Jynne Chong delivers a lecture on gardening at the Worldbex event.

People who are into gardening know how satisfying and challenging it is—especially when it comes to indoor gardening and the use of terra-cotta pots.  Indeed, although clay pots are without doubt the most natural of containers, they are nonetheless host to a number of problems—the least of which is that they are cumbersome and ultimately expensive to use in the long run, as they need to be frequently replaced.

According to Jynne Chong, international trade executive of Kean Beng Lee, the makers of the Baba line of gardening containers and utensils, terra-cotta pots need to be replaced regularly.  “They need to be replaced in about 18 months,” she shares, adding that this is the length of time when plants (especially the ones grown indoors) have outgrown their containers and need to be repotted.

Obviously, this entails expense on the part of the gardening enthusiasts and is no doubt a sore spot on most green thumbs already reeling from the extra expense that their hobby entails.  Fortunately, there are readily available solutions—plastic pots.  Anyway, judging from the line of plastic pots available in the market, this is not so much as a problem of availability but may actually be a matter of personal style and durability.

Actually, there are a lot of plastic plant containers available today in the market.  Jynne notes that in the Philippines alone, there are quite a number of plastic pot brands available in most gardening centers.  However, their quality varies as shown by how Baba’s plastic pots differ from the others.

Speaking at the recently concluded Worldbex Expo, Jynne showed us a comparative experiment between a Baba pot and another brand.  “The other brand faded in a matter of months when exposed to sunlight,” she notes, “while Baba’s retained its color.”

She also takes pride in the materials that Baba uses in producing its pots, noting that non-recycled plastic is used in making their line of pots and gardening utensils.  “You can tell by looking closely at the item.  If you see black flecks on it, it means that it used recycled plastic,” she reveals, noting that Baba’s plastic items do not have such a characteristic.

Nonetheless, although all pots have the same use, Jynne notes that Baba’s takes pride in the product lines they come up with.  “We try to come with a new product every month,” she says, noting that for this year alone, they are introducing a new line of attractive designer pots that are meant to make to make indoor gardening even more satisfying for the time-and style-challenged gardener.

Anyway, Jynne notes that indoor gardening is getting to be more popular these days. “This is probably because of our changing lifestyles,” she notes, adding that less social interaction, the stress of everyday living and the rise of the internet have left individuals little time for gardening—which is a pity, of course, considering that now is the time when more greenery is needed to improve one’s personal life and space.

The solution, as Baba has repeatedly pointed out is indoor gardening.  “Greenery helps to release daily pressures and improves the quality of life,” Jynne says.  Also it is not as as space consuming given the limited living space most individuals have. 

“You can actually bring nature to every corner of the home as you can put potted plants in the dining room, the kitchen and the living room,” she says, noting that putting greenery inside the home will reduce indoor dust and lessen harmful microorganism.  Placing plants near radiation-emitting appliances can likewise decrease the level of radiation in the home.

The challenge, however, is to how to keep these plants healthy.  Proving that Baba is a step ahead of other companies in the same business, it is now about to introduce to the country a line of fertilizers and insect repellants that’s especially suitable for indoor gardening.  Known collectively as the Tennen line, they are non-toxic and safe for use, and guarantees healthy plants even without sunlight.  This is a boon, considering that indoor gardening entails rotating potted plants for their dose of life-giving sunlight.  With their new line, such a time-consuming exercise is virtually eliminated.

At present, Baba is into advocacy of sorts as well in educating plant enthusiasts about the usefulness of some decorative plants in purifying indoor air.  They are in fact publishing and giving away bookmarks printed with plant facts that are especially suited for indoor gardening.  Already out are information regarding the corn plant and white anthurium—which are great for purifying air; and the sanseveria (locally known as the buntot tigre) which doesn’t only purify air by which is rich in so-called anions that are beneficial to the human body.

“Plants are natural temperature and moisture regulators as well,” Jynne says, sharing that she herself has her share of indoor plants at home and in their office. 

No doubt, we’d do well to take a cue from her experience and start indoor gardening pronto.