The Household Garden Blog

Concrete pots planted up on a tiled balcony

Best pots for a balcony or patio in South Africa

A practical guide to choosing pots for a South African balcony or patio, covering weight limits, wind, heat, drip trays, the shapes that work and what to grow in them.

Three tall cream concrete pots planted with grasses on a sunlit stone patio

Buying guide

Concrete pots, explained: the honest guide to read before you buy

Everything a careful buyer wants to know about hand-cast concrete pots before spending on one: cracking, weight, drainage, size, finishes, care and what to plant.

Concrete pots planted with a dracaena and bromeliads on sunny stone steps

Container gardening

Best plants for full sun in pots in South Africa

Thirteen sun-loving plants that thrive in pots on a hot South African stoep, with honest care notes for each and advice on choosing a pot that keeps roots cool.

A large black concrete bowl pot planted with a tree, standing in a lawned garden

Buying guide

Large garden pots: how to choose, fill, move and plant a big pot

A practical guide to choosing, placing, filling, planting, watering and moving a large garden pot, with frost and cracking advice for South African conditions.

Grey concrete pots planted with snake plants at the nursery

Buying guide

Concrete vs plastic vs fibreglass vs terracotta pots: which lasts in South Africa?

A frank comparison of terracotta, plastic, fibreglass and concrete pots in South African sun, wind and frost, with a clear recommendation for each situation.

Black hand-cast concrete ball chairs and table on a covered patio

Buying guide

Concrete garden furniture in South Africa: an honest buying guide

An honest guide to choosing concrete garden furniture for South African conditions, from pieces and comfort to placement, care and the weight trade-off.

Plant care guides for South African gardens

Practical, South African plant care guides for houseplants, succulents, indigenous plants and edibles, and the pots that suit them.

Growing food in pots: herbs, veg and fruit for small spaces

A friendly guide to growing tomatoes, basil, a lemon tree and strawberries in containers, tuned to South African seasons and sun.

Indigenous South African plants and how to grow them

A warm, water-wise care guide to ten favourite indigenous South African plants and how to grow them happily in pots.

Succulents and water-wise plants: tough, beautiful and almost impossible to kill

A friendly Pot Shack guide to growing seven of the toughest, most forgiving succulents and water-wise plants, from indigenous spekboom and vygies to the ever-popular jade and echeveria.

How to care for houseplants: a friendly guide to thriving indoor greenery

A warm, practical care guide to nine of the most loved indoor houseplants, from monstera to philodendron, with the light, water and potting advice each one really wants.

Hands holding a flowering plant while choosing it

How to find the right plant for your spot in South Africa

Right plant, right place. How to read your spot and match it to indigenous, water wise plants that thrive in South African conditions with almost no fuss.