found this tidy hose compact, lightweight and good value. It's useful that the hose comes completely assembled and ready to use: all that's required is to screw on the connector to your tap and clip on the hose. It's as easy as that. You can clip either end to the tap, so the reel can stay by the tap, or you can carry it with you, unwinding/winding the hose as you go. It has the advantage of both ends of the hose clipping upright onto the reel, preventing drips or dribbles when stored.

It's easy to rewind, with a large, comfortable-to-grip, rotating winding knob, and it has handy features such as drip-free storage with a parking port. There’s also an easy-to-use and adjustable spray gun with five spray pattern options. Plus, this hose comes with an impressive five-year warranty. Cinead McTernan

Read the full review of the Hozelock Pico hose reel

Latest Prices

Hozelock Fast Reel

Our best larger hose reel

RRP: £148.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: ManoMano (£144.99), OnBuy (£143.40) and Tooled Up (£106.95)

Our best larger hose reel: Hozelock Fast Reel

Reasons to buy:

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The Hozelock Fast Reel is supplied with an extra section of feeder hose already cut with connectors attached, so it's pretty much ready to go. You just need to clip the winding handle into place, which I found an easy task. The automatic self-layering feature on this hose made it extremely quick for me to wind and unwind, even though it's a very long hose. The casing fully encloses the hose and feels both sturdy and stable.

Given that 40m of hose is weighty and bulky, it’s best suited to gardens where the hose can be kept in one place for the season. If you have to move it, it does have non-drip storage features, so it can be stored under cover. Like all hoses, it needs draining and storing indoors over winter to avoid frost damage. This was the heaviest and priciest hose I tested, but it does come with a five-year guarantee. Cinead McTernan

Read the full review of the Hozelock Fast Reel

Latest Prices

Hozelock Auto Reel Mobile 35m

Our best portable hose reel

RRP: £247.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£193) and Wickes (£220)

Best Buy portable garden hose reel: Hozelock Auto reel mobile 35m

Reasons to buy:

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If you’ve ever struggled with a kinking, twisting hose or a reel that’s constantly toppling over, then this is the reel for you. The 35m anti-UV hose is housed within a sturdy portable case that you can wheel around the garden with ease. The handle is adjustable to suit your height and collapses down for storage, and I found it helpful that this product also has a folding kickstand to help it remain stable in use. It can then be tucked away for easy wheeling and storage. The hose was easy to pull out, and there’s a braking mechanism to keep it controlled and to lock it in place once you’ve got as much as you need.

Once I'd finished, I simply tugged the hose out another 25cm, and it automatically rewound into the case. There’s no handle to wind and no tangling. Five metres of feeder hose are included, giving you 35m in total, plus all the connectors you need, including hose-end and water-stop connectors, and threaded tap connectors of 21 and 26mm. There’s also a spray gun with the choice of three sprays: fine rose, jet and cone.

Although this is very easy to wheel around once built, it does weigh 17kg, and I found this noticeable when putting it together. There’s quite a lot to assemble, including attaching the wheels, handle and accessory basket, and this requires a screwdriver and about 30 minutes of your time. Until the wheels are attached, it’s heavy to lift and move around, and it’s all low down on the ground, so it may not be for the less able gardener. This reel is also one of the most expensive I've tested, but it's very well designed, with lots of storage for the feeder hose and accessories, it feels durable and sturdy and is backed up by a five-year warranty (when registered online). If you use a hose on a regular basis, this is ideal. You definitely get what you pay for, and this hose is well worth considering for the sheer ease of use. Cinead McTernan

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Our 2 top-rated bare garden hoses

1: Hozelock Ultimate hose

Our best premium hose

RRP: £51.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£51.93)

Our best premium hose: Hozelock Ultimate hose

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

I found the Hozelock Ultimate very easy to use. It's weatherproof, UV-resistant, and frost-protected, and it can withstand a range of temperatures from -20°C to 40°C. Constructed from five layers, including reinforced material, the Hozelock Ultimate has a smooth inner layer to enhance water flow. I found it lightweight and very flexible, making it easy and comfortable to use.

With five layers, this is an anti-kink and crushproof hose, and I was pleased to find it was flexible enough to uncoil easily. I found recoiling the hose a little harder, but not too frustrating. All in all, this is a strong hose for everyday use, and it comes with a 30-year guarantee. It's also free from phthalates, heavy metals and other harmful toxins, so it's reassuringly safe to use. Cinead McTernan

Read the full review of the Hozelock Ultimate hose

Latest Prices

2: Claber basic spiral hose kit 10m

Our best spiral garden hose

RRP: £32.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£44.99)

Claber_basic_spiral_hose_kit_10m

Reasons to buy:

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With a wildly different design to most hoses, the Claber spiral kit makes something of a statement in its own right, as a funky addition to the garden as well as a useful bit of kit. To my mind, it’s perfect for smaller gardens, such as courtyards, especially as the spiral hose tucks neatly against the wall held within its low-key bracket, requiring very little storage space.

Claber_spiral_IRL

To keep things compact and small, the 10mm-gauge hose is the smallest I’ve ever used, but it does deliver, and that lack of bulk is ideal for tight spaces. The kit comes complete with a universal, multi-size tap fitting and a spray nozzle. Featuring a 2-year warranty, this kit is a useful and fun item for the small garden. Jane Moore

The best of the rest

Although this model didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, it still has great features that makes it worth recommending.

Hozelock 2-in-1 Hose Reel With 25m Hose

RRP: £58.99

Our rating: 3.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£42.39) and Tool Station (£47.68)

Hozelock 2-in-1 Hose Reel With 25m Hose

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This is a sturdy and versatile hose reel that is easy to assemble and comes complete with a universal tap fitting and a simple spray nozzle so you can start watering straight away. Although it’s described as assembled, it does require some basic assembly before you can get going. The option to wall mount, complete with all the necessary bracket assembly kit, including screws and raw plugs, is a boon for tidy storage. But as a free-standing reel, I found it weighty enough to pull out and rewind the 12.5mm hose without tipping up and also light enough to carry around.

The Hozelock 2-in-1 Hose Reel is sturdy and versatile. Image: Jane Moore

There is a definite front and back to this reel, with the handle only fitting on one side, which may be a problem if you’re tight on space. But the top handle drops down, which makes for easy storage, and it’s a neat, compact reel that comes complete with a quality hose and a five-year guarantee. Jane Moore

Need an attachment for your hose? Discover which of the garden hose spray guns we tested came out on top. If a watering can is all you're after, we've chosen 10 different designs to suit your gardening needs. You may also be interested in our guide to buying the best pressure washer.

How to choose the best garden hose

Think about the following before you choose:

What accessories are available?

While a nozzle or spray gun isn’t essential - using your finger on the tip of the hose to adjust the water flow works well - they are practical. Some hoses come with these accessories included, which often makes them good value for money. However, there are plenty of attachments available to buy separately.

It’s also worth checking if the connectors that come with your hose are ‘universal’, which means they'll fit on any hose or with any accessory - a benefit, if you change the hose but don’t want to have to buy a new spray gun, for example. Connectors are usually made in either plastic or brass, and while there are different grades of plastic, it’s fair to say that the brass connectors will be the most long-lasting.

In general, a textured outer layer will attach more securely to the tap connector than smooth alternatives, and will be less likely to burst off the nozzle or tap connector while it’s in use.

Water-wise gardening

With water conservation becoming more important than ever, check out this fascinating discussion between Arit Anderson and water expert Janet Manning on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast.

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Gardening with less water

A few basic techniques will help you save precious water resources while still giving you a beautiful space to enjoy

Target your watering

All plants have different water needs. The best method is to water each plant individually, so you can control exactly the right amount around the roots at the base of the plant, minimising wasted water.

Pick drought-tolerant plants

Plants like perennial herbs, ornamental grasses and many established shrubs need very little extra water in summer. Planted in the ground, they may never need any extra watering after establishment. Selecting plants that don’t wilt in dry spells will lower effort and water use.

Plant spreading ground-cover

Although it’s recommended to use a compost mulch around plants to lock in moisture – and this does work – this may be impractical for an entire garden. In addition to mulching, look to low-growing, mat-forming plants that spread between your larger plants, reducing evaporation and locking in moisture.

Collect water from roofs

Every drop of rainwater you collect counts. To work out how much you could collect, multiply the local average annual rainfall by the total area of your roof. Reusing old washing-up water, called ‘grey water’, helps too.

Let lawns go brown

During summer dry spells, lawns are prone to turning brown and looking dead, but they aren’t. Grass naturally goes dormant to survive dry periods, and although it can look less inviting, it’s perfectly fine for the plants. Lawn grasses will naturally bounce back to their luscious green selves when rain returns.

Make a planted soakaway

In addition to collecting rainwater in a water butt, directly water areas with drain-pipe extensions. Doing so reduces water going into drains and the risk of flooding during heavy rain. Water will slowly filter through the ground naturally instead.

How we tested garden hoses

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Reviews team tested a range of different types of garden hose, using them across the spring and summer to water beds and borders, plants in containers and in the greenhouse. The hoses were compared, and the following criteria were used to assess each hose, with equal weight attributed to each:

For more information on our testing process, see How we Review.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.

This review was last updated in May 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

]]> Best 8 garden hose spray guns in 2026 – tested and reviewed by our experts https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/tools/watering/best-spray-guns/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:15:09 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/tools/watering/best-spray-guns/ Looking for a new spray gun? Browse our pick of the very best, from budget to premium models

Jump to our 4 top-rated hose spray guns, under £30

Jump to our 3 top-rated hose spray guns, £30+

Watering can be an everyday task in summer, but to ensure you use only the water you need, and that it goes just where you want it, a spray gun attached to the end of your hose is an essential piece of kit. With as many as nine different spray patterns, including a shower setting for watering borders, a mist for fragile plants, and a jet spray for cleaning or filling buckets, they're equally at home lightly misting seedlings as they are washing down a path. A hose spray gun can make light work of the most common gardening watering tasks and turn the garden hose into one of the most important tools in your garden.

