What exactly is a pocket garden? It’s an indoor or outdoor garden that fits into a small area. It’s perfect for condo or apartment dwellers who do not have much space or time for a proper garden, but still crave for a bit of greenery to liven up their home.
The good thing about putting up a pocket garden is that you don’t need to be a professional to do it. Here are a few tips to help you start yours.
1. LOCATION The amount of sunlight will dictate what plants you should use. For example, herbs and flowering plants need frill sunlight, while ferns, bromeliads, and shrubs can live in shady areas.
Good news: Not all plants for pocket gardens need to be planted in soil. A pocket garden can also be loosely defined as potted plants artistically arranged in a small space—so you can create one indoors. If this is the case, choose hardy plants that do well under the shade, i.e. bromeliads, ferns, raphis shrubs, spatyphyllum, etc. A tip: Have two of each kind of plant, so that they can alternately be brought in and out every two weeks. A bit of sun and air (especially night vapor) will keep them healthy.
2. THEME Decide on one and stick to it. Some to consider: water theme, bonsai garden, tropical garden, and herbs and flowers garden. Pore over magazines and books, and look at as many pictures of the design you have in mind.
3. FOCAL POINT It may be a pocket garden, but it need not feel small. Provide drama with a big jar (antique or otherwise), a big shallow container to hold water, or one magnificent plant. Don’t feel limited to small plants—an entire garden full will only make your creation seem tiny. Better to have one big plant, some medium-sized plants, and a few small ones as fillers. Group similar plants together. Remember to group taller plants in the background and shorter ones in the foreground.
4. NOURISHMENT Morning is the best time to water plants. Hydrate them well enough so that they stay moist for a couple of days.
Immerse potted plants in a bucket of water up to the pot’s rim. Let sit until all the bubbles disappear, then drain and return to the garden. This not only gives plants a good soak (which could last up to a week), but frees you from the task of daily watering.
5. FERTILIZE If you must fertilize, do so sparingly; do not put fertilizer near the roots. Do you recycle? Good for you, because compost is best for plants. The next best thing: a slow-release fertilizer that is dispensed over a period of three months. This keeps you from over fertilizing. Remember that with plants, it is better to err on the side of too little than on too much!