Barriers to Starting Home Gardening Are 'Insects' and 'Balcony Cultivation'; 'Mini Tomatoes' Recommended for Beginners – HYPONeX Japan Conducts National Survey on Home Gardening Situation –

HYPONeX Japan Corporation (Head Office: Yodogawa-ku, Osaka; President and Representative Director: Yasuhiro Murakami) conducted an "Anticipated Survey on Home Gardening" targeting 1,751 men and women nationwide.

Amidst rising health consciousness, increased interest in food education, and soaring food costs, home gardening is attracting attention, especially among people in their 30s and 40s. However, this survey revealed that many inexperienced individuals feel high hurdles regarding "insect outbreaks," "cultivation in condominiums," and "daily care."

Through our horticultural information media "Plantia" and YouTube channel, we will support these beginners in their "home gardening debut" by addressing their real concerns and making it easy and enjoyable.

■ Survey Results Summary

1. The biggest concern for inexperienced home gardeners is "insects": The top question inexperienced home gardeners (754 respondents) want to ask experienced ones is "I'm concerned about insect outbreaks in home gardening" (35.7%). The second is "Can home gardening be done on a condominium balcony?" (27.7%). Questions related to cultivation environment and effort were ranked high.

2. Even experienced home gardeners are actually fumbling: Even those who have already started are actually fumbling! About 70% (72.8%) of experienced gardeners responded, "I don't know the difference between vitalizers and fertilizers."

3. The appeal of home gardening is not "saving money": Home gardening is more about "healing" than "saving money." Many voices expressed a sense of spiritual richness, such as the joy of watching daily growth and changes in food awareness.

4. Recommended vegetables for beginner home gardeners: Mini tomatoes are recommended by 57.8% of experienced home gardeners to beginners, and perilla (large leaf shiso) by 36.0%. Vegetables that can be grown on apartment balconies ranked high.

■ Detailed Survey Results

[1] The true feelings of inexperienced home gardeners: The walls of "insects," "space," and "time" standing in the way

When asked "What do you want to ask people who do home gardening?" to inexperienced home gardeners (754 people) who do not engage in home gardening, the most common answer was "I'm concerned about insect outbreaks in home gardening" (35.7%). This was followed closely by "Can home gardening be done on a condominium balcony?" (27.7%) and "Is it okay if I don't water every day?" (27.3%).

Especially for people in their 30s and 40s, who are busy with work and childcare and often live in collective housing, situations related to time and living environment, such as "I don't know how to deal with insects," "I only have limited space," and "I'm not confident about daily care," become major barriers to starting home gardening.

Although "insects" are a concern for inexperienced home gardeners, it seems that 70% of experienced home gardeners also suffer from insect damage, indicating it's an unavoidable issue.

By using our product 'MagAmp D to prevent insects,' you can easily fertilize and eliminate pests simultaneously, making it highly recommended for beginners.

Product Link: MagAmp D to prevent insects

What inexperienced home gardeners want to ask experienced ones

[2] No knowledge? No problem! Even experienced gardeners are fumbling through their home gardening life.

Many inexperienced individuals worry, "I can't start because I don't have knowledge about home gardening," but in reality, even experienced gardeners (997 people) who are already enjoying home gardening, approximately 70% (72.8%) responded, "I don't know the difference between 'vitalizers' and 'fertilizers.'"

Furthermore, many experienced gardeners also expressed challenges such as "I don't know if I'm doing it right" (29.0%), indicating that many are actually enjoying home gardening by trial and error without knowing the correct answers. "Starting with something simple without being greedy, even without perfect knowledge," can be said to be the secret to long-term continuation.

There were also opinions such as "Start small without being greedy" and "Starting with planter cultivation is easy to begin and easy to quit." Expensive tools are not necessary at first.

[3] A new standard for busy adults. Home gardening is more about "healing" and "food education" than "saving money."

Upon analyzing the reasons experienced home gardeners started home gardening, voices saying "to save on food costs" (17.4%) were surprisingly few. Opinions expecting healing and enrichment in life, such as "to feel the joy of crops growing" (51.4%), "to eat fresh crops" (44.9%), and "as a hobby" (42.0%), were prominent.

Some enjoyed not only the fruits but also the flowers' growth, saying, "The okra flowers were so beautiful, and I looked forward to their blooming, and then it was fun to watch the fruit grow visibly." Others cited positive changes in terms of food education, such as "I realized how fresh freshly picked produce is" and "My children started eating vegetables." Home gardening can be said to be an easy activity that brings enrichment to the lives of busy modern people.

Reasons and triggers for starting home gardening

[4] Possible even on apartment balconies. For beginners.
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