By Ritah Mukasa
Every gardener has a special product that is unique or customised to them.
While others create planters and garden ornaments, Betty Mugoya proprietor of Kampala Flowers and Gardeners has mastered the art of growing plants in volcanic rocks also called lava rocks or lava stones.
She turns them into beautiful planters for different kinds of plants.
These brown stones come from the mountainous Kisoro district but they can also be found in different spots around Kampala. They are mostly used in landscaping projects but Mugoya prefers them for their benefits in organic gardening.
She says they help spice up the garden all while breaking the monotony of plastic, ceramic, concrete and clay planters. They display plants beautifully.
Most importantly, their porous structure allows for good drainage and helps in better aeration of the soil meaning the air circulates well and boosts root health.
Andrew Odoyi, a gardener adds that volcanic stones are good at regulating temperature and are highly nutritious. They contain essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. They also retain water during wet days and release it on hot days.
They work well for medium and small plants such as succulents.
While planting, Odoyi says, you can drill or chisel an appropriate pocket (space) for the plant to fit in.
“Maintenance is easy. You just have to keep the rock wet,” he adds.
