I picked up this little chap (I think it’s a kalanchoe) at a Christmas market in December, and he’s sat outside all these months without doing a thing. Two weeks ago I moved him to a shadier spot about three metres away, and he suddenly blossomed!
Fancy me leaving him in that grotty little plastic pot all this time. He deserved a bit of encouragement, so I made him a patchwork sleeve. I stitched a few scraps (leftovers from making yoga mat bags) into a piece the circumference of the pot (35cm), sewed the sides together, and hemmed the top and bottom. I had thought there might need to be elastic at the top, but it fits just fine.
Perhaps, like me, he was just going through a dormant period. Patience may teach me a few things yet…
Nice piece of work 
He does look so much happier in his fancy coat!
Yes, Im expecting great things from him now :)
I think when Mr Kalanchoe flowers his blooms will be in the red/orange/yellow colour palette, so that pot sleeve is perfect! I have a big tub of kalanchoe outside, a variety called (appropriately enough) Flaming Katie, in bright scarlet.
It sounds beautiful, I checked with my local nurseries and none of them have any Flaming Katie. I’ll have to keep my eyes open when visiting friends! In a pot at the front, shortly after the geranium I’d carefully planted in it died a horrible death, I put an Australian Cherry. It looks sturdy and glossy.
It’s Kalanchoe blossfeldiana. I hope your cherry does Oz proud and flourishes for you!
Oh Jill. I love how the little jacket makes the plant look so much happier. Hope you are having a great Tuesday! Love and Hugs, Tamara
It definitely adds a nice bit of colour. I may have to make more, including one for myself….
Oooh, lovely… I hadn’t thought of surrounding pots with fabric, what a great idea.
There are lots of lovely “soft pots” available now, mine is the poor man’s version… :)
Yours is lovely.
It has its own cute little coat. I love it.
and no more ugly plastic pot :)
Very snazzy jacket.
Yes. I need one myself :)