Is the workshop free?

The session is free for NTBG members; non-members receive a discounted admission to The Kampong with advanced registration.

Do I need prior gardening experience?

No—this class is designed for beginners and apartment gardeners, with practical, step-by-step instruction.

Is registration required?

Yes. Advance registration is recommended due to small group sizes and limited supplies.

Are materials provided?

Instructors provide demonstration materials and a written care plan; bring anything specific you want to pot if instructed in registration details.

Is the site wheelchair accessible?

Paths at The Kampong include uneven and natural surfaces; contact organizers ahead to confirm accessibility accommodations.

Can I bring cuttings or plants to repot?

Check registration details; the hands-on portion often includes starter plants, but bringing your own may be allowed if confirmed beforehand.

Learn Container Gardening in Miami: UF/IFAS Workshop at The Kampong

Container Gardening with UF/IFAS is a hands-on workshop held at The Kampong, 4013 Douglas Rd. Miami, FL 33133, where Master Gardeners from the UF/IFAS Extension office teach city dwellers to grow food and ornamentals in pots. Over an hour-long session, expect to learn placement, potting mixes, irrigation, and plant choices suited to South Florida’s heat and humidity. The Kampong’s compact tropical collection provides a classroom of living examples: narrow shaded paths, fruit-bearing trees, and humid microclimates that make container gardening in Miami different from temperate regions. The class highlights key features—container selection, soil structure, drainage, and tropical species such as citrus, papaya, and ornamental bromeliads—alongside advice on pests like scale and fungal issues that thrive in warm weather. In a place where coastal breeze meets urban heat, Master Gardeners demonstrate how to use shade, elevation, and soil amendments to keep pots thriving. What sets this workshop apart is the marriage of practical, research-backed UF/IFAS techniques with a real-world tropical plant collection. Participants move from a brief talk to hands-on potting demonstrations and a guided walk through Kampong’s plantings, so the lessons are immediately applicable at home—even on a balcony or tiny deck. The program is free for NTBG members and offers discounted garden admission for non-members who register in advance, a rare chance to pair education with a stroll through a preserved tropical site. Sessions include pot-material comparisons—terra cotta versus lightweight resin—plus low-tech irrigation hacks such as capillary matting and simple self-watering inserts that reduce daily chores. Instructors demonstrate how to mix well-draining substrates using coconut coir, compost, and coarse sand, then outline a fertilization rhythm keyed to fast tropical growth. The hands-on repotting component lets each participant pot a starter plant, label it, and leave with a concise, written care plan to make success repeatable at home and share tips with neighbors. Why book it when you’re visiting Miami? It’s a quick, urban-friendly skill-builder that translates directly to apartment life. Replace vague advice with exact planting windows, salt-tolerant species lists, and simple irrigation fixes. Small-group sizes mean time for questions, plant troubleshooting, and personalized recommendations. Practicalities: the workshop suits beginners and gardeners transitioning to container systems; expect light standing and a short walk through uneven garden paths. Bring a notebook, sun protection, and a reusable water bottle. The Kampong itself offers quiet corners for photography and further study, and the class schedule often aligns with seasonal planting advice so you leave with actions to take now. Whether you want to coax herbs out of a balcony box, replace a dead cactus, or establish a productive patio orchard, Container Gardening with UF/IFAS at The Kampong is the hands-on primer Miami visitors and locals alike can use to grow something that lasts.

About The Kampong - National Tropical Botanical Gardens

The Kampong — part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens — is a historic tropical garden located in Miami, Florida on the shores of Biscayne Bay. The site preserves the Fairchild-Sweeney House and showcases the legacy of plant explorer David Fairchild through extensive exotic fruit trees, rare tropical species, and curated collections. Visitors can choose docent-led guided tours that highlight the estate’s history and plant collections, or self-guided tours that allow leisurely exploration with a provided map.

The Kampong hosts a rotating schedule of hands-on workshops and classes set in the garden landscape. Offerings include cyanotype printing for fabric, community indigo dip workshops teaching Shibori resist dyeing, edible gardening programming presented with UF/IFAS (recommended for ages 12 and up), watercolor courses led by local artist Eileen Seitz, and all-levels yoga with Sam Reynolds. Forest bathing sessions guided by neuroscientist Karina Del Punta focus on sensory practices grounded in science; evening Moonrise Forest Bathing is offered under the full moon.

Several specialty experiences such as macrophotography, ikebana, functional movement, and seasonal events invite creative engagement with plants and place. Cyanotype workshops note limited spaces to encourage advance booking. The Kampong combines plant conservation, education, and cultural programming on a historic estate, offering both structured interpretation and independent discovery for visitors interested in botany, art, sustainability, and Miami’s tropical landscape.

Public programs emphasize hands-on learning, conservation-minded practices, seasonal plant highlights, and the site supports research, education, and community engagement for residents and visitors from Miami and beyond, with year-round programming and volunteer opportunities available.