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.