Hozelock Ultramax spray gun View Affiliate Playlist on the source website

Our best hose spray guns to buy at a glance

Our 4 top-rated hose spray guns, under £30

Our 3 top-rated hose spray guns, £30+

Also recommended: hose spray guns

Comparison Table: Best Spray Guns

Our expertise

To help you get the right spray gun for your hose we tested a range of spray gune, looking at performance and ease of use, but we focused on eco credentials, too. Water is a precious resource and it’s vital a spray gun doesn’t leak or drip, wasting water every time you use it. A controllable flow option that adjusts the volume of water from 40-100 per cent is also helpful and finally, we noted whether we thought the guns were robust enough to last for longer than just a single summer. All the models tested were the gun grip type, made from plastic or metal and were compatible with a standard 13mm water stop hose connector. All had a trigger on the handle that was squeezed to turn the water on or off and most had a dial to change the spray pattern. Each spray gun has a detailed list of pros and cons, and has been rated according to ease of use, performance, eco considerations and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on spray guns that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Jump to the best hose spray guns:

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Our 4 top-rated hose spray guns, under £30

Claber Multi-Jet Confort

Our best all-round hose spray gun, under £30

RRP: £19.80

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£24.75) and B&Q (£29.13)

Claber Multi-Jet Confort

Reasons to buy:

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A step up from the simple shower pistol, the Claber Multi-Jet Confort is only a fraction more expensive yet offers four spray patterns, a classic twist flow control and a lockable on/off trigger. The four settings are exactly the ones I tend to use day-to-day, including shower, jet, fan spray and mist. Changing the setting is easy via a twist of the head, although this sort of ‘undoes’ the head, exposing a greased section, which I fear could become worn with grit or even seized as the grease wears away.

Claber Multi-Jet Confort

As a whole, this spray gun is beautifully lightweight, featuring a trigger lock that’s easy to use, and it sits well in the hand with a rubber handle that’s perfect for gripping with wet hands or gloves. With a two-year guarantee, this is an affordable and versatile choice. Jane Moore

Gardena EcoLine Watering Sprayer

Our best hose spray gun for sustainability, under £30

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£19.99) and Original Organics (£16.99)

Best Buy for sustainability: Gardena EcoLine spray gun

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid:

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for sustainability, this sub-£30 gun is made using at least 65% recycled household waste for the plastic parts, and the metal parts consist of more than 45% recycled material, plus it comes in totally cardboard packaging printed with water-based ink, so it can safely go on your compost heap or in the recycling. It’s also both frost and UV-resistant, so it won’t degrade if it’s left out outside, and it’s durable and long-lasting, which also helps its sustainability credentials. It’s light and neatly designed, featuring an ergonomic handle, which means it’s comfortable to hold and use. It also has a lockable trigger and a roll lever at the back of the spray head, so you can adjust the flow whilst you’re watering. However, there’s no choice of sprays.

Unlike others, which offer the choice of sprays, like jet, mist and pulse, you just have the one, and for the price of over £20, we would have liked more. This is a reasonably expensive spray gun, and although it comes with a 5-year warranty, once registered, you’re really paying for the eco qualities of this gun. It performs well, but it’s limited, so if you’re after more spray options, this isn’t the gun for you.
But, if all you need is a gun to water pots and borders, and sustainability is important to you, then this is a great green option.

The Gardena EcoLine Basic Set is also available, which includes an adjustable jet nozzle as well as a tap connector, adapter, hose connector and water stop.

Latest Deals

Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Multi Function Spray Gun

Our best hose spray gun for features, under £30

RRP: £23.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£11.99) and Ebay UK (£27.98)

Our best hose spray gun for features: Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Multi Function Spray Gun

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

With a whopping nine patterns, the Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Multi Function Spray Gun is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features, under £30. Our favourite of these patterns is the ‘angle’ pattern, which sprays water downwards at a 45° angle, making the gun much more comfortable to hold. Like the Draper 8 pattern gun, the shower function is powerful enough to reach the very back of flower beds, and it has a sliding thumb catch, which can be moved with one hand to vary the water flow. It also means you don’t have to hold down a button if you’re watering for any length of time, which makes it one of the most comfortable guns to hold and use. It has a high-quality brass connector too, but bear in mind that the black handle gets hot in the sun.

Latest Deals

Gardena Comfort Multi Spray

Our best premium spray gun, under £30

RRP: £28.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£22.57), Argos (£29) and Electrical World (£22.90)

Our best premium spray gun: Gardena Comfort Multi Spray

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This premium spray gun is easy and smooth to use. It has a large spray head with a good range of sprays and comes with a long warranty. It has five spray patterns, including a soft spray, a fast jet, a bubble spray, a fine mist and a flat spray, and all perform well with a strong jet of water. Although other spray guns have more spray patterns, these are enough to cover most jobs in the garden, from filling up cans, watering fragile seedlings and irrigating borders and pots.

Read the full review: Gardena Comfort Multi Spray review

Latest Deals

Our 3 top-rated hose spray guns, £30+

Hozelock Multi Spray Pro

Our best eco spray gun, £30+

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£30.95) and Ebay (£19.99)

Our best eco spray gun: Hozelock Multi Spray Pro II

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This spray gun is sturdy and built to last. It comes with a water-saving aerated flow, and the adjustable flow works well and efficiently. It's a well-designed and thought-out spray gun. The different spray patterns simply click into place along the dial, and it feels solid and secure in the hand.

Read the full review: Hozelock Multi Spray Pro review

Latest Deals

Hozelock Multi Plus Spray Gun

Our best lightweight hose spray gun, £30+

RRP: £47.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£28.49) and B&Q (£27.99)

Hozelock Multi Plus Spray Gun

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This is a sturdy and versatile spray gun with seven different settings that are easy to switch between and include everything the gardener could possibly want. I use a fine mist setting for delicate plants, along with a powerful jet for washing off dirt, shower and aerated settings for seedlings, and a fast fill setting – a must for filling watering cans.

Hozelock Multi Plus

I especially like the flow regulator, which is a slider on the main body of the gun, as it makes those gentle adjustments while I’m watering so easy to do with my thumb of the hand holding the gun. This reduces the flow up to 50 per cent, which is perfect for more delicate plants and seedlings. With its combination of metal and plastic construction, this spray gun hits a sweet spot of being robust but lightweight, and it comes with a two-year guarantee. Jane Moore

Hozelock Ultramax Multi Spray Gun

Our best hose spray gun for durability, £30+

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: B&Q (£44.99)

Hozelock Multi Spray Ultramax

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

The Ultramax is something of a Rolls Royce of spray guns: sturdily made, heavy and built to last. It’s not for the weak of limb as it features a die-cast metal body, so it’s heavy, but it is also the ultimate in control with seven different spray patterns that are easy to switch between by twisting the clearly marked head. These include fine rose, mist, powerful jet, cone, fan, aerated and fast fill. For even more control, these settings combine with a flow control that can be easily adjusted from 50 per cent to 100 per cent, which not only saves water but also allows for gentle watering of my more delicate plants and seedlings.

Hozelock Ultramax

The trigger is lockable for long periods of watering, while the handle is ergonomically designed and nice to grip. It’s pricey and heavy to hold, but it comes with a five-year warranty and would make a good choice for gardeners who want a robust and durable spray gun and who have a lot of watering to do. Jane Moore

Also recommended: Hose Spray Guns

Draper 7 Pattern Aluminium Spray Gun

Our best value for money budget spray gun

RRP: £18.90

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£11.15), B&Q (£14.99) and Power Tools Direct (£13.13)

Our best mid-range spray gun: Draper 7 Pattern Aluminium Spray Gun

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

Solid and well-made with quality materials such as a brass connector, this easy-to-use spray gun has seven spray patterns, including fine mist, jet, shower, fan, cone, soaker and mist, which are adjusted by a simple dial that has the type of pattern written around the edge and clicks clearly into place with each twist. It feels comfortable and light in the hand with a trigger that's operated with the palm rather than the fingers and has a soft, textured rubber grip on the handle.

However, the ring lock on the top of the handle that holds the trigger in place needs two hands to engage, and the adjustable flow behind it is fiddly and stiff to twist up and down. But with the choice of seven spray patterns and excellent pressure combined with quality materials, this is great value for money.

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Flopro Softflo Advanced Gun

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: B&Q (£16.98)

Flopro Softflo Advanced Gun

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

The Flopro Softflo Advanced Gun has four functions –a container-watering shower, gentle enough for delicate plants, a car-washing setting, ideal for watering borders, a softer, aerated bubble-flow and a jet for filling watering cans, and even cleaning. The jet is very strong, so while it can’t match a pressure washer, it gets some dirt up off paving slabs. The best feature is the bubble flow, which mixes air and water so it's better for the environment, reduces your water bill and is softer on plants. We love the roll-lever thumb switch, too, which allows you to further control the amount of water use.

This spray gun is lightweight, but the ridges on the handle rub on hands uncomfortably, and although the hook is useful, it gets in the way when you’re watering. We also found it inconvenient that the functions are labelled with unclear diagrams rather than words, and it drips, so it wastes water. Other guns, like the Wilko 8 pattern and Spear and Jackson 9 pattern, also have more functions. It comes with a one-year warranty.

Latest Deals

Hozelock Multi Spray Soft Touch

RRP: £18.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£14.98), Argos (£22) and Tool Station (£15.98)

Hozelock Multi Spray Soft Touch

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This spray gun is ideal if you have mobility issues, thanks to a soft-touch grip and lockable trigger, which make it easy to squeeze and comfortable if you’re watering a large area. However, it’s made entirely from plastic and feels a bit flimsy compared to the more robust Wilko 8 Pattern and Flopro Softflo Advanced Gun, which are also plastic. We like the simplicity of the roll-lever flow control, which you can easily reach with your thumb while using the spray gun, and it features five spray patterns. However, it did dribble on test, but it comes with a one-year warranty, should it need to be replaced.

