Ask the Plant Doctor: How to maintain a thriving balcony garden


A vegetable and herb garden in a city apartment balcony. Photo: 123rf.com

In balconies with limited space and light, planting has to be done in pots or containers. Select only shade-tolerant plants, such as taro, Malabar spinach, and pigeon pea, which can thrive in partial light.

Taro, which is a shaded plant, is ideal for container gardening. Malabar spinach, a heat-tolerant leafy green plant, can adapt to partial shade and offers vertical growth, making it a space-saver.

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Living

How can the 'snowflake rule' help you declutter your home?
Why Nasom is going the extra mile to help families of kids with autism
How to teach kids to write by hand, and why it still makes sense to do so
Dog owners tend to worry about not taking their pets on holiday
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver revives Italian chain in Britain, 6 years after collapse
Japan oysters dying 'en masse', likely due to warmer sea: officials
Sunny Side Up: Making room for each other
What to know about vaccinating your dog or cat
Once-in-a-lifetime bloom: rare palms in Rio de Janeiro flower before dying
Mushroom farm in Kenya and fungi-based panels give hope for sustainable building

Others Also Read