“Are Your Plants Sick?”… Seocho-gu Offers Free ‘Companion Plant Clinic’

Three Apartment Complexes Including Banpo Mido and District Office Square
Assist with Companion Plant Care Consulting and Repotting

Seocho-gu Companion Plant Clinic. Provided by Seocho-gu.

Seocho-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeon Seong-su) will operate a "Visiting Companion Plant Clinic" at three apartment complexes and the Seocho-gu Office plaza in the district a total of four times from the 25th of this month through November to assist residents having difficulties managing their companion plants.

The "Visiting Companion Plant Clinic" is a program where horticultural therapy experts visit selected apartment complexes upon application to provide free consultations, diagnoses, and treatments for companion plant care. Participating residents can receive on-site consultations from plant experts on overall companion plant care, including watering and pest management, as well as repotting services after registering on-site.

The district recruited apartment complexes to participate in the program in August, and plans to operate the companion plant clinic at three finally selected apartment complexes this month: Banpo Mido Apartment, Umyeon Jugong Apartment, and Seocho The Sharp Fore. Additionally, on October 21-22, the clinic and a companion plant exhibition will be held together at the district office plaza.

Meanwhile, since August 20, the district has been operating a "Companion Plant Clinic Center" at Chaehwa Garden in Cheongryong Community Garden (225 Sinwon-dong) to provide companion plant clinic services to local residents. In addition to companion plant consultations and treatments, horticulture and gardening programs such as bouquet and flower basket making and vegetable garden creation are also offered here.

Residents wishing to use the center can apply through the Seoul Public Service Reservation System or make a phone reservation and visit with their ailing companion plants. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis in 30-minute intervals from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Up to three pots per person can be treated. The service is free of charge.

District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, "Interest in companion plants is growing so much that the term 'Sikjipsa' (plant + butler) has recently emerged to describe people who care for plants like family." He added, "We will continue to provide customized support for residents, such as the Visiting Companion Plant Clinic, so that they can care for their companion plants without difficulty."