It’s a known fact that plants help bring life to any living space. Whether you live in a large house with a huge yard or a condominium with very limited space, adding a garden can greatly improve the appeal of your home.

By Yagi Olaguera

Here are some things to consider when starting your own garden:

1. Placement. To get started on your own garden, you need to consider the available space that you have. This will dictate what kind of plants you can take care of.

2. Sunlight. Another thing you should think about is the amount of sunlight that your plants are going to get. If the area you’ve allotted receives a lot of sunlight during the day, you should consider getting flowering plants because these plants need more sunlight to thrive. If it’s in a shaded region of your house, consider getting ferns since these plants don’t need as much sun.

3. Type of Soil. Most of the soil in the Philippines is pretty fertile, but some areas have too much clay and you can easily tell this by the amount of indigenous plants in the area. If there are no plants growing when you move in, chances are the land is infertile. In this case, consider having a container garden instead.

4. Pots. Selecting pots for your container garden is vital. If you know that your plant will grow tall, select a pot with a much wider base for balance. Aesthetically, it’s better if your pots aren’t less than half the size of your plant at its full length.

5. Water. Indoor plants need to be watered less since they don’t lose as much moisture. Once every two days works. If you plan to transfer your plant outdoors, do it in the evening for the plant to get acclimated to its surroundings before the sun comes up. Also, make sure that your plants aren’t under direct sunlight at noon.

6. Type of Plant. It’s always a good idea to use plants that are available at flower stores. These plants are usually bred already for commercial purposes and they have a better chance of surviving. Evergreen plans are a good choice if you’re planning to have your garden indoors. Also, make sure that you purchase your plants from a place with a similar climate to your home. Those plants you purchased in Tagaytay or Baguio might not survive or adjust to the climate in Metro Manila.