Latest Deals

Claber Ergo Shower Pistol

RRP: £18.85

Our rating: 3.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£25.37) and LBS Horticulture (£18.85)

Claber_Ergo_Shower_Pistol

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This affordable, lightweight little shower pistol does just that – it showers, but that’s all it does. In use, I had to forget filling a watering can with the tap setting, or washing away bird poo with the jet setting, as this shower pistol has only the one setting, and that’s a nice rain shower that's suitable for most plants.

Claber_Ergo_Shower_Pistol_IRL

The only things that are adjustable are the force via the jet adjustment lever and the flow rate, which is via a twist switch on the end of the body. The lockable trigger is also located here, which makes it awkward to use as you need both hands, unlike many other spray guns on the market where the lock is on the trigger. Still, there’s little to go wrong, which I consider is always a plus, and its simplicity will suit many gardeners. It also comes at an affordable price with a two-year warranty. Jane Moore

Draper 8 Pattern Spray Gun

RRP: £20.99

Our rating: 3.75/5

Available from: Amazon (£11.65), Ebay (£17.99) and Power Tools Direct (£12.62)

Draper 8 Pattern Spray Gun

Reasons to buy:

Reasons to avoid:

This gun offers eight different spray patterns, from gentle mist to jet. The best of these sprays is the mist, which makes tiny droplets that are perfect for gently watering cuttings and seedlings and keeping tropical plants humid. We also love the shower pattern, which, like the Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Multi Function Spray Gun, is powerful enough to reach the back of flower beds.

It features a high-quality brass connector, which feels smooth to connect, and the thumb switch works well. It means this gun can be used with one hand, so you can choose exactly how strong you want the flow. It was initially stiff to move between the different spray patterns, but this eased up with use, and while the ergonomic grip is a nice idea, it can be tricky to adjust your grip if needed. The brass connector means it’s quite heavy, and the black handle gets hot in the sun.

Latest Deals

Need a hose? Discover which of the garden hoses we tested came out on top. Or, if a watering can is all you're after, we've chosen 10 different designs to suit your gardening needs. If you're after more power for some of your garden cleaning tasks, our experts have put the best pressure washers through their paces, so you can buy with confidence.

How does a hose spray gun work?

Unlike a more traditional twist nozzle, a spray gun has a variety of spray patterns for different tasks. Once you’ve picked your pattern, a spray gun works as its name implies - you squeeze the trigger on the handle of the ‘gun’ to control the distance and intensity of the jet of water. To choose the right gun for you, think about is what you need your spray gun for. If you’ll just be watering plants, look for a gun with a few different, gentle spray patterns, so you don’t damage leaves and stems. For a more general-purpose hose, look for as many settings as possible, so you can clean your car as well as tend to plants.

Will I need any connectors?

Hose pipe connectors are the plastic or brass clips at the top of a hose pipe. They’re universal, and with very rare exceptions, most hose guns will fit your hose. If you don’t have a universal connector or need a new one, we recommend a brass connector, as these tend to last longest.

Top tips for watering your plants

Get the most from your spray gun by following our tips -

How we tested hose spray guns

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Reviews team tested a range of different hose spray guns, with a variety of sprays. Each gun was unpacked, attached to a hose and then used to water different plants in a number of locations, including seedlings, plants in pots and containers, as well as borders. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.

This review was last updated in April 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

]]> 25 of the best house plants to grow https://www.gardenersworld.com/house-plants/25-of-the-best-house-plants-to-grow/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:01:08 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/house-plants/25-of-the-best-house-plants-to-grow/ Love house plants? We've picked 25 of our favourites to grow. House plants, or indoor plants, provide interest, beauty and clean air in the home. They come in a huge variety of forms, from large-leaved jungle plants to tiny succulents that look like stones. There are house plants for sun and shade, dry conditions and humid bathrooms – almost a house plant for every situation and every home gardener.

Indoor plants have been proven to improve mental health and air quality in the home. Some house plants even absorb pollutants from household items such as fire-retardant furniture. Whatever your experience of growing house plants, there are plenty to suit you. Some indoor plants barely need watering or repotting at all!

How to grow house plants

Most house plants are tropical or desert plants used to warmer, more humid or drier conditions than we can offer them in our gardens. However, with a little care and attention, they will thrive in our homes. Some indoor plants have evolved to cope with very little rainfall, while others need regular watering to survive.

Before you buy your house plant, check which conditions it needs to grow well and whether you can provide those conditions in your home. Most indoor plants thrive in bright but indirect light – a few feet from a window is ideal. No house plant will be happy next to a radiator, open fire or air conditioning unit.

Brush up on how to care for your house plant, as all have slightly different needs. For example, indoor plants are often killed by overwatering. As a rule of thumb, water only when the top 1-2cm of compost is dry. Many plants also need humid conditions so mist plants regularly, spritzing them with a misting spray to raise the humidity levels in warm, dry rooms. Feed regularly (around once a month) with a specialist house plant feed during the growing season, from spring to autumn. Many house plants cease growing in the winter months, so need less feeding and watering at this time.

Choosing house plants

When choosing indoor plants to grow in your home, take time to work out which conditions you can provide for them. There's no point in buying sun-loving cactus plants if you have only dark rooms and north-facing windows to offer. Similarly, humidity-loving jungle plants are best grown in a bathroom and don't thrive in other, drier areas of the home. Do a bit of research – if you fall in love with a plant, find out how to grow it before taking it home, so you can give it the best chance of survival possible.

For help choosing pots for your house plants see our guide to 15 of the best indoor plant pots

Buy misting spray bottles on Amazon

Buy houseplant food on Amazon

More on growing indoor plants:

We've picked 25 of our favourite indoor plants below, listed below.

 

Spider plants

Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'

Spider plants (Chlorophytum) are easy to grow and will reward you with frequent offsets that can be grown on and given to friends. As well as the variegated varieties 'Vittatum' and 'Variegatum', you could also grow 'Lemon', which has fresh green foliage. They look fabulous in hanging containers. Grow out of direct sunlight, and water and feed regularly while in active growth.

Height x Spread: 0.5m x 0.3m

Buy spider plants from Primrose

 

Aspidistras

Aspidistra elatior

As a testament to their toughness, aspidistras are commonly known as cast iron plants. They're hardier than one might think, too, capable of surviving temperatures as low as -5ºC. Lush, broad leaves make them great foliage plants. Grow out of direct sunlight and feed and water regularly from spring to autumn.

H x S: 0.5m x 0.3m

Buy Aspidistras from Waitrose Garden

 

Monstera

Swiss cheese plant, Monstera deliciosa

One of the best-loved and most popular house plants, monsteras are exotic beauties that will reward the grower with broad leaves with little effort. Grow in a bright spot out of direct sunlight and water regularly while in active growth. Best grown with a moss pole so they can climb. Monstera adansonii is a smaller though no less attractive alternative.

H x S: 2m x 2.5m

Buy monstera from Waitrose Garden

 

Hoyas

Best house plants to grow - hoyas

These twining evergreen climbers bear clusters of richly scented flowers, and enjoy growing in bright shade in a free-draining soil. Hoya carnosa and Hoya kerrii are perhaps the most commonly grown hoyas, but there are many more exciting and easily grown types to branch out into, too.

H x S: 0.45m x 0.45m

Buy hoya from Waitrose Garden

 

Philodendron xanadu

Best houseplants to grow - Philodendron xanadu

One of many gorgeous philodendrons to grow as house plants, Philodendron xanadu is a clump-forming species with lobed leaves that enjoys growing in a shady location. Provide it with the humidity it enjoys by misting regularly. Other attractive philodendrons to grow include Philodendron scandens, Philodendron erubescens and Philodendron 'Imperial Red'.

H x S: depends on variety

Buy Philodendron xanadu from Waitrose Garden

 

Rubber plants

Ficus elastica 'Robusta'

Rubber plants, Ficus elastica, are easy evergreens to grow with glossy leaves and a stunning architectural growth habit. There are several cultivars to choose from, such as the variegated 'Tineke', or 'Bali', which has deep green-purple leaves. It's far from the only ficus to grow, though. Others include the fiddle leaf fig, Ficus benghalensis and Ficus benjamina. Grow them in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 2.5m x 2m

Buy rubber plants from Primrose

 

Areca palm

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens

With masses of upright, divided leaves, Areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) is bound to make a statement. For a similar look, you could also try growing Howea fosteriana or Chamaedorea elegans, which have slightly larger leaflets. Grow in bright light out of direct sunlight, water well when in active growth and give it a good mist regularly.

H x S: 2m x 1m

Buy chamaedorea elegans from Waitrose Garden

 

String of hearts

Ceropegia woodii

String of hearts, (Ceropegia woodii) is a trailing house plant, which makes a fabulous vertical accent for growing indoors. The stems can quickly reach over two metres in length and look lovely draping over the edge of a bookcase or mantelpiece. Very easy to grow, as long as it's not overwatered, it enjoys a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 1.5m x 0.1m

Buy Ceropegia linearis subsp. woodii from Waitrose Garden

 

Pilea peperomioides

Growing houseplants – must-have houseplants

Pilea peperomioides is an easy-to-grow plant with distinctive round, succulent leaves. They're constantly producing offsets so you'll never be short of baby plants to give away as presents. Give it a bright spot out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 0.3m x 0.3m

Buy Pilea peperomioides from Primrose

 

Snake plant

Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii

The upright, sword-shaped leaves of snake plants (Sansevieria) are instantly recognisable. Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii has creamy margins, while Sansevieria zeylandica has lovely striated leaves. Sansevieria masoniana 'Victoria' has much broader leaves. Great for a bright location out of direct sunlight.

H x S: 1m x 0.3m

Buy Snake plants from Waitrose Garden

 

Phlebodium aureum

Phlebodium aureum

The rabbit's foot fern, Phlebodium aureum, has gorgeous, glaucous leaves. These are produced from creeping rhizomes covered in lots of small hairs, giving them a furry appearance. Very easy to grow if grown in bright, indirect sunlight. Keep well watered and mist the leaves regularly.

