How to make a mini garden for your pocket home

Whether you have a green thumb and just have moved into a small space in the city, or you are a condo dweller looking for a simple nature-friendly hobby to keep you busy at home, a pocket garden may just be what you are looking for. Not only will it keep you preoccupied, it is also a chance to give your pad a much-needed facelift or some character. And if you choose to care for a small fruit tree or tend to pots of herbs, it will give you something you can munch on or cook with in the future.

Let’s face it: living in a condo unit isn’t the same as having your own backyard. But with careful planning, patience and discipline, you can achieve results. You just need to consider the following things: location, amount of sunlight, and the plant suitable for your space.

Before making that plunge into gardening, assess your living space. If you are lucky to have a patio or balcony, then you have it all worked out for you. Whatever size of open space you have, it will make a good place to start your mini garden. And if you’re unlucky not to have one, then putting some plants by a window might be an option, as well as choosing some shade-tolerant varieties indoors.

After you’ve hosen where you can place your garden, find out how much sunlight the spot receives. This will make it easy to select the right houseplant for you.

It’s then off to the nursery for you. Do no hesitate to ask questions from the nursery staff when choosing what plants will suit your needs. Ask them for advice, and be honest in telling them how much time you have in a day to care for a plant and whether you think you’re good or not at gardening. This way you can make the right choice.

You can always start small and simple with a cactus, aloe or other succulents. These plants do not require direct sunlight to grow, need only pots, and come in a variety of sizes and color.

Other easy-to-maintain plants are the peace lily (spathyhyllum) and dracaena (fortune plant). They thrive under any light condition, and need just watering for care.

Another foolproof plant is the philodendron, which is often grown for indoor use. This plant has very few problems with pests and does not require that much watering. In fact, many gardeners suggest the philodendron to first-time plant enthusiasts because they are very resilient and have a long lifespan.

If you love to cook and your kitchen windowsill receives sunlight, then you might consider herbs. Herbs can be planted in little pots, a window box, or pretty much any container you can think of — a coffee mug, small plastic tub or tin — so long as you create drainage holes in the bottom. Choices are endless. Try basil, parsley, oregano, and chives.

And if you are adventurous enough, why not try growing a citrus plant, like calamansi? There are a number of dwarf citrus fruit tree varieties that you could grow on your balcony. Citrus plants bring color and fragrance into homes, which beat just about any air freshener.

When planning your mini-garden, consider the pots you will use. Almost anything can be turned into a pot, so long as you plug a hole or two at the bottom for drainage. Clay pots might be a traditional choice, but you can experiment with old watering cans, used boots or even a helmet! But do try to match the containers to your interiors.

And always remember to groom your plants. As plants grow, they needed to have their roots trimmed. Plants that have grown a bit too large for their pots should be repotted.

And if you are looking for a home that is conveniently located to some of the top educational institutions in the country and premiere leisure destinations, then the Manors at Celebrity Place has the home for you.

To know more about The Manors and other DMCI Homes projects, call 888-3333, or visit www.dmcihomes.com.