It is so so informative to read this forum and I am learning so much! Today, however, I have a question regarding my volunteer work and the eldery people.
I work as a volunteer for an organisation which supports eldery people. I know that with age it is getting more and more difficult to manage a garden (many eldery people live in flats without garderns, but very often they have at least a balcony). My question is - do you have any ideas how to re-introduce gardening (or taking care of plants) to my new friends? Some of them are 80-90 years old, but I feel that taking care of something alive and seeing the results of their work is motivating and satisfying.
Annuals like petunias are a great way to get them involved. They are easy to grow in containers and low maintenance and if they like veggies find out what their favorites are. There are quite a few that do great in containers. For example, you can now grow big slicing tomatoes on small compact plants.
The biggest advantage to using annuals and/or veggies in pots is that they are lower maintenance and there are no worries about bringing anything in to overwinter. Just put new soil in the next season and new plants.
For my mother I put the containers on top of old picnic table benches. The raised height makes them easy to tend to. Or if they have the space an elevated garden bed.
What about plants that require misting such as a Air Plant or a small terrarium. I agree with Amanda, tomato plant is easy enough.
Bob, great idea, I never would have thought of that !