FUN PROJECTS for the New Year!

If you want a wow factor for your next party, try revamping a piece of driftwood into something amazing with these few steps.

Imagine a piece of wood you would find in a tropical forest with all the plants still attached, and you can replicate that for your table.

Steps

1. Dust the driftwood well or clean it with a hosepipe and let it dry.

2. Add Woodoc gel stain (we used the Forever green colour) to a container.

3. Using a pair of rubber gloves, dip a rag into the stain and apply it to the driftwood. Use a paintbrush for those hard-to-reach places and grooves. The idea is to give it pops of colour.

Let it dry. The stain will make it look like it just came from a forest.

4. Plant the log by filling the holes with sphagnum moss or, for bigger holes, line with landscape fabric and fill with potting soil. Plant a selection of plants, thinking about varying textures and colours as you go.

Guzmanias

Guzmanias are striking tropical plants belonging to the bromeliad family. They are known for their vibrant, long-lasting bracts that come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink, and are often grown as decorative houseplants. These epiphytic plants absorb moisture and nutrients through their leaves rather than roots, thriving in humid conditions with indirect light. Guzmanias bloom only once in their lifetime, typically lasting several months, and after flowering, the main plant slowly dies while producing offsets (pups) that can be propagated. They should be watered directly into the central cup formed by their rosette of leaves, mimicking their natural environment in rainforests.

Irish moss