Low-cost gardening: tips and pest control during inflation

Pests, inflation, and cuttings: ornamental gardening is reinventing itself

A user describes their terrace of barely twelve square meters plus a small balcony, packed with carnivorous plants: highland Sarracenia and Nepenthes, some dating back to before the internet. The story could belong to any enthusiast, but behind it lies a phenomenon: gardening as an economic refuge and a hobby increasingly focused on responsible consumption.

The cost of the hobby: is DIY worth it?

An FSC wooden urban garden table measuring 80x120 cm is offered at Leroy Merlin for 100 euros. The recurring question is whether it is worth the price or if it can be built for less. Analyses suggest that high-quality wood is not always necessary if the garden is covered, and that with basic materials and some skill, a similar result can be achieved for half the price. The same logic applies to substrates: supermarket potassium soap (Beltrán brand, from Mercadona) is identical to the one sold in nurseries with markups of up to 1000%.

The chemical war against pests

Aphids and mealybugs are the scourge of any rose bush. While some opt for conventional insecticides (such as chlorpyrifos, which is now banned), most prefer organic remedies: potassium soap, neem oil, pyrethrin (extracted from a flower similar to the chrysanthemum), or the well-known nettle manure, described as "war weaponry." Even tobacco infusion is recommended for its lethal nicotine. The debate reflects two trends: the pragmatic ecological approach, which accepts chemicals only as a last resort, and the industrial approach, which does not hesitate to use systemic products in the face of a massive infestation. However, the consensus is that prevention through mulching and crop rotation drastically reduces attacks.

Alternative crops for self-consumption

The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is gaining trinc. One enthusiast says they are on their third harvest, preparing them fried or as puree, although peeling them is an ordeal. Another surprising crop is colocasia esculenta (similar to sweet potato), which sprouted from some tubers bought by mistake at a "paki" (a small convenience store) and now look like 50-euro plants in florists. The experience proves that, with soil and patience, one can obtain both ornamentation and food at almost zero cost. That said, one must watch out for slugs and snails that attack the tubers as they emerge.

Gardening in the face of DANA and climate change

Recent floods and snowfalls have led people to wonder which trees or shrubs best hold the soil. When in doubt between olive bonsai or rose bushes (which attract aphids), the general recommendation is native and resistant shrubs, like those seen on local embankments. A gardener from the Southern Hemisphere says that, after a year of drought, they are eagerly awaiting the rains to prepare their winter vegetable garden and a pergola with grapevines, even though the grapevine is "very messy"; but as they say, "everything is forgiven to such a generous plant." Adapting to extreme weather is becoming a daily challenge that more and more gardeners tackle with cuttings and organic seeds.

The final surprising fact: a user confesses that, after losing their job during the pandemic, they started growing "marijuana" and the business is working. Gardening, in all its forms, is proving to be an economic lifeline for many. The figures do not lie: with a tight budget, the hobby can even become profitable.