One way to cut down on the cost of plants is to propagate your own cuttings. This works best with vines like ivy or clematis, but with a little time you can do it with a lot of different plants.

Simply take a sharp pair of scissors or a knife, and cut a piece of vine or stem off of the main plant, about five or six inches from the tip. Place the cutting in a jar or glass of water. In a few weeks (or days, depending on the plant), the cutting will start to grow roots. Once the root system is established, you can gently plant it in a pot or outside in your garden. (I'm not an expert gardener, so check out YouGrowGirl for better instructions!)

When propagating plants, why not establish your cuttings in champagne flutes? If you are like me, you have a box of champagne flutes sitting in your kitchen cupboard that only come out once or twice a year. Grab a few, rinse them out, and place your cuttings in them. Then arrange the flutes in groups of two or three along your windowsill. They look great, and offer great support to the plants!