H x S: 1m x 0.5m

Buy Phlebodium aureum from Waitrose Garden

 

Maidenhair fern

Best houseplants to grow - maidenhair fern

The maidenhair fern, Adiantum raddianum, makes a gorgeous, leafy house plant. Each frond bears small, delicate leaves held on contrasting dark stems. Thriving in a humid environment, it's perfect for a steamy bathroom.

H x S: 0.4m x 0.4m

Buy Maidenhair Ferns from Primrose

 

Streptocarpus

Bet houseplants to grow - streptocarpus

Cape primrose (Streptocarpus) makes a fantastic houseplant in the British Isles. They come in a huge range of flower colours, and bloom from spring to autumn. They’re easy to grow grow them on a bright window sill away from direct sunlight, and avoid over-watering.

H x S: 1.5m x 0.1m

Buy Streptocarpus from Dobies

 

Crassula ovata 'Gollum'

Best houseplants to grow - Crassula 'Gollum'

Crassula ovata ‘Gollum’, also known as the jade plant, is an unusual succulent with tubular, trumpet shaped leaves. It looks like a small tree, and the branching trunk becomes thick with age. It may produce clusters of small, star-like, white or pinkish-white flowers with pink stamens in winter.

H x S: 0.8m x 0.4m

Buy Crassula from Waitrose Garden

 

Deuterocohnia

Best houseplants to grow - Deuterocohnia lanata

Deuterocohnia are bromeliads, native to Argentina and Bolivia. They bear small, sharply pointed, toothed leaves in blue-green, with reddish tips. Grow in bright light and water regularly, reducing watering in winter.

H x S: 0.4m x 0.3m

Buy Deuterocohnia from Crafty Plants

 

Staghorn fern

Best houseplants to grow - staghorn fern

Staghorn fern, Platycerium wandae, is an unusual house plant, native to lowland rainforests of New Guinea. An epiphyte, it has large, antler-like, lobed, leathery fronds.

H x S: 2m x 2m

Buy Staghorn fern from Waitrose Garden

 

Rhipsalis

Best houseplants to grow - Rhipsalis

There are several varieties of Rhipsalis, which are technically a cactus, but with a beautiful trailing habit, perfect for making indoor hanging displays. Grow in bright light and water sparingly.

H x S: 0.2m x 0.6m

Buy Rhipsalis from Waitrose Garden

 

Caladium Bicolor

Best houseplants to grow - Caladium Bicolor

Angel's wings. Caladium Bicolor, has beautiful heart-shaped green leaves in a variety of different colours. Grow caladium in bright light and water freely in summer, keeping the compost completely dry in winter.

H x S: 0.5m x 0.5m

Buy Caladium from Primrose

 

Alocasia cuprea

Alocasia cuprea

Alocasia cuprea bears large, leathery heart-shaped leaves in a variety of colours. Grow in bright light to partial shade, with a good degree of humidity - a bright bathroom is ideal.

H x S: 0.25m x 0.25m

Buy Alocasia from Primrose

 

Hippeastrum

Best houseplants to grow - hippeastrum

Usually grown for Christmas, Hippeastrum (amaryllis) is a bulbous plant, bearing large, velvety flowers in a variety of colours. Plant in peat-free, multi-purpose compost around eight weeks before you want it to flower, and keep in a cool room with plenty of light to ensure it develops slowly, maintaining a strong flower shoot and leaves.

H x S: 0.75m x 0.2m

Buy Hippeastrum from Dobies

 

Fiddle-leaf fig

Fiddle leaf fig

Fiddle leaf fig, Ficus lyrata, is a pricey plant that can be a little fickle – it has a habit of dropping its leaves if it’s not happy. This could be due to dry air, under- or overwatering, under- or over feeding, or sudden changes in temperature. Once you have found the right place for it – a bright spot, out of direct sun, in a warm room – leave it there, as it doesn’t like being moved. Wipe the leaves to keep them free of dust.

H x S: 2m x 0.5m

Buy Fiddle-leaf fig from Primrose

 

Purple shamrock

Best house plants to grow - purple shamrock

Purple shamrock, Oxalis triangularis, has purple leaves and pale pink, nodding flowers. It is a bulb and dies back in winter. It likes some humidity so is a good choice for a bathroom.

H x S: 0.5m x 2m

Buy Oxalis triangularis from Crocus

 

Succulents and cacti

Best house plants to grow - succulents and cacti

Succulents and cacti are extremely popular and it’s easy to see why – they come in range of shapes, sizes and colours, such as the bunny-eared prickly pear cactus. Most will grow on a sunny windowsill and are low maintenance. Let the compost dry out between watering in summer. Find out how to make a succulent and cacti terrarium.

H x S: 0.2m x 0.3m

Buy cacti and succulents from Primrose

 

Air plants

Tillandsia 'Veronica's Mariposa'

Air plants don’t need compost – in nature, they take moisture from the air. They do need watering, however – either by regular misting, or by plunging in a bowl of water for around 30 minutes, allowing to drain well. A humid room, such as kitchen or bathroom, is ideal.

H x S: 0.2m x 0.2m

Buy air plants from Waitrose Garden

 

Crown of thorns

Best house plants to grow - crown of thorns

Crown of thorns, Euphorbia milii, is a pretty plant with fleshy leaves that seems to flower almost non-stop, given plenty of bright light. The flowers are actually coloured bracts that last for several weeks. It has fleshy leaves and stems, so doesn’t need too much watering. Wear gloves when handling – the plant has sharp thorns and also an irritant sap.

H x S: 0.5m x 0.5m

Buy Crown of thorns from Gardening Express

Clusia rosea

Clusia rosea, also known as the autograph tree, is a fast-growing house plant with evergreen leaves, but it can be kept at around 1.5m in height by pruning in spring. It grows well in warm, humid conditions, making it an ideal choice for a steamy bathroom or kitchen.

H x S: 1.5m x 0.5m

Buy Clusia rosea from Crocus

]]> 10 New Year gardening resolutions https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/10-new-year-resolutions-for-the-garden/ Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:36:19 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/10-new-year-resolutions-for-the-garden/ Discover 10 suggestions for garden New year resolutions, in our guide. What better way to embrace another growing season than by making some new year gardening resolutions? You may want to start composting, dig a pond or mow your lawn more often. Perhaps you’ve vowed to ditch single-use plastic or use water more wisely.

Stuck for inspiration? We’ve come up with 10 resolutions you might consider for the garden this year, along with tips on how to achieve (and stick to) them.

Browse our suggestions for new year gardening resolutions, below.

 

Grow more houseplants

Houseplant display

Growing houseplants has surged in popularity in recent years. It’s no wonder: houseplants can improve air quality in your home, help to relieve stress and aid concentration. They’re easy to grow and many of them will tolerate shade and neglect.

More on growing houseplants:

 

Use less plastic

Hand tools with wooden handles

Many of us want to use less plastic in the garden, from plant labels to watering cans, tools, plant pots and the sheeting used to suppress weeds. Buying (and therefore using) less plastic will not only reduce your plastic footprint, but will also send a message to manufacturers that gardeners want alternatives to plastic (especially single-use plastic).

More on using less plastic

 

Go organic

Watering with comfrey feed

Whether you grow your own food or not, gardening organically is much better for the health of your garden. By not using pesticides, you’ll provide a safe source of food for bees and other pollinators, as well as boosting insect numbers. This means more food for birds and other insect predators, which may then choose to nest in your garden.

More on organic gardening:

 

Compost your waste

beginner gardening tips - make use of compost

Homemade compost is invaluable in the garden, providing you with a fantastic soil improver and mulch, as well as wildlife such as bumblebees and slow worms with a place to live. It's easy to set a compost bin up, whether you buy a ready-made bin or make your own.

More on composting:

 

Be water wise

Installing a water butt

We gardeners use a lot of water to keep our plants healthy. If using mains water, not only does watering cost you money (if you're on a meter), but potentially it can put pressure on water reserves, especially in dry weather. Installing a water butt or three can help you reduce your reliance on mains water. What's more, some plants benefit from being watered with rain water. You can connect water butts to downpipes from the roof or your home, but also assemble guttering systems around the roof of your shed or greenhouse. The more water butts you use, the more water you save.

You can also save water by mulching around plants to prevent evaporation from the soil, using water-retaining crystals in container displays, avoiding using sprinklers and growing drought-tolerant plants.

More on saving water:

 

Keep on top of weeds

View Green Video on the source website

If left to get out of hand, weeds can quickly take take light and nutrients from plants you want to grow. Regularly weeding around cultivated plants can help prevent weeds from growing too big, but few gardeners weed as often as they would like to. Just 10 minutes of weeding before you get started on more enjoyable garden jobs can really make a difference.

More on weeding:

 

Grow more of your own food

Harvesting beetroot

Few gardeners have the time or space to be completely sufficient, but you may enjoy growing a few crops while being rewarded with home-grown veg. Start with easy-to-grow crops such as potatoes, courgettes and runner beans. But, if you're an experienced grower, why not grow a new variety or two each year? Choose anything from a different variety of squash or bean, to more unusual crops such as sweet potatoes, yams and okra.

More on growing your own food:

 

Plant a tree

Planting and watering a peach tree

The environmental benefits of planting trees are clear: trees absorb carbon dioxide, help reduce flooding and can also contribute to reducing urban temperatures. What's more, if you choose carefully, your tree can provide food and shelter for wildlife.

More on planting trees:

 

Welcome wildlife

Bumblebee on scabious

Whether you decide to feed the birds, dig a pond, plant flowers for pollinators or let areas of your garden grow wild for hedgehogs and other small mammals to take shelter, welcoming wildlife to your garden is hugely rewarding. Many species are declining and by gardening for wildlife we can help to boost their numbers.

