Britain is a nation of gin lovers. So much so, we’re now drinking 75 million bottles of gin every year according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association – ten million extra bottles than we drank pre-pandemic. With summer G&T season in full swing, you’ve likely got some empty bottles in your recycling bin. And if you’re one of a growing number of people signed up to a monthly gin subscription, you’ll be throwing away many more. But did you know you could be missing out on some extra cash by not selling your finished gins on eBay, where thrifty buyers are waiting to snap them up for all sorts of upcycling, wedding and home décor projects? To find out which gin bottles could make you the most cashback, the data analysts at Lifestyle Packaging have found the average eBay resale price for 120 popular and craft gin bottles and compared this against their RRP. Top of the tipples is Mermaid Pink Gin, distilled in the Isle of Wight, with its stunning textured blush bottle. Retailing at a rather pricey £38, the average selling price on eBay for an empty bottle of this strawberry flavoured gin is £11.98, giving you 31% cashback per bottle – or even more: In second place is the world’s bestselling gin and home bar staple, Gordon’s London Dry Gin. Despite being one of the cheapest gins studied – retailing at £15.50 for 70cl – its price, nor its popularity, are putting people off from buying second-hand bottles. eBay sellers can make on average 30% of the RRP back per bottle (£4.65). The Eden Mill Golf Gin, with its striking green jacket reminiscent of the Masters Champions, comes in third place. A favourite of golf and gin fans alike, this decorative and unique bottle sells on average for £8.82 on eBay – that’s 29% of the £30 retail price. Mermaid Blue Gin can also be sold on eBay for 29% of its £38 retail price (£11.15 cashback on average). Like its pink cousin, this bottle is highly decorative with ombre blue glass scales. In fifth place is Whitley Neill Blood Orange Gin (RRP £26) with its eye-catching orange bottle mimicking the Mediterranean sun. On eBay, empty bottles of this refreshing citrus gin sell for on average £7.11 – or 27% cashback. Social media is driving the trend for upcycling and craft projects, with people looking for cheap and sustainable ways to improve their homes, decorate their wedding venues or create unique gifts. Crafty gin lovers are turning to TikTok and Pinterest for inspiration on how to upcycle empty bottles into decorative pieces, including lamps, diffusers, candles, terrariums, glassware, vases and much more. Australian-born influencer and home stylist Geneva Vanderzeil recently shared a hack for how to turn too-good-to-throw-away gin bottles into unique glassware and it’s already been liked 1.3 million times. And with more of us trying to find new ways to save money and limit our impact on the environment, it’s clear this craze won’t be over soon. Gin fans beware when your item sells on eBay, you pay 10% of the final transaction value, including taxes and postage, so consider grouping decorative bottles together in a single listing to save on fees. Remember to always wash out your gin bottles with warm soapy water before preparing them for delivery in protective packaging.

Bars, clubs and restaurants have re-opened with gusto, bosses are calling swathes of remote workers back into the office, and many of us are finally taking a summer holiday – whether jetting off to Greece or plotting up in an Air BnB on the British coast. But what does all this mean for the Insta-worthy collection of houseplants you lovingly welcomed into your home during lockdown? Fortunately, the experts at LECHUZA can keep your neglected plants thriving whilst you’re out reconnecting with the world. Remember, houseplants are for life, not just for lockdown!

1) Keep them company
Don’t worry, we’re not insisting you stay home. Of course, you want to make the most of post-lockdown freedom and not be tied to the house, coddling a lonely houseplant, so use science to your advantage. Research shows that plants can recognise when they are surrounded by other plantlife and they actively participate in social interactions with close neighbours by touching leaves. So, if you can’t be around, why not group plants together that thrive in the same conditions and let them keep each other company? It will make caring for them easier, as they are in one place and helps them to form their own mini biome. With so many stunning planters available right now (and any excuse for some retail therapy) use it as an opportunity to create a gorgeous display that will raise your houseplant game, with minimal effort. Put some of that time you spend glued to your screen to good use and check out sites, like Pinterest or LECHUZA , to find inspiration for the aesthetic you want. Whether you love the clean minimalist look of planters like the CANTO Stone (from RRP £14.99) and the MINI-CUBI (RRP £9.99) in stylish shades of grey, or something fun and flexible, like the Green Wall Kit (RRP £79.99), there are plenty of options to suit your taste and make your plant community stand out from the crowd.

How Lechuza self-watering system works

2) Keep them connected
Studies have found that plants also communicate and listen in on their neighbours via their root system – in fact they are so clever, they can even recognise when they are growing next to their own kin or strangers and can warn each other of a potential attack by pests . So, if you think your houseplants are a bit disconnected or lonely in their separate pots, then bring them closer by potting them together in a larger planter, like the CUBE Glossy Trio (RRP £29.99), with its modern gloss finish. Scientists even found that the chemical signals plants send to each other in the soil can encourage stronger growth in neighbouring plants, so you might find a bit of friendly competition results in a growth spurt.

LECHUZA ORCHIDPON lifestyle
3) Keep conditions perfect
Again, this sounds like hard work but, trust us, it doesn’t have to be. We all need water to stay on top form – and plants are no different – but how much and when is key; particularly when overwatering is one of the biggest killers of houseplants. As much as we hate labels, plants need them to make sure their individual and very specific needs are taken care of, such as how much water, light and what nutrients they need. The likelihood is you have already set your plants up in a spot that boasts the perfect light levels for each species, so you don’t need to do anything there. Well, guess what; hydration is not something you need to worry about either, thanks to LECHUZA’s range of self-watering planters. The smart irrigation system in every LECHUZA pot ensures each plant receives the optimum amount of moisture. Going to be away for a few days or weeks? No problem, because LECHUZA’s planters provide auto watering for up to three months, so you don’t even have to trust your nosey neighbour with a key.

All sounding pretty low maintenance so far, right? Even better is that many of LECHUZA’s planters come with removable plant liners and its own high-quality pure mineral plant substrate, LECHUZA- PON , included. The beauty of that is you don’t have to re-pot your plants and you don’t have to go out and buy specialist soil to keep your plants happy and healthy.

LECHUZA PON provides a balanced nutrient distribution for the roots of your plant, creates the optimal air/water ratio , reduces plant’s vulnerability to diseases, and stabilises the pH balance for healthy growth. LECHUZA-PON can also be used for years, without having to be replaced! With all this in place, we’re basically telling you to leave your plants well alone.