I am constantly being asked questions about, the best places in Bali to find pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, fruit plants, plants from seed, what price should I pay, and so on. Many of you are having problems finding specific pest control products in the Kuta-Denpasar area. Personally I avoid most chemical products in my garden, though I do know that most of you either don’t have the time, or are daunted by mixing up home remedies. I am going to give a general guide that will hopefully save you time, money and make life easier in the garden.
It seems from the email that I receive that the number one problem for gardeners in Bali is finding a good fungicide or pesticide. There is an exhaustive list of fungicides and pesticides specialized for an almost endless list of gardening problems. Unfortunately the products available in Europe, North America or Australia, simply are not available in Bali, or almost impossible to track down. For those with the frangipani rust, scale, aphids, or any other problem, I recommend Neem. I have personally never used this product, but I know of many who swear by it, and have heard enough about its positive results to recommend it. It is an all natural product, produced from the leaves of the Neem tree, originating in India, and it is organic.
Neem is a broad spectrum insecticide, miticide and fungicide, it contains 70% Neem Oil and will control a number of diseases including insects, aphids and scale. It also controls fungal diseases including black spot, rust, and mildew. You can use it on your vegetables, fruit trees, and ornamentals. It is stocked by PT Intaran Indonesia. Their address is Jl. Mertasari Gg. Sunrise School 01, Kerobokan. If you would like to contact them, their phone number is +62-361-735-822. They also have a website. http://www.indoneem.com/
The easiest way to get to Intaran is to find your way to the Kerobokan Gaol, then ask for Jl. Metasari, which is just 100metres from the Gaol main entrance. There is a large white signpost at the entrance to Gg Sunrise, that reads ‘Intaran - Organic Fertilizer and Pesticide.’ The office for Intaran is next door to the Sunrise School. Also if you are looking for fertilizer, there are many small local shops that sell this, look out for the sign that says ‘Pupuk or Pupuk Organik.’ I pass by many on my travels in around Kerobokan and Denpasar. And of course you can always go to Ace or Mitra 10 hardware.
For those of you looking for a reliable place to buy orchids, I advise you to make the trip to Milo Bali Orchids. They are specialists and they stock nothing but orchids. They have a huge range, which is also price tagged, ranging from Rp 50,000 up to Rp 200000. The stock originates from Java, Bali and Singapore. The staff, are helpful and will give you good advice on how to get the best out your orchid, such as advice on sunlight hours, and duration of flowering. The owner is a hybridist so you are sure to find some unique cultivars, I took some pictures to give you an example. It is like an orchid farm, there are large greenhouses with extensive stocks. This place is well worth a look. They are located on Jl. Raya Kerobokan, just after the Canggu turn off, if you are coming from the south. Also a tip for orchid growers - next time you wash your rice, don’t throw the cloudy water out, pour it onto your orchid, they absolutely love it.
A selection of beautiful Orchids available at Kerobokan
If you are looking for a complete supply for your garden I advise you to have a look at ‘The Nursery - with price tags.’ It is just 50 metres further on from Bali Orchids. This place has only just recently opened, and is complete for most of your general gardening needs. This is the closest to what I would describe as a proper garden centre, a complete nursery.
I also found the staff member that I dealt with, named Ipin, to be most helpful. The staff have good grasp of English, and also have a good knowledge of gardening. This is the place to go if you are a novice, and need advice when buying your plants. Ipin provided good answers to my many questions. Often language can be barrier to finding what you need in garden shops in Bali.
Bargaining is also a hassle right! The best thing is not just the fact that they have ‘price tags’, everything is a reasonable price. Their ‘price tag’ also provides you with helpful planting information in Indonesian and English. Details such as botanical name, sunlight, fertilizer and watering frequency are individualized for each plant. Finally somebody has filled the gap, and has provided a western style nursery, which is just what Bali has been crying out for.
A western style nursery, up at Kerobokan, no more bargaining for ‘best price.’
At The Nursery they have a wide range, from Palms, Cactus, Bonsai, Bromeliads, fruit trees (guava, orange, star-fruit). Additionally they also have plants specifically for growing indoors, for all the apartment dwellers out there. They stock medicinal herbs, such as ginger, kunyit, mahkota dewa and rosemary. They also stock many seeds for vegetables, fruits, herbs and salad plants such as kangkung, and rocket. They have, orchids, water plants, and rock features, and all the usual natives that you would expect to find in Bali. They even provide a few books at the counter, detailing special flowers, unique leaf plants, and landscape ideas, so that you may browse to help you with your garden ideas. There is also a range of hardware, such as pots, secateurs, tools, sprayers etc. Their stock of fertilizer is limited to just a few products, but they do sell a good compost/potting mix.
What I do like about this place is, that they have a ‘suggestions book’ so if enough of you out there need it, they will get it. They also have a fridge with some of the coldest drinks in Bali, so that you can buy a drink, cool off and relax whilst you walk through the grounds. Their address is Jl Raya Kerobaokan 22x, Kerobokan.
Sometimes the nurseries in Bali can be a bit overwhelming, with plants everywhere and no fixed prices. It can really be a ‘jungle out there!’ These places I have spoken of are well organized. Everybody likes certainty, there is nothing worse than finding what you want and then having to bargain to get it for a reasonable price. Great places to go if you are a novice, so that you can avoid the rip-off factor. I hope that this helps in your quest.
If you have any questions about your garden please send me an email.
