Having a black thumb is pretty common among home gardeners, especially when demanding schedules and frequent travel mean that most people don’t have time to properly care for their plants. Here’s our top three picks to inject a dash of easy-to-maintain greenery into an urban home.
Down to Earth
Succulents need minimum attention – and they’re a firm favourite among the office-worker clientele at OVO Garden, the popular florist and plant shop that’s part of OVO Home. The arrangements mix several varieties of the succulent species, creating dynamic landscapes in a single pot. Apart from succulents, bonsais are also popular and suitable to apartment living as they require little space. However, the miniature trees do require more love and care, and need to be shaped and trimmed regularly. One tip for potential plant owners, suggested by shop supervisor Rebecca Ng, is to water plants in the morning rather than midday. The sudden clash of cold water on hot soil has an effect that can damage your plants’ delicate roots. ovogarden.com
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Small World
Terrariums are becoming a trendy solution to inject a touch of greenery into limited city dwellings – they don’t take up much counter space and are stress-free when it comes to regular upkeep. Former graphic designer Tim Wong transformed the hobby he shared with his girlfriend, Joy, into a full-time business last year. Quest Terrarium specialises in large, lush moss walls that can be seen around town in locales including Elephant Grounds in Wong Chuk Hang and Mano in Sheung Wan. Among my friends, I’m known as ‘the moss guy’ now, says Tim. He sources numerous desert plants for his potted arrangements, choosing succulents, cacti and air plants – all of which are ideal for Hong Kong climes because they require limited care and watering. You can find Tim’s creations via his Facebook and Instagram pages, and at Lane Crawford later this year.
Euro Trip
Although The Little Fleuriste specialises in custom bouquets and floral arrangements, the Hong Kong florist has used leafy greenery in lieu of flowers here, giving vintage-inspired vases and ornaments a burst of colour. Owner Marian Woo suggests using eucalyptus in green bouquets for the natural, free-form branches and leaves, as well as the fragrance. I love organic, straight-from-the-garden type of arrangements, where it looks like you randomly picked what looked best that day from your backyard and mixed everything together according to your mood. Marian’s soft, feminine aesthetic is influenced by vintage botanical paintings, as well as looks that capture the spirit of global metropolises including Paris, New York and London.
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