THE PRACTICAL FIELD NOTES

Grow better.

Care begins with the place. These four guides explain the environmental details that a generic species label cannot capture.

The covered balcony is its own growing environment

Assess sun, wind and blown rain before placing houseplants on a Philippine condominium balcony.

Read the real light at a plant's position, not just the compass direction of a window. A practical Philippine home guide.

Choose a plant container by drainage, root space and growing conditions instead of appearances alone.

Use root-zone moisture, light and rain exposure rather than copying a fixed watering interval into Philippine homes.