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Colourful digits useful in the nursery (5,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

green fingers

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'useful in the nursery' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'colourful digits' is the wordplay.
'colourful' becomes 'green' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'digits' becomes 'fingers' (finger is a kind of digit).
'green'+'fingers'='GREEN FINGERS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for green fingers that I've seen before include "Successful gardener's supposed attribute" , "Ability for horticulture" , "Gardening skill" , "Person adept at growing plants" , "Horticultural skill (or luck?)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail and The Telegraph.
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