Nature has provided plants with a number of adaptations to save water. Choose succulents and plants with the following traits and you’ve found your water warrior winners. Succulents In plant terms, a succulent is a plant with fleshy leaves or stems that it uses to store water in. Each leaf is a little JoJo tank that adds up to enough water to get the plant through from one rainfall to the next. Since we live in an arid country, there are hundreds of succulent species that spring to mind, but here are three succulents to look out for: Crassula ovataAloe ‘Porcupine’Portulacaria afra Aloe:  ..read more

Whenever you use water, try to make sure you don’t just use it once. Here are some ways you can reuse it to stretch every drop of precious H2O. There’s a finite amount of water on earth, meaning that every drop we use has been used countless times before and will be used countless times again. That’s why it’s important to keep it unpolluted, and to use it as wisely as possible. Here are our top 3 water recycling tips: Veggie Water Kitchen water is not recommended for use in gardens – except for the water you use to steam or boil veg with. That is brilliant for the garden, because it will actu ..read more

It’s time to embrace your inner floral artist and bring beautiful blooms from your own garden indoors. The best flowers to use as cut flowers are flowering perennials, shrubs and even trees that have flowers and foliage as they last long in water and provide all year-round greenery. This is what you need to get started: A vase that has been cleaned with hot water and a little bleach Lukewarm water – this helps the flowers to drink more quickly Cut flower food A clean, sharp pair of secateurs A bucket of clean water Your flowers and greenery Floral tape, optional Let’s get creative Fill your ..read more

You don’t have to use litres of water to make your garden beautiful. Here are some smart techniques for responsible water usage. In The Hydrozone Hydrozones are a game-changer when it comes to efficient gardening. By grouping plants based on their water requirements, we can tailor our watering practices to meet their specific needs. Whether in garden beds or containers, arranging plants with similar water needs together allows us to provide adequate hydration without wasting resources. For instance, high-water-usage plants can be placed in one hydrozone, while those with low water requirements ..read more

Salvias may be tough and low-maintenance, but we’ve got some tips that will help you to unleash their superpowers in the garden. Imagine a group of plants that are so attractive and useful that their awesomeness couldn’t be contained in a whole library. These plants embrace almost any climate with a sassy attitude and have secret water-saving superpowers. Yes, we’re talking about the ultimate superheroes of the plant world – salvias. These are our 7 tips for the best results. 1. Choose the right salvia for your climate Salvias come in various shapes and sizes, and their adaptability to differe ..read more

These three plants never disappoint in the perennial quest for effortless garden beauty. We’ve all had those moments when we yearn for a low-maintenance garden that can still captivate with its vibrant colours and textures. But choosing the right plants can be a challenge. Fear not! We’ve got a fabulous foursome that will bring life and allure to gardens across different climates, from Muizenberg to Musina. From the dramatic Carex ‘Everillo’ to the enchanting Hebe ‘Sunset Boulevard’, and the compact yet mighty ‘HibisQs’ series, let’s explore these three plants that will work their magic while ..read more

Watering is one of the most frequent care tasks in indoor gardening. Unfortunately, it is also the area where most new houseplant owners go wrong. From overwatering to lack of drainage, there are many common mistakes that can lead to the demise of your plants. Avoid these 5 mistakes to keep your houseplants happy and healthy year-round. #1: Watering Too Often Overwatering is one of the greatest houseplant killers. Most plants (and especially houseplants) don’t like to sit in overly moist, soggy soil. This leads to a condition known as root rot, causing the roots to become soft and mushy. Once ..read more

Stefan Smuts, winner of Die Groenste Vingers Season 2, has loved working with flowers since he was a kid, helping his grandmother with floral decorations for functions.  At the age of sixteen, he created all the flower arrangements for a wedding, by himself.  This led to Stefan starting his own floral and decor business named ‘Black Tulip Floral & Décor Styling’. Stefan’s inspiration was definitely influenced by our own South African/African nature and he describes his style as ‘fine art’ combined with elegance and drama. Stefan loves using our country’s natural element ..read more

In South Africa, if your lavender has been in your garden for more than two years, well, you’re a botanical boss! If not, we have some suggestions. Lavenders love warm and dry conditions, plus they are relatively hardy against the cold and can withstand light frost. Plant them in a sunny spot where they can soak up the sunbeams all day long. Don’t plant them too close to each other, to give them some room to breathe. Common Lavender problems Lavenders need a good drink to quench their thirst, but be careful not to drown their delicate roots as they don’t like having wet feet. Water regularly ..read more

Die Groenste Vingers is a reality competition series where 15 of the country’s top flower fundis compete to be crowned as having Die Groenste Vingers. Participants take part in different weekly challenges where they must each design and create unique floral arrangements, after which judges decide who will bloom and flourish, and who will wilt… Franz Gräbe – Judge Franz is a floral couture genius who, in addition to flowers for weddings and corporate functions, also designed a complete couture fashion range made entirely from flowers, sticks and leaves for South Africa Fashion week. Their Moët ..read more