Garden
lovers cannot have a dull moment in their workspace. The area could be limited
to a balcony or some lucky ones might have farm houses but there have to be
flowers, fruits and vegetables growing in every season. Most gardening
enthusiasts would agree.
Well,
two seasons see the maximum blooms. Winters and the transition to spring are
the best seasons. So much time and preparation go into keeping the plant alive
and kicking. Having got used to its tantrums like a baby you see it coming to
flower and fruit during this period.
Summers
are the worst season for plants. Heat, low humidity, erratic watering takes its
toll. Plants go into a shock unless given the requisite shade naturally or
artificially. Still, some plants misbehave and the weakest die. A gardener
suffers a heart break. Nevertheless, he continues his pursuit to keep the
blooming on.
A
question people keep asking me off an on. What do you do to get flowers in
summer? Selection of plants is the key. Like, the place where we anchor is
called the Suncity. Therefore, one has to grow plants which love the sun.
Two
plants which I can suggest, depending on how much space you have and the amount
of sunlight you can give them. If the plants can be kept in the open where full
sunlight can touch them all day is ideal. They are the ‘desert rose or adenium’
and ‘waterlilies and lotus’.
Over
the last four years, having put in effort trying to grow some plants and
thereafter keeping them safe in summer has been some ask. Losing plant after
plant was really heart wrenching. So, we decided to change the complexion of
the garden.
The
seasonal plants like the ‘winter flowers’ flower in their due time. Summer
lilies like the ‘easter lilies’ followed by ‘rain lilies’ would come up in the
rainy season. This sees us through the year. Followed by evergreens, which will
make up for the absence of flowers is how we modified our approach to rearing
plants.
The
rooftop garden is two extremes. One plant which doesn’t need water at all which
is adenium and the second, which only survives in water called the waterlilies
are the mainstay. The lower garden has enough greens to see us through. Still,
there are some winter flowers which refuse to give up and we are happy having
them spill over in summer.
Creating
the right space and right environment for any plant needs a lot of forethought
and planning. The “daily routine” of the plant has to be worked out with utmost
care. Feeding them is a great responsibility. How to feed, when to feed, how
much to feed are some questions which one learns with experience. The same goes
for water. At times people administer Coca-Cola may or chemical fertilizer
which when well diluted and fed in measured quantity does good for the plants.
Garden
routine has to be fixed. The placement of a pot has to be done to ensure
minimum disturbance. They get used to their daily routine and feeding time. The
more you shift them, the chances of a plant showing grumpiness are more. They
are sensitive. It is something like your morning newspaper. If it is late or
goes missing, then the day doesn’t go well. Same is with the morning cup of
tea.
The
major issue is identifying which plant would be best suited in the place you
stay. Why I say this is because plants come from nurseries, laboratories,
greenhouses from far off places. The soil they are grown in is quite different
to what is available at your location. It travels hundreds of kilometers and
goes into shock. It takes time to get used to the new environment and adjust.
In
that, if you are a novice, it becomes a double whammy for the plant. The plant
tries to adjust to your idiosyncrasies rather than the other way around. Some
say farewell and some don’t. The loss is that of the gardener. It is a setback
for a new gardener who loses confidence in growing them.
You
must go around your area and check what suits you best. Once you have
understood that, then shortlisting plants comes next. Knowing when they flower
is important. Rest can follow. Plants are fighters, remember. You just have to
give them a good environment.
These
days, adeniums and waterlilies which I had repotted in Feb have started to
bloom. By the end of this month the temperature will touch 50ºC. I am confident
that they will keep flowering provided I continue to understand their needs.
Grow
what suits your place and not what is available in the nursery. Do I make
sense? I wonder!!!!!!
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JAI HIND
© ® NOEL ELLIS
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