Flower power

Looking for a cheap way to add some colour and life into your home? Add some fresh flowers. There are lots of ways to find fresh flowers in your local area that won’t break the bank. Try growing some at home, asking friends, family, neighbours or work colleagues if you could have a few of their latest blooms or searching your local farmers markets, Country Women’s Association stores or supermarkets for marked down bouquets. I have found that the ‘potted colour’ range at Bunnings for $2 Aus a plant is a great buy, with the flowers lasting up to 3 months. They also do cheap terracotta pots that start from $1 each Aus. Old tea cups, washed glass jars, mason jars or milk bottle style jars from stores like Shiploads are also great and make very cheap vases.

I also love the Orchid plants that Woolworths and Bunnings sell from around $35 for a large plant each and $14 for a small plant (perfect for an office desk or bed side table). These come in beautiful and unique colour variations and the flowers (as long as the pot is watered) last for months. Once the flowers die back with consistent watering each week and a bit of sunlight they will also re-flower. I love these as a gift as they cost about the same amount as a small florists bouquet, but they last much longer. Many florists also sell a range of Orchids in fancy designer indoor pots.

Be creative with your flower sourcing and how you present them, and you will enjoy a beautiful display of colour in your home for weeks.