More on wildlife gardening:

 

Go peat-free

Adding compost to a pot

It's long been cited as an environmentally unfriendly choice when potting up plants, as the removal of peat from peat bogs destroys wildlife habitats, while releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Yet peat-based composts are still widely available to buy in garden centres and nurseries. More peat-free options are becoming available, however, made using bark, wood fibre, wool and coir. While peat-free options have been hit-and-miss in the past, new mixes are proving popular with gardeners, and include seed-sowing and ericaceous formulas. So, why not give it a try? When buying compost, simply check the label to make sure it's peat-free, or buy online.

]]> How to care for orchids https://www.gardenersworld.com/house-plants/how-to-care-for-orchids/ Sat, 31 May 2025 05:28:47 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/house-plants/how-to-care-for-orchids/ Find out how to care for your orchid in our detailed Grow Guide. Orchids are popular house plants and make a beautiful addition to house plant displays. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are the most common type of orchid grown in the UK. Flowering over a long period, they're available in an increasingly wide range of flower colours.

The popularity of moth orchids has led to other types of orchids becoming more available to grow as house plants. These include Dendrobium orchids, Paphiopedilum orchids, Oncidium orchids, Vanda orchids and Cambria hybrid orchids. These are all easy to grow in most homes, producing dramatic displays of exotic blooms.

How to care for orchids

Watering an orchid and allowing the water to drain from the pot. Paul Debois

Watering

The roots of moth orchids change colour, depending on the plant's moisture levels – when they're green they're fully hydrated so don't need watering, but when they're silver they're dry and can be watered. Always check the roots before watering and use lukewarm water so as to not to shock the plant.

For other orchids, such as Cambria/Odontoglossum, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Miltonia and Oncidium, the best way to know when to water is by feeling the weight of the pot. If the leaves and stems are heavier than the growing medium, this is a perfect time to water.

For specialist orchids like Paphiopedilum or Phragmipedium, use either rainwater or filtered water, as they can be sensitive to tap water.

There are two ways to water orchids: submersion and watering from the top.

Submersion involves placing the bottom quarter of the plant's pot in lukewarm water for around an hour. You can add orchid fertiliser to the water, too, which the roots will absorb. After an hour, lift the pot out of the water and allow it to drain before placing it back in its usual spot.

Watering from the top is quicker than submersion and is less likely to lead to root rot. But you will need to water your orchid more often than if you submerse the pot. Always allow the pot to drain and never leave the orchid sitting in water.

Vanda orchids don't grow in compost but grow with their roots loose in the air. To water them, simply submerge the rootball in lukewarm water for a couple of hours.

Light

Most orchids need bright but indirect light, as too much sunlight can scorch the leaves. Keep them on an east- or west-facing windowsill from spring to autumn, but move your orchid to a south-facing windowsill for the winter months, when light levels are lower.

Compost

Phalaenopsis (moth orchids), Cambria/Odontoglossum, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Vanilla and Zygopetalum orchids need air to circulate around their roots, so are best grown in orchid compost, which is essentially pine bark. Use a larger grade (8-15mm) for moth orchids and cymbidiums, and a finer grade (5-8mm) for other types. Finer grade orchid bark is usually available only from specialist suppliers.

For other orchids, like Phragmipedium and Paphiopedilum, professional growers recommend a handmade mix of coconut coir, bark, perlite and sphagnum moss (at a ratio of 1:1:0.5:0.5).

Vanda orchids are epiphytes, and are grown without compost.

Fertilisers

Orchids don't rely on fertilisation as much as other house plants. Feed using a specific orchid fertiliser only – you can buy orchid foliar sprays that give orchids all the nutrients they need, which they absorb through their leaves. 

Temperature and humidity

Normal household temperatures of around 15℃ – 30℃ are fine for orchids. Humidity is rarely an issue but keep them away from operating radiators. Mist the leaves every few days to increase humidity, if necessary. According to experts, Brassia (spider orchids) don't like being misted often, so their moist bark will provide enough humidity for them.

Pruning

Remove any spent flowers as they yellow, using a clean pair of scissors. Don't prune off any yellowing leaves that are still plump as the orchid will be transferring the nutrients into other areas of the plant. Once the final flower has dropped from the stalk, cut the stalk back by half to encourage a new branch of flowers to emerge.

For orchids that have small pseudobulbs at their base, such as Cymbidium, Cambria, Miltonia, Miltoniopsis, Oncidium and Zygopetalum, avoid cutting off any yellowed or browned bulbs, which provide nutrients and moisture for the plant.

Staking

Orchids always come with vertically upright canes to support the flowers. Although they'll continue to flower upright, they don't need staking, as the flowers naturally hang freely in the wild. With this in mind, it's entirely up to you if you'd like to have vertically-upright flower stalks, or ones that hang pendulously.

How to repot orchids

Planting an orchid into orchid compost. Paul Debois

Most orchids need repotting every three to four years, into the next sized transparent plastic pot, using orchid compost. For specialist orchids, such as Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium, make your own mix of coconut coir, bark, perlite and sphagnum moss, at a ratio of 1:1:0.5:0.5. For jewel orchids, use either sphagnum moss or a hand-made mixture of coconut coir, perlite and bark, at a ratio of 1:1:1.

  1. While still in its original pot, give the plant a good soak 12 hours before repotting, to reduce transplant shock.
  2. Remove the orchid from its pot and gently shake the root system to drop any loose bark. Roots that are healthy and still fused to bark pieces should be left on the plant, as removing them could damage the root. Remove any brown or softened roots using clean scissors.
  3. Fill the bottom fifth of the new pot with orchid compost and then place the rootball on top, ensuring the leaves will sit proud of the top. Fill around the roots with more bark and tap the pot to remove air pockets. Water and allow to drain.

How to propagate orchids

Phalaenopsis (moth orchids)

Moth orchids can be propagated from small offshoots that grow from the flower stalk. These need to have at least three leaves and a root that's more than 5cm in length. Moth orchids can take three years to produce offshoots, so you'll need to be patient. If yours has one, cut the flower stalk that's connecting the orchid 3cm above and below the offshoot. Then fill the bottom quarter of a 7cm clear orchid pot with fresh orchid compost, before placing the offshoot's roots on top. Add more bark around the roots before tapping the sides of the pot to remove air pockets. Keep the offshoot on a bright, sunless windowsill and water once a week.

Dendrobium

Dendrobiums can be split at the base where multiple stems are fused together, or via offshoots that develop along the stems themselves. Use a clean knife to split the chosen stem from the base, which should have at least three healthy leaves attached. Tease the cutting's roots from the rest of the rootball and repot it in a 7cm pot of orchid compost. Keep the cutting on a bright, sunless windowsill and water regularly.

Bulbophyllum, Cambria/Odontoglossum, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Oncidium, Zygopetalum

Propagate these orchids by dividing mature pseudobulbs at their base. Use a clean knife to make the split, and pot into a 10cm transparent pot filled with orchid bark. keep on a bright, sunless windowsill and water regularly while the cutting develops roots.

Vanilla orchids

Take 10cm cuttings from the very tip of any stem and pot it into a 7cm pot filled with orchid bark. Keep on a warm, sunless windowsill and water regularly while the cutting develops roots.

How to encourage moth orchids to flower again

Cutting back orchid flowers. Sarah Cuttle

With moth orchids, once all the flowers have fallen, cut off the stem just above a visible joint (node). This may stimulate the production of another flower stem, which you can clip to a support if you would like to. If no shoot appears and the original stem turns straw-coloured, then remove it at the base. Most other orchids won't flower twice on the same stem, so cut off spent stems immediately.

Common issues

Mealybugs on a leaf. Tim Sandall

Leaves

Yellowing leaves are normal but if lots of the leaves turn yellow over a short space of time, it could be that the orchid is not getting enough light. Move it to a lighter spot, such as on a north- or north-east facing window, and see if the situation improves.

Sun scorch will appear as light-brown leaves that feel floppy when touched. Relocate the orchid to another spot with less direct sunlight.

Roots

Root rot is common with over-watered orchids. Take the plant out of its pot and remove any brown or rotten roots. Then remove as much bark as possible, leaving any bark fused fragments attached to the root. If less than half of the rootball has rotten, use the original pot with fresh orchid bark. For orchids with more than half of the roots rotten, use the next size pot down. 

Flowers

Sudden flower loss is common with newly purchased orchids, thanks to the shock of a new environment. There’s nothing you can do for now except to wait for a new stem to emerge and mature before seeing another show of flowers. 

No flowers could be caused by too little light or nutrient deficiency. Feed your orchid once every third watering, using an orchid fertiliser. 

Pests

Mealybugs are small white insects that make white cotton-like 'fluff' across the leaves and stem joints of the plant. This includes its flowers, leaves, and under the leaves. Use a cotton bud to remove these as and when you see them.

Fungus gnats lay eggs in damp compost, so reduce watering to dry it out and cut their lifecycle.

Spider mites may attach to Cambria/Odontoglossum, Cymbidium, Oncidium or Zygopetalum orchids. Use a damp soapy cloth to wipe both sides of the leaves to remove them.

Advice on buying orchids

Where to buy orchids

Orchid varieties to grow

Miltonia orchid

Miltonia orchid. Credit: Getty Images

Miltonia are also known as 'pansy orchids' as their flowers have 'faces', just like pansies do. They do best in cooler temperatures from 12-15°C (55-60°F) but are forgiving of temperature fluctuations. Keep them somewhere bright, but not in full sunshine.

Cymbidium orchid

Cymbidium orchid

Cymbidium orchids need cool conditions – a minimum 10°C (50°F). To flower they need a distinct drop in temperature between day and night from mid- to late summer – you achieve this by putting the plants outside from June to September. In the house, they need bright but indirect light. Watch our video guide to caring for cymbidiums.

Odontoglossum orchid

Odontoglossum orchid. Credit: Getty Images

Unlike most orchids, Odontoglossum orchids do well in low light levels - a north-facing windowsill is ideal. They hail from the Andes, so need cool, fresh, airy conditions and a minimum temperature of 10°C (50°F). High levels of humidity are required so place on a tray of damp pebbles.

