The Household Garden Blog

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.

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.

How to choose between plants before you buy

Torn between two plants at the nursery? Compare the things that actually decide success, sun, water and mature size first, so you buy the one that lasts.

How to plan a garden that will actually thrive

Plan your garden in the right order, starting with the sun, and match plants to the place rather than forcing it. A simple approach for South African gardens and pots.

How to create a calm, cosy garden retreat, even in a small space

You do not need a big garden to make a spot that feels like an escape. Simple ways to turn any corner into a calm, cosy retreat.

Less is more, why one great statement planter beats a dozen small pots

A cluttered garden rarely feels calm. Why one well chosen statement planter does more than a dozen small pots, and how to place it.

How to choose the right pot for your plant and your space

The pot is the plant's whole world. A practical guide to getting size, drainage, material and shape right for the plant and the spot.

How to style a garden with pots, mixing shapes, colours and textures

Most gardens look flat because the pots all do the same thing. Here is how to mix shapes, colours, heights and textures so your pots actually work together.