Use ladies pantie liners to line the bottom of hanging baskets - the gel absorbs water and works like the expensive gel crystals at a fraction of the cost. Babies disposable nappies also work (clean ones mind you!!!)
When repotting plants put a teabag over the drainage hole and this allows water out but also keep the insects out.
Ask your greengrocer for the compressed paper separators used in apple boxes to stop them bruising. Soak for an hour in warm water, they can then be moulded to fit hanging baskets as a liner. These last a season and are easy to plant through. Free and environmentally friendly.