Dendrobium orchid

Dendrobium orchid

Dendrobium orchids do best with a temperature of at least 16-18°C (61-65°F) and a less humid environment than many other orchids. Reduce watering in autumn, and move plants to a bright windowsill or porch, where they can remain cool and dry until spring. Then, when temperatures start to increase again, increase watering and bring indoors.

Phalaeonopsis orchid

Phalaenopsis moth orchid

Moth orchids, or Phalaenopsis, are widely available and easy to grow. They do well in centrally heated homes (they need a minimum temperature of 16°C (61°F), in a spot with bright, filtered light, such as close to an east-facing window. They need humidity, so do well in kitchens and bathrooms.

Paphiopedilum orchid

Paphiopedalum orchid

Paphiopedilum, or slipper orchids, like humidity and moderate temperatures – at least 13°C (56°F). Types with spotted leaves like it warmer. They grow on the floor of rainforests so are adapted to low light but need high humidity. Move to a cool, bright spot in winter.

Oncidium orchid

Yellow oncidium orchid flowers. Getty Images

Oncidium orchids, or dancing ladies usually flower in summer and may go dormant for a while. They will appreciate a spell outside in summer. They like bright light – close to an east-facing window is ideal and a moderate temperature of around 12-15°C (55-60°F).

Frequently asked questions

What do I do with my orchid after the flowers fall off?

Orchids are perennial, meaning they can produce flowers reliably each year. For moth orchids, cut the stalk back by half and it should produce a new branch of flowers within three months. For all other orchids, cut the flower stalk back to the base.

]]> The best watering cans for your garden in 2025 https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/accessories/best-watering-cans/ Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:10:17 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/accessories/best-watering-cans/ Find out which type of watering can is best for your plants, with our selection of some of the best All plants need water to stay alive and an essential tool to provide them with this is a watering can. It can be one of the most important items in a gardener's arsenal and helps us be selective about the amount of water we provide our favourite plants.

Not only are watering cans simple to use they're far less wasteful than using a hose and allow us to target exactly where we wish our water to go. Despite this relative simplicity watering cans can vary from model to model and with hundreds on the market it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs.

To help you navigate the many watering cans available we’ve put together this list of our favourites. We’ve got everything from large cans to those best suited to indoor plants, plus we've answered some key questions to help you choose whether you’d prefer a metal or plastic watering can, how to water your plants properly and key things to look for in a watering can.

For more watering tools, see our reviews of the best plant misters, best garden hoses and best garden spray guns, as well as our guide to buying the best pressure washer. Alternatively, take a look at our picks of the best water butts, bird baths and solar water features.

The best watering cans in 2025

Flopro Quick Fill and Flo Can-Can watering can

Price: £19.99

Available from Marshalls Garden and Amazon

Flopro Fill & Flo Can-Can watering can

This 7.5L watering can is the first of a kind, connecting directly to a hose connector so you can fill it easily without having to hold it or carry it back and forth to the tap.It has an extra-long reach for watering right in the middle of beds and the flip top rose can be instantly swapped for a pouring spout so you can gently water young plants and then trees. The wide filling hole also makes dunking and filling in from water butts easy.

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Ward 10L Watering Can

Price: £7

Available from B&Q

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For watering on a budget, check out the Ward watering can. This deceptively simple can has a couple of useful features. We love the measures along the side, so you can water precisely, as well as the rose storage, which makes it easy to switch between sprinkling plants and a full flow.

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Garden Trading 10L Galvanised Watering Can

Price: £45

Available from Garden Trading

Garden Trading 10L Galvanised Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

This simple watering can is all you need to keep your plants well-watered. Made of hard-wearing galvanised steel, with a brass rose, it holds up to 10 litres. You can also buy it in 1.5- and 5-litre capacities if you have a smaller space.

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Haws Bearwood Brook Green Two Gallon Watering Can

Price: £125

Available from Haws

Haws Bearwood Brook Green Two Gallon Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Haws is a big name in watering cans, and for good reason. Handmade in Smethwick, this galvanised steel watering can is powder-coated in attractive British racing green and comes with a brass rose. All Haws products have a fantastic 10-year guarantee, and the company has been known to still restore products more than fifty years old. This model holds up to two gallons, or 9L in new money.

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Kent & Stowe 9L Long Reach Watering Can

Price: £39.99 £31.99 (save £8 or 20%)

Available from Marshalls Garden 

Kent & Stowe 9L Long Reach Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

If you struggle to water hanging baskets or the back of deep flower beds, this long-reach watering can might be the one for you. Made from powder-coated galvanised steel, the long arm will help you water all  your plants evenly, without treading on your flower beds or veg patch.

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Burgon and Ball Waterfall 5L Watering Can

Price: £34.49

Available from Burgon and Ball

Burgon and Ball Waterfall 5L Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

We love the long arm on this galvanised steel can as well as the one-piece round handle, so it’s easy to use with one or two hands. The rose screws on to ensure a tight fit with no water wasted, and the can has a good five-year warranty.

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Kent And Stowe 4.5L Metal Watering Can

Price: £25.97

Available from Amazon

Kent And Stowe 4.5L Metal Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

This 4.5L watering can from Kent and Stowe is just right for country-style gardens. It has a copper coloured rose and a folding top handle for easy storage, but if you forget to put it away after use, this attractive cream can will still look great on the patio.

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Garden Trading 1.9L Indoor Watering Can

Price: £22

Available from Garden Trading

Garden Trading 1.9L Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

For a high-quality indoor watering can, check out the Garden Trading 1.9L watering can. Offering a large capacity in chalk or stone, this attractive galvanised steel can will help keep your plants healthy for years.

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Elho Brussels 1.8L Watering Can

Price: £12.69

Available from Elho

Elho Brussels 1.8L Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Made from recycled plastic, the Elho Brussels can has a great 1.8L capacity. Its small spout is ideal for targeted watering, and it has a large filling hole too, so it’s easy to top up from kitchen and bathroom taps.

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Haws Indoor Plastic 700ml Watering Can

Price: £9.99

Available from Haws

Haws Indoor Plastic 700ml Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

This plastic watering can delivers Haws’ upmarket aesthetic at a lower price. Holding 700ml, it’s great for nipping around the house and keeping your plants topped up, and will look great alongside them on a shelf.

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Burgon & Ball 700ml Indoor Watering Can

Price: £14.99

Available from Burgon & Ball

Burgon and Ball 700ml Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

For a simple but attractive watering can, check out the Burgon and Ball Indoor watering can. The handle is made of sustainable FSC beech, and the thin spout is just right for gently watering plants. It’s also available in charcoal, stone, or blue.

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Ward Woodstock 1L Indoor Watering Can

Price: £7

Available from B&Q and Amazon

Ward Woodstock 1L Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

If you’re on a budget, try the Ward Woodstock watering can. This small 1L can is ideal for keeping out on kitchen surfaces so you don’t forget to water herbs.

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Elho Plunge 1.7L Indoor Watering Can

Price: £14.79

Available from Elho

Elho Plunge 1.7L Indoor Watering Can - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

We love the ingenious design of the Elho Plunge because it’s a watering can disguised as a vase. It also offers a capacity of 1.7 litres, so it’s great if you’ve got a lot of plants to water.

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What to look for in a watering can

The type of watering can you need depends on what you're watering and where.

To water plants growing outside in borders or large pots, you'll need a watering can with a capacity of around 10 litres to help you water everything efficiently, without having to constantly refill.

If you struggle to carry heavier watering cans, choose a smaller option, but bear in mind it will mean more refills at the garden tap. Plastic cans are lighter than metal ones, but you may prefer a metal watering can for environmental or aesthetic reasons.

If you’re caring for plants inside your home or greenhouse you're unlikely to need a large watering can, and a capacity of around four litres should be enough. Indoor watering cans are more likely to be on show than those used in the garden and are often designed with appearance in mind. There are lots of colours, materials and styles to choose from, with designs catering to personal aesthetics as well as practical needs.

Good balance and grip are also important especially if you'll using a can a lot or need to carry it a distance from the tap. Some handles are on both the top and the side and along the spout, which can help balance the can while pouring.  and look for a handle that's wide enough to grip comfortably. Some plastic can even have fingers grooves to ensure it sits comfortable in the hand.

If you're watering baskets or plants in tricky spots a watering can with a long spout is useful for giving you extra reach. A watering can sprinkler - or ‘rose’ - over the spout will help distribute a gentle spray of water that's less likely to damage plants or disturb compost, and is most useful for watering seedlings, cuttings and very young plants. Roses come with differently sized holes so you can choose the best spray to suit your plants. A universal rose tends to be made of rubber and should fit most cans, whereas brass roses are crafted to fit individual watering cans.

How to water effectively

Outdoor plants

To water established plants in containers, flower beds and vegetable patches use a can without a rose and water plants individually, aiming the spout around the base of the plants towards the roots. Give them a good soak so that water penetrates deep into the soil to encourage plants to root deeply. In summer, try to water in the early morning or late evening so that precious water doesn’t evaporate in the heat of the day.

House plants

Many house plants should be watered at the base, to avoid splashing their leaves and so water is targeted directly at their roots. However, carnivorous plants need damp roots, and cacti, succulents and cyclamen are prone to rotting at the base of the stems, so should be watered from below, either by standing them in a sink of water or watering the saucer they're standing in.

For more on this, check out this fascinating discussion between Arit Anderson and water expert Janet Manning on the BBC Gardeners’ World podcast.

View oEmbed on the source website

Is a metal watering can better than a plastic one?

If you’re picking between a metal watering can and a plastic one, they both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the choice between both will depend on your preferences, budget, and specific gardening requirements. We’ve compared them below so you can make a more informed decision regarding which watering can you want to buy.

Metal watering cans

Plastic watering cans

How to set up a water butt

Water butts come in imaginative different designs and you can have as many as you can fit between the ground and your gutters. Be aware that full water butts are very heavy and they do need lids to stop anything falling in. Clean water butts regularly when empty to avoid contamination by water-borne diseases such as damping-off disease, which can harm seedlings. Wiping with lemon juice and vinegar is a kind way to freshen them up.

  1. Fix gutters on sheds and greenhouses. Fit with a light slope so water flows along them, and attach downpipes to the gutters with connector kits. When your system is set up, make sure you keep gutters free of fallen leaves and other debris, so the flow of water is not restricted. Place the leaves and dirt on your compost heap.
  2. Put the water butt on its stand and measure the length of downpipe needed. You can either place the butt directly below so the pipe goes through the lid, or install a rainwater diverter. You can install more than one water butt to be fed by the same downpipe, connecting the butts with a special kit that fills each one in turn.
  3. Use a kit to fix a tap to the base of the butt. You can open the tap to fill a watering can or even attach a hose, with a special fitting. If you are using a hose with your water butt, make sure it’s one with a trigger-type control. This will allow you to control how much water you’re using, and help to focus your watering more accurately.

This product guide was last updated in March 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

]]> The best water butts in 2025 https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/storage/best-water-butts/ Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:07:08 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/product-guides/storage/best-water-butts/ Wet weather doesn't have to mean gloomy gardening. Conserve water for the hotter months with a water butt from our comprehensive guide. Turning wet weather into a windfall, water butts are a great way to conserve water while keeping your garden well-maintained and healthy. Coming in a wide range of materials and sizes, a water butt will help you harvest rainwater, and give your garden some extra drought-resistance. Some of the benefits of having a water butt include:

In this guide, we’ll give advice on the types of water butts available, standout water butts on the market, and how to choose the best water butt for you.

View Affiliate Playlist on the source website

If you’re interested in more watering accessories, browse our selection of the best watering cans and self-watering planters. Most water butts need to be set up with a drill, so if you're looking for drilling advice consider our guides to the best cordless drills, best drill bits and best electric screwdrivers.

How to install a water butt

  1. Place your water butt next to the downpipe and cut through the downpipe a few centimetres below the top of your water butt.
  2. Attach a water diverter to the base of the cut in the upper downpipe.
  3. Attach the lower half of your downpipe to the diverter.
  4. Many water butts already have one, but if not, drill a hole for the connector hose.
  5. Attach the connector hose to the butt and the downpipe.
  6. Collect rainwater as and when you need it.

Fitting a downpipe to a greenhouse to save water

Jump to:

From galvanised steel to recycled plastic, browse our pick of water butts:

The best water butts

Elho green basics rain catcher

Price: £71.99

Available from Amazon and Elho

Elho green basics rain catcher water butt

Ideal for balconies and small gardens this simple little, 35L rain barrel attaches easily to all standard, round drain pipes. There's a tap at the bottom and if the barrel becomes full any surplus water is let out via an overflow. Made from 100% recycled plastic, with wind energy and fully recyclable, it's available in 'living concrete' and black.

Buy the Elho green basics rain catcher from Amazon

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The Dipping Tank Company

Price: from £850

Available from The Dipping Tank Company

BBC Gardeners' World water butter product guide The Dipping Tank Company

A contemporary take on the traditional water butt these stylish tanks offer a new way to store harvested rainwater. Crafted from powder coated aluminium and timber a tank can be a freestanding feature, connected to a downpipe or placed directly below one, and then planted with aquatics or filled with fish. They’re available in four widths, from 60cm to 2m, and tanks can also be linked together. Accessories such as planting shelves, watering trays and waterfalls allow you to customise your tank.

Buy a Dipping Tank from The Dipping Tank Company

Harcostar water butt 168L

Price: £69.99

Available from Original Organics, Amazon and Water Butts Direct

Harcostar Water Butt – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

For a simple, no-nonsense water butt, try the Harcostar Water Butt. Made in the UK from recycled plastic, it comes in the traditional barrel shape, and can be bought with a diverter, a child-safe lid and a hose connector tap.

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Black slimline space saver water butt 100L

Price: £64.99

Available from Water Butts Direct, Original Organics and You Garden

Black Slimline Space Saver Water Butt 100L - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

If you’re pushed for space but still want to reuse rainwater, try this slimline model. Manufactured in the UK from recycled plastic, it has all the features you need, but with a small patio footprint.

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Elho pure raindrop water butt 75L

Price: £375.99

Available from Waitrose and Partners

Pure Raindrop Water Butt – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

This award-winning water butt has a built-in five litre jug that fills automatically, ready for use. Any additional water will then fill the 75 litre teardrop container below it. It's supplied with a five year guarantee and can be fitted directly onto your drainpipe.

Latest Deals

Rainwater terrace water butt 134L

Price: £177.50

Available from Water Butts Direct

Rainwater Terrace Water Butt – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

This water butt comes supplied with a diverter for the down pipe, a stand and has integrated planters. With a capacity of 134 litres, it's a good, mid-size option and each water storage box has a transparent drain tube to show the water level.

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Elho green basics rainbarrel plus

Price: £99.99

Available from Amazon and Elho

Elho green basics rainbarrel plus water butt

With a holding capacity of 110L, this easy to use water butt is made from 100% recycled plastic, in a wind powered factory and is fully recyclable. It comes with a tap, a sturdy stand for extra stability and so you can easily fit a watering can under the tap and there's even space in the top for planting it up. Available in black only.

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Cloudburst water butt 200L

Price: £79.99

Available from Amazon

Cloudburst Water Butt – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

Made from recycled plastic, the Cloudburst Water Butt has a child-safe lid, a tap and a diverter kit to attach to a down pipe. It has a capacity of 200 litres and comes with a stand.

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Madison rain barrel with fountain 185L

Price: £190

Available from Water Butts Direct

Madison Rain Barrel with Fountain 185L - BBC Gardeners' World

For a show-stopping water butt, check out this rain barrel. Fitted with a fountain, it collects 185l of rainwater as well as providing a stunning water feature. It comes fitted with a hose too, so you can directly water patio plants.

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Noblesse decorative water butt 270L

Price: £274.99

Available from Original Organics

Noblesse Decorative Water Butt 270L - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

This understated water butt would suit contemporary gardens. Despite its simple design it holds a generous 270L and also doubles as a planter to soften the look. It’s also child-safe.

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Garantia stone 2-in-1 water butt 350L

Price: £449.99

Available from Water Butts Direct and Robert Dyas

Garantia Stone 2-in-1 Water Butt – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

This water butt from Garantia doubles up as a planter. With a capacity of 350 litres, it can collect a huge amount of rainwater and has a smooth, natural stone look.

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Rain catcher wall mounted water butt 160L

Price: £200

Available from  Water Butts Direct and Gardening Naturally

Wall Mounted Water Butt – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

A mounted water butt is a good option for small gardens with limited patio space. This recycled plastic water butt has three outlet connections at the bottom that can be used for the tap supplied or for connecting to another water butt.

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Bamboo water butt 110L

Price: £139.99

Available from Two Wests & Elliott and Amazon

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine - Primrose Bamboo Water Butt 110L

This water butt has a bamboo-effect finish and holds up to 110 litres of water. Made from UV stabilised materials, it's supplied with a matching stand, lid, rain diverter and tap.

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Galvanised steel water butt 185L

Price: from £720

Available from Harrod Horticultural

Galvanised Steel Water Butt – BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

Finished in a Georgian style complete with Tudor roses, this handmade water butt is made from galvanised steel. It has a decent capacity of 185 litres and there's a hose-ready, brushed chrome tap set into the side of the water butt at watering can height.

Barrique oak wood effect water butt barrel 250L

Price: £220

Available from Water Butts Direct

Barrique Oak Wood Effect Water Butt Barrel 250L - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

To blend a water butt into more bohemian gardens, try this oak-effect design. In the style of a wooden beer barrel, it has a hefty lid and a ¾ inch brass tap, so you can easily connect a hose to tackle a hosepipe ban.

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Graf garden water storage tank aboveground amphora 250L

Price: £299.99

Available from Amazon

Graf Garden Water Storage Tank Aboveground Amphora 250L - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

This terracotta-effect Grecian urn offers and alternative to utilitarian plastic water butts. With a a big 250L volume., you can also plant up the top, making a useful piece of kit part of your garden design.

View Affiliate Playlist on the source website

Graf water storage wall tank water butt woody wall 350L

Price: £419.99

Available from Water Butts Direct

Graf Water Storage Wall Tank Water Butt Woody Wall 350L -BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

If you worry that a plastic water butt will compromise your garden design, this ingenious wooden water butt will seamlessly blend into almost any style of patio. It holds an enormous 350L and sits flush to a wall, so you can have a high volume of water without compromising on space.

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Ecosure city water butt planter 180L

Price: £235

Available from Ecosure

Ecosure city water butt planter

Stylish and elegant this dual purpose butt has a large collection capacity plus a planting space to help make it a focal point of your garden. Made from frostproof and UV stabilised plastic it comes with a brass tap and is available in a wide range of colours, from muted milstone and black to bright orange and purple.

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Arthur Jack water butt (small)

Price: from £595

Available from Arthur Jack

2048-1365-gw-Water-butts-Arthur-Jack-Small

Durable, rust resistant, and capable of holding 180 litres of rainwater, the Arthur Jack Water Butt delivers on both practicality and on looks. This water butt’s water access tap can be placed in multiple locations, to suit the personal needs of the gardener.

Wall mounted water butt

Price: £162

Available from Etills

The Wall-Mounted Water Butt in black

Holding 105 litres of rainwater, this robust, wall-mounted water butt is an ideal choice for gardeners who want the benefits of a good water butt, without having to give up precious floor space. Frost, weather, and impact-resistant, this water butt has a durability you might not expect for something with such a slim, unobtrusive design. However, this water butt is only suitable for unrendered brick walls, and should be affixed to brickwork, not the mortar.

Technik evergreen 475 litre trunk water butt tank

Price: £349.99

Buy the 475L Evergreen Tree Trunk Water Butt from Water Butts Direct

2048-1365-gw-best-water-butts-Technik-Evergreen-475-litre-Trunk-Water-Butt-Tank

This charming oak log design masks a reliable and surprisingly practical 475 litre water
butt. Made from durable polyethylene, it includes a charming ¾ inch brass tap and has a childproof lid that sits firmly on top of the butt.

