The Growing Trend of Vertical Gardens in Mangalore's Apartments

Mangalore is not just known for its beautiful beaches and tasty seafood but also the architectural marvels of its apartments. As the city expands, developers are constrained by the land scarcity, and therefore come up with innovative solutions to incorporate greenery into the buildings, through vertical gardens.

A vertical garden is a unique way of gardening in a limited space by using a wall to grow plants vertically. Apartment gardeners can experiment with a range of species from herbs, flowers, vegetables, succulents, and ferns on the walls. And today, vertical gardens have become the trend in Mangalore, taking gardening to a higher level, both literally and figuratively.

One such example is the Oceanus Group, in Mangalore, which is one of the leading companies developing vertical gardens. Their latest innovation, the Jardin de Flores, presents a burst of colors to the concrete landscape, making it a treat for the eyes. This 13-story residential complex, spread over 3.65 acres of land, has an inbuilt vertical garden of 10,000 sq ft. The garden comes equipped with a drip irrigation system that ensures each plant is watered periodically.

The Jardin de Flores project was conceptualized with the idea to create a green city within a city. Our objective was to create a vertical garden that would be an eco-friendly initiative to provide a green environment amidst urban settings, said Mohammed Amanulla, Managing Director, Oceanus Group.

The trend has not only caught up in new projects but also in old Apartments, where residents are taking it upon themselves to create green spaces. Many residents are now seeing the vertical garden as a practical solution for their gardening needs. Shruthi Bhandary, a housewife who lives in an apartment complex in Kavoor, has created a vertical garden on her balcony. She says, I believe that the green spaces are dwindling in the city, and we need to find innovative ways to add them back. My apartment complex faces shortage of space, and a vertical garden is an excellent solution to cultivate plants, which I love.

The vertical garden is not only sustainable but also has many benefits like purifying the air around the apartment, reducing the carbon footprint, and improving overall well-being. The plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, helping to tackle air pollution. A Harvard study has shown that indoor plants in the workplace boost productivity by 15%. And having greenery around the house can help reduce stress and anxiety.

The rise of vertical gardens in Mangalore is an innovative step towards urban sustainability. It not only helps to counter the effect of concrete expansion but also contributes to a greener ecosystem. As more people join the trend, it is expected to promote a healthier environment and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices.