Gardening Product Sourcing & Reviews
Online
I share where I buy my plants, soil, and tools for city gardening, with honest reviews based on what’s actually worked for me in my apartment.
Pricing Guide
Virtual Garden Assessment & Buying List
Consultation & Assessment
- Video Analysis: Single 30-minute video call to map sunlight patterns and space constraints on the terrace/balcony.
- User Mapping: Defining requirements for flowering, vegetable, or fruit setups.
Curated Shopping List
- Soil & Media: Direct purchase links for verified brands like Trellis Bliss (ready mix) or Soilrite (soilless).
- Nutrition: Organic kit recommendations including Poshinda Organics or The Good Garden Co neem cake.
- Pest Control: Specification of solutions like Pot and Bloom Mealy Bug Buster or DIY recipes.
- Hardware: Links to Trust Basket stands and Kyari self-watering pots.
Placement Support
- Layout Guide: Instructions on specific spot placement for maximum plant health.
Assisted Nursery Visit (Bangalore)
On-Site Selection
- Location: Visit to physical nurseries in Bangalore like PCR Garden Mall or Nature's Shield.
- Health Inspection: Rigorous physical check of 15-20 plants including root-bound checks.
- Graft Verification: Ensuring fruit trees (Mango, Chikoo) are grafted correctly and of age.
- Pest Screening: Checking undersides of leaves for dormant mealybugs or aphids.
Hardscaping Advice
- Pot Selection: Guidance on size (12x12 vs 24x24 inch) and material (Terracotta vs UV Plastic).
- Tool Check: Hands-on verification of tool grip and weight.
Commercial Assistance
- Negotiation: Leveraging vendor familiarity for fair market rates.
- Logistics: Supervision of loading into transport vehicles to prevent stem damage.
Exotic Fruit Plant Sourcing & Coordination
Vendor Identification
- Source Matching: Locating specific requests (Miyazaki Mango, Thai King Jamun) from verified nurseries like Agriarth or Organix Rosa.
- Variety Check: Ensuring vendors supply genuine grafted varieties rather than seedlings.
Delivery & Unboxing
- Monitoring: Tracking transit times to minimize box time.
- Supervision: Video guidance on unboxing to prevent root shock and checking soil moisture.
Acclimatization Protocol
- Care Schedule: Strict 7-10 day guide for keeping plants in shade before repotting.
- Resolution: Handling replacement disputes with vendors if plants arrive damaged.
About Gardening Product Sourcing & Reviews
I get a lot of joy from my garden, and it’s become my own healing corner. Growing my own food, especially in a city apartment, just hits different. If you’ve ever wondered where to get healthy plants or which tools actually last, here’s a peek into what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for me.
Where I Source My Plant Babies
- For anyone in Bengaluru, PCR Nursery is my go-to - the plant selection is wild and the prices aren’t too crazy. Nature’s Sheild is also solid for pots and all the random bits you realize you need.
- Need something rare or getting started from scratch? Trusted online nurseries for plants like SA Nursery, Pack My Plants, and Unique Plant Nursery have sent me grafted fruit trees that survived shipping and grew strong. Just watch for the packaging - some do it better than others.
- Organix Rosa sometimes has discounts, which is a nice bonus.
All About Soil, Fertilizer & Natural Care
- Best soil mixes for terrace gardens? I stick to Trellis Bliss and Soilrite - light and easy to carry up apartment stairs, ha!
- Organic gardening supplies recommendations: Ugaoo for manure and compost, Neem products for pest control, and honestly, your kitchen waste is gold. Banana peels, coffee grounds, rice water - works wonders.
- If you’re battling mealy bugs, Pot and Bloom Mealy Bug Buster actually does the job.
Tools & Balcony Upgrades
- Honest garden tool reviews: I use Farmgokart’s basic set - not fancy, but reliable. I’ve broken a few handles over the years, but for the price, it’s okay.
- Small space fruit tree gardening is possible! I use grow bags and sturdy stands from Trust Basket and Urban Plant. Kyari’s self-watering pots are good if you forget to water sometimes.
Even in a rented flat, I’ve managed to grow over 35 fruit trees. Dil ka jo haal hai... sirf meri choti si kheti samajh sakti hai (What my heart feels... only my little garden knows). Gardening isn’t perfect, but it’s worth it every single day.
Meet your Expert
Sushma Reddy
4861 connects in last 3 months
My Story
Hi, I’m Sushma. My garden on the terrace is my happy place - not the party scene, just me and my plants. I started this because I was fed up with pesticides in food, and now, no more buying lemons! Sometimes, nature throws in a surprise, like a squirrel planting guava seeds for me. It’s not fancy, but it’s real. Growing my own food makes me feel peaceful, and I love sharing this with my online family.
My Work
Urban Gardening Guidance - I help you start terrace gardens, even in rented flats or balconies. Small pots, big results.
Fruit Trees in Pots - Learn growing fruit trees in pots - yes, even 35 types, from lemons to cashew apples.
Organic Fertilizer & Pesticide - I teach homemade organic fertilizer recipes and natural pesticide tips, no chemicals.
Practical Tutorials - Step-by-step tutorials on pruning, soil mixing, and growing mint from cuttings.