The Household Garden Blog

Soil health for pot gardeners: what living soil is and how to keep it alive in a container

A practical guide to soil health for container gardeners: what living soil is, why it dies in a pot, and the compost, mulch and drainage habits that keep it working.

How to Care for Succulents

If you’re looking to add some greenery to your home or office, succulents are an excellent choice. However, like all plants, they require proper care to thrive. In this article, we’ll go over the b...

Why growing your own vegetables is worth it in South Africa

An honest look at what home-grown vegetables actually save, what they taste like, and why pots and troughs make it realistic in a South African yard, patio or balcony.

How to choose the right size pot: a practical guide with real measurements

A measurements-first guide to choosing pot size for trees, shrubs, vegetables, spreading plants and entrances, using real Pot Shack pot dimensions.

Vegetables that grow in shade: what to plant where the sun does not reach

Which vegetables actually crop in a shaded South African garden, how much sun they really need, and why growing them in pots changes the odds.

Growing herbs for tea in pots: mint, lemon verbena, chamomile and other favourites

A practical South African guide to growing, harvesting and drying tea herbs in pots, from mint and lemon verbena to chamomile and indigenous fever tea.

How to attract butterflies to a South African garden, even a small one

How to bring South African butterflies into a garden of any size by planting the host plants their caterpillars eat as well as nectar plants, with sun, shelter and water, and how a balcony full of ...

How to create a water-wise garden in South Africa

A practical guide to water-wise gardening in South Africa, from soil and sun checks to indigenous plant choices, mulch, grey water and why concrete pots make the whole thing easier.

How to take care of orchids, a beginner's guide

Orchids look fussy but they are more forgiving than you think. A beginner friendly guide to light, watering, feeding and getting a moth orchid to flower again.

Growing vegetables in containers: a South African quick-start guide

A season-by-season guide to growing vegetables in pots in South Africa, with sun hours, pot depths per crop, and watering and feeding that suits our climate.

Growing berries in pots in South Africa: strawberries, blueberries and more

A practical guide to growing strawberries, blueberries, brambles and cape gooseberries in containers in South African conditions.

Starting a garden from scratch in South Africa: where to begin

How to start a garden from scratch in South Africa, from reading the sun and soil to choosing a first bed, first plants and pots for the spots where nothing will grow in the ground.