A globe that grows

Here’s a weekend project you can do with Mum or Dad. It’s a colourful ball of plants to hang in your garden - like a planet floating in space!

YOU WILL NEED:

- Two matching hanging baskets with coconut fiFIbre linings - Plastic cable ties - Potting mix with slow release fertiliser. - Small plants - A wooden board or heavy cardboard - Screwdriver or knife - An adult to help 1 Remove the chains from your baskets, place the liners inside, and fill both baskets with potting mix all the way to the top. 2 Place the board on top of one basket and have an adult help you place it upside down on top of the other basket. Check that the baskets are lined up with each other before carefully sliding the board out while one person holds the baskets. 3 Tie the baskets firmly together with the cable ties, then trim the ties.

4 Taking care with the screwdriver, make holes in the liner just big enough so you can plant your succulents snuggly into the potting mix. Keep the hole as small as you can so that the potting mix and plant won’t fall out but make sure the roots are well covered by potting mix. Keep filling your ball, evenly spacing your plants all over. 5 Keep planting until the globe is full. This takes time and patience, so it’s a good job for a team! 6 Attach a hanger to the top of your ball. Alternatively, instead of hanging your ball you could sit it on a stand, such as an upturned pot. 7 Now all you have to do is watch it grow. Water every week or two in warm weather. In winter succulents don’t need watering at all.

Kacy chose colourful succulents for her globe. Succulents are ideal because they survive with barely any water. You might have some already growing in your garden. Low growing plants with tightly packed leaves are best.