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How to choose the best water butt

There are three main considerations when it comes to choosing the best water butt for your garden: size, material and budget.

The size of your garden will influence the size and water capacity you'll need. If space is limited, consider a smaller water butt with a capacity of under 200 litres. Those with small gardens may also benefit from having a water butt that mounts on the wall to reduce how much patio space it takes up. For a large garden, a capacity of 200 litres or more is suitable. In most cases, you'll also need to buy a stand, so you can fit a watering can under the tap to fill it, a hose, and a diverter kit, to connect it to your down pipe.

When it comes to materials, water butts are typically made from plastic or steel. Both are extremely durable but plastic water butts are often cheaper, with recycled plastic water butts being an environmentally-friendly option.

Types of water butts

Most water butts are supplied with a stand and can be placed on the ground in the corner of the garden. However,  some water butts can be mounted on an external wall,  a good option for smaller gardens where ground space is precious. You can also run guttering from a shed roof into a water butt as an efficient way to harvest rainwater – if you don't have one in your garden, you might find our comprehensive guide to the best garden sheds useful.

Mounted Water Butts

Perfect for gardens with minimal free floorspace, mounted water butts, like the Pure Raindrop Water Butt, are lightweight and designed to sit on external walls in the garden. This type provides more flexibility regarding the height of the tap because you have full control over where, and how high, it's fixed to the wall.

Plastic Water Butts

Plastic is the most common water butt material, with a number of recycled plastic options available. Cheaper than their steel counterparts, plastic water butts come in both the mounted style or the traditional barrel with a stand such as the Cloudburst Water Butt.

Steel Water Butts

Steel water butts are durable and long-lasting. Typically heavier and more expensive than plastic, these water butts are designed to stand on the ground. Traditional barrel water butts also vary a lot more in capacity.

You can also run guttering from a shed roof into a water butt as an efficient way to harvest rainwater – if you don't have one in your garden, you might find our comprehensive guide to the best garden sheds useful.

Need further inspiration? Buy water butts from Water Butts Direct, Drainage Superstore, and Crocus.

This Product Guide was last updated in February 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

]]> How to plant a bare-root fruit tree https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-plant-a-bare-root-fruit-tree/ Fri, 10 Jan 2025 12:00:16 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-plant-a-bare-root-fruit-tree/ Lots of fruit trees can be bought bare-root. We show you how to plant them. Fruit trees need to be grown in the right conditions if they're to flower and fruit to their full potential.

Bare-root fruit trees are generally cheaper to buy than potted trees, and the time to buy and plant them is from November to March. When planting them, good soil preparation is vital, especially if you want your tree to give you years of enjoyment.

Choose a site in full sun, making sure there's room for the branches to grow and develop over time. To grow different varieties of fruits in a small space, consider a family fruit tree, which consists of two to three fruit varieties grafted onto one tree.

Get your tree off to the best possible start with the help of our step-by-step planting guide, below.

You Will Need

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Unpacking the fruit trees

If you're buying mail order, open the package straight away. The tree pictured is a bare-root and doesn't come in a pot.

Step 2

Checking over the fruit tree

Plant the tree immediately. If you can't, heel the roots into damp soil, firm well and water to prevent them drying out.

Step 3

Digging the planting hole

Dig a deep, wide planting hole and check that it's large enough to accommodate the entire root system. It's a good idea to have this done before your tree arrives.

Step 4

Adding compost to the base of the hole

Add compost to the base of the hole and fork it in, and also mix compost with the soil you removed to improve it.

Step 5

Hammering a stake firmly into the hole

Hammer a stake firmly into the hole and position the tree. Saw off the top of the stake just below the bottom branches.

Step 6

Filling around the roots with improved soil

Hold the tree so that the roots are well inside the hole and fill in around them with the improved soil.

Step 7

Firming the soil in around the roots

Press soil down firmly around the roots as you fill, to remove air pockets and give good soil contact with the roots.

Step 8

Attaching the tree and stake together with a tree tie

Use a plastic tree tie to secure the trunk to the stake. Ties come with a rubber buffer to stop the stake rubbing the trunk.

Step 9

Watering in the tree before mulching

Water well, then mulch with compost to keep it moist but, to avoid rotting. Don't pile it against the base of the tree.

Quince tree

]]> How to care for bedding plants https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/how-to-care-for-bedding-plants/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:01:08 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/how-to-care-for-bedding-plants/ Make the most of your bedding plants, with the help of advice in our guide. Bedding plants, such as petunias, pelargoniums, pansies and nicotiana, are easy to grow and care for. They look good grown in hanging baskets and pots, and also work in borders, either used to fill gaps or grown together for a colourful display.

Packs of bedding plants can be bought from garden centres as plugs or small plants. Look out for ready-made combinations, or buy trays to plant together. Simple displays often make more of an impact than complicated planting recipes, so group together several plants of one variety, such as a bright busy Lizzy, to create a good block of colour.

Follow Alan Titchmarsh's advice in the video above and our tips below, on making the most of your bedding plants, and keeping them in flower all summer.

Choose the right spot

Choose bedding plants with a specific site in mind, because this will play a big part in their survival. Plants that relish a hot, sunny site will not enjoy shade, and vice versa. Sun-loving blooms include osteospermums, marigolds, petunias and pelargoniums, while busy Lizzies, fuchsias and many foliage plants will perform well in shade.

Pink pelargonium flowers

Water thoroughly

You can fill any size or shape of pot, basket or container with bedding plants. But whether you’ve grown them yourself or bought them from a nursery or supermarket, make sure you water them thoroughly before planting. Submerge the whole pot, rootball and all, in a bucket of water and leave it for a couple of minutes to soak through. Once all the air bubbles have escaped, remove the pot from the bucket and let it drain before planting. Bedding in pots and baskets requires watering every day, especially during the summer months. Even after bouts of heavy rain, it’s surprising how little water will actually reach the compost, which can remain bone dry due to the protective umbrella effect of the plants’ foliage.

Immersing the whole pot, soil and root ball of a white hydrangea into a trug of water

Feed the plants

Most composts for containers and baskets contain limited amounts of food. Within four to six weeks of planting, fast-growing, hungry bedding plants will have depleted most of the goodness in the compost. So, you’ll need to add more nutrients to improve your plants’ flowering performance and encourage stronger growth. Make sure your feed contains plenty of potassium, which boosts flower growth and is a key ingredient in tomato fertiliser. Follow the instructions and mix feed into one watering per week in summer.

Another and easier way to be sure your plants never go short of food is to add slow-release fertiliser to your compost. Mix granules of feed, often combined with water-retaining gel, into the compost at planting time. Alternatively, use pellets of slow-release fertiliser granules, pushing these down into the compost. As you water your pots from above, the resin coating of the granules slowly dissolves to release feed into the surrounding compost. This is a gradual process because the granules are designed to release fertiliser slowly over many months.

Measuring a capful of liquid plant feed to dilute in a watering can of water

Deadhead spent flowers

Pick off old flower heads as soon as they fade to stop your bedding plants wasting energy producing seeds. Some varieties of fuchsia, scaevola and other bedding look after themselves, dropping their old petals to keep displays looking clean. Just shake the basket or pot, or brush lightly over the plants to keep them tidy. Plants such as pelargoniums and petunias will require more hands-on attention, so deadhead by pinching off spent flowers or snip them away with sharp scissors.

Snipping off dead flowers with secateurs]]> Five tips for feeding plants in pots https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/five-tips-for-feeding-plants-in-pots/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:00:19 GMT https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/five-tips-for-feeding-plants-in-pots/ Keep your container-grown plants in top condition with these tips on feeding them. Pot-grown plants are like caged animals; being confined, they can't 'forage' so they rely totally on us for food. Most compost only supplies 'starter' nutrients that are soon used up, so begin feeding plants growing in pots six weeks after potting or repotting.

The amount of feed plants need varies according to growing conditions, size and speed of growth. Some people underfeed, while others overdo it. If you apply a strong dose of feed all in one go, the resulting strong solution of salts can actually draw moisture out of the plant by a process known as reverse osmosis, so over-feeding does more harm than good.

Always follow the feed supplier's advice, but as a general rule start feeding in spring, perhaps once every two weeks. Feed weekly when plants are growing vigorously and the weather is warmer, rising to twice weekly for heavy feeders or fast-growing plants in large containers.

In this No Fuss video guide, David Hurrion explains how to recognise plant nutrient deficiencies, so you know when to feed your plants:

View Green Video on the source website

Here, David takes you through the different types of organic plant food:

View Green Video on the source website

More on feeding plants:

Check out these tips on feeding your potted plants, below.

 

Using liquid feeds

adding-feed-to-a-watering-can-2

Use liquid feeds for plants in pots and containers; it can be too easy to overdose with solid feeds, which can scorch plant roots when applied to the surface. However, you can incorporate slow-release fertiliser into your planting medium when potting up plants.

 

Choose the right feed

watering-courgette-plants-2

Apply high-nitrogen liquid feeds to leafy plants and liquid tomato feed (diluted to half or quarter strength) to flowering plants, to promote buds.

 

Feed little and often

filling-cap-with-liquid-feed-3

Feed little and often instead of big, infrequent doses during the growing season and increase feeding with speed of growth. Stop feeding at the end of summer.

 

Dilute your feed

Dilute liquid feeds, following the maker's directions, and apply as much of the liquid as you'd use to water the plant. Don't be tempted to add more.

 

Don't feed plants that are under stress

water-pouring-from-spout-of-watering-can-2

Don't feed plants that are under stress from root damage or drought (which will be wilting) until they've recovered.

Feeding those that need it

Remember, not everything growing in containers needs regular feeding. Generally speaking, cacti, succulents and hardy annuals perform best on poor soils. If you're unsure, just do a little research around the plant to find out more about its growing requirements.

Red watering can

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