This month, we speak to some of Bloem’s greatest gardeners about their expertise, passion, and what makes their green thumbs thrive.
Rooted in generations of green fingers, Pretty Gardens Centre manager Manie Kotzé has turned a childhood love of plants into a lifetime of helping Bloemfontein gardens thrive.
What inspired you to start gardening, and what keeps your passion for it alive today?
I was inspired to start gardening by my grandmother, who taught me to love plants and enjoy caring for them. Watching her work in the garden and learning from her made gardening feel special and meaningful to me. That early influence planted the seed for my own journey with plants.
What keeps my passion alive today is the joy and peace gardening still brings me, along with the satisfaction of seeing things grow and thrive. It reminds me of those moments with my grandmother and motivates me to keep learning, experimenting, and sharing the beauty of plants with others.
What’s your top tip for Bloemfontein gardeners wanting to grow healthy, thriving plants – whether indoors, in a garden or even in small spaces?
Focus on improving your soil with compost and mulch to protect roots from Bloemfontein’s heat and dry spells, as healthy soil is the key to strong, thriving plants. Healthy soil provides the right balance of nutrients, water retention, drainage, and oxygen that plants need to grow strong roots and stay healthy.
If you could only grow one plant for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I would choose a lemon tree because it is both beautiful and useful. A lemon tree means resilience to me – it grows through heat, cold, and dry spells, yet still rewards you with bright, hopeful fruit. It provides fresh fruit for cooking, drinks, and home remedies, making it practical as well as rewarding.
How do you involve family, friends, or the community in your gardening projects?
By hosting seasonal workshops and garden talks, focusing on timely topics like spring planting, summer care, or winter pruning, and promoting them through social media to encourage hands-on participation.
What’s the most dramatic plant you’ve ever had to deal with?
The fiddle-leaf fig, which seems perfectly fine one week and then drops half its leaves the next, sometimes for no discernible reason. It’s like a plant diva in full tantrum mode – very picky about light, water, and humidity – and will quickly show dramatic signs when not happy.
What’s the biggest plant myth you wish people would stop believing?
One of the biggest myths is that indoor plants need to be watered on a strict schedule, when in reality they should be watered based on soil moisture and the specific plant’s needs.
What’s the most rewarding part of managing a nursery?
Seeing people connect with plants and leave feeling inspired and confident to grow something themselves. I get to combine my love of plants with my love for people by sharing practical advice, helping customers choose the right plants, and watching their gardens succeed. Knowing that my knowledge makes a real difference in someone’s home or community garden, brings daily purpose and satisfaction.
Text and photographs: Gypseenia Lion
