* a clay or stoneware pot with a drainage hole
* wire frame in a suitable shape
* creeping vine-type plants with tendrils, such as ivy
* potting soil
* sterile sand (to provide stability)
* twist-ties or cotton twine

Method

1. Fill the bottom half of the pot with a mixture of half potting soil, half sand.
2. Stand the wire form upright inside the pot, then add potting soil around it to hold it firmly in place.
3. Gently remove strands of ivy from the plant, being careful to include the roots. Place these in the pot near the base of the frame, and then cover the roots with about 5 cm (2 in) of soil.
4. Wind each strand of ivy separately around the wire frame, using soft cotton twine or twist-ties to loosely secure it.
5. Water thoroughly.
6. As the ivy grows, continue to train it to cover the form, clipping and trimming as needed.
7. Once the ends meet, pinch back the tips to encourage side shoots that can be trained to fill in empty spots and give your topiary a full, lush appearance.
8. Fertilize every two to three weeks with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer, and every so often, mist with water.

* three-dimensional wire form in a suitable shape
   (or some chicken wire)
* sphagnum moss
* creeping vine-type plants with tendrils, such as ivy
* twist-ties or cotton twine
* nylon fishing line
* florist or hair pins

Method

1. To start creating your topiary, you will need to prepare the frame. If you are creating your own shape with chicken wire (simple shapes such as pyramids are often easiest), sandwich a 1 cm (1/2 in) layer of dampened moss between 2 pieces of wire, secure it using the fishing line and form it into the desired shape. Alternatively, stuff a ready made 3-D wire form with handfuls of moss, packing it tightly until the frame is filled. Again, use the fishing line to wrap and secure the moss inside the frame.
2. Gently remove the plants from their pots, and rinse the soil off the roots.
3. Create small planting holes with your fingers in the moss at the bottom of the frame.
4. Push in the roots and then cover with more dampened moss. Use florist or hair pins to hold the moss and the plants in place.
5. As the plants grow, train it to cover the form, clipping and pinning as necessary. Many trailing types of plants will self-root as they grow.
6. This type of topiary will require frequent watering and regular pruning to encourage plants to develop shoots. Place in a sink full of water until saturated to ensure that the moss remains damp.
7. Fertilize every two to three weeks with an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer, and mist with water regularly.