It doesn't have to be expensive or complicated to get quite a nice little roof garden going, and you don't necessarily need to use any chemicals (except for some fertiliser every now and then). Basic tools like secateurs and trowels can be found in a couple of the hardware stores in YSW. Lots of people are happy to share cuttings of their plants, so you don't need to spend a lot of money.
Plants that you can grow quite easily in pots include: mint and basil (which you could even try rooting from the sprigs you buy in the greengrocer's. Experiment by putting some in small jars of water in the kitchen and some directly in pots and see which works best) aloe, coleus, frangipani, hibiscus (grows easily from cuttings), peace lilies, yucca, amaryllis (pink and white ones are in flower at this time of year -- grow them from bulbs), begonia, desert rose, etc.
There are lots more as well. Even some varieties of orchids are easy to grow, as long as you give them enough shade and don't overwater them. They like to be misted with water once a day, or more if it's very dry.
It's good if you have some shade on the rooftop, especially when you are starting plants off -- the sun can be very fierce on them. Though most of the above plants can do fine even without shade.
Hope some of this will be helpful
Last edited by minibeast on Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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