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Pal Talks November – December 2023

It is that time of the year when you wake up to a slight nip in the air. Your plants are gearing up for the seasonal changes. Growth eases out, leaves change their colour, start falling to increase defence mechanism in fall.

People’s craze for ‘rare’ and ‘exotic’ foreign plants is posing a threat to urban green covers and natural forests, nearly 66% of India’s natural systems are threatened by invasive plant species

3 things to look out in potted plants during this season

1. Water

Do not overwater your plants as temperature is cooler now. Check topsoil before watering.

2. Fungus & pests

Dryness, excess water may increase fungus, spider mites, other leaf sucking pests.

3. Brightness

Shift plants in a warm, brighter spot or keep room lights on, especially during evenings.

Plant of the Month

Hydrangea. A winter flower, hydrangeas come in different colours and sizes. For hedges or pots, this flower is a bouquet in itself.

DIY Fungicide

Make this easy decoction to fight fungal infections in plants. Mix and apply turmeric & cinnamon powders in equal parts and apply on topsoil.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Pal Talks September-October 2023

The much needed elixir – rainwater, has enriched your garden recently. Plants are rejoicing this period of growth and abundance.​

However, this season brings along its own set of challenges too, especially for indoor plants.​

3 things to look out in potted plants during this season

1. Moisture & water

Regulate watering according to sunny & rainy days

2. Humidity & pests

Increased humidity = sticky pests. Keep the planters, plates dry.

3. Light & dampness

Shift plants in a warm, brighter spot or keep room lights on for a bit.

Plant of the Month

Madhukamini. It’s not too late to bring home this beauty. Not just flowers, leaves are fragrant too. Can easily grow in pots or lawns

DIY Fertilizer

If you love bananas, keep the peels. Cut them small, soak in water for 36 hours, dilute it further and give this nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer to your plants.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Why should housing societies invest in a sustainable garden?

An evening stroll in the garden and came back with an itchy skin? Your pet accidentally chewed on some leaves and felt uneasy? Maintaining the health, look of your garden is digging a hole in your pocket?
If any of the above scenarios read familiar to you, then it’s time to transform your society garden into a sustainable garden. As pretentious as it may sound, it is just about going back to our roots.
1) People-Friendly:
Since society gardens are used by everyone, especially the vulnerable – children, senior citizens, pets, one must be conscious of the plants being used in such spaces. A few plants are known to be highly toxic for the above groups such as Dieffenbachia, Lantana, Morning Glory, Croton, etc. Instead using native plants can create a safer space for all.
2) Environment-Friendly:
What is the purpose of a garden without its residents? The sight of butterflies and the melody of birds makes a garden pleasurable. By using chemical-free, organic fertilizers, pesticides or any other plant care materials, every small space can do its bit in protecting biodiversity. At the same time, using such natural products enhances soil health, longevity of plants and reduces its carbon footprint.
3) Pocket-Friendly:
Can we create a garden which is aesthetic and low on maintenance at the same time? Yes, of course. Replacing exotic plants with native / indigenous and hardy varieties can not only increase your garden’s lifespan but also reduce maintenance costs to a considerable extent. Native plants are well-adapted for our local climate. This means, they’re more resistant to pests – hence, reducing the use of pesticides. They contribute more towards soil nutrition – hence, reducing the use of fertilizers. They’re hardy in nature – hence, they tend to survive better in harsher weather conditions – hence, reducing the replantation efforts.
To sum up, the choices that we make in our gardens make them sustainable. Choices that put self-sustenance at the centre of garden design. Choices that create a balance between contemporary aesthetics and traditional wisdom.
If any of the above scenarios read familiar to you, then it’s time to transform your society garden into a sustainable garden. As pretentious as it may sound, it is just about going back to our roots.Be it the colours from flowers, the vibrancy from birds and butterflies, the joy of growing your own organic food or a cooler sense of surroundings, a garden has much more to offer than one can think. From improving our physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, to even social health, it can enhance our quality of life. Not just for us, but everyone around us.
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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Pal Talks Volume 5: July-August 2023

Red Alert!
From skyrocketing price of tomatoes to deluge of rain, this monsoon season has brought several red alerts in our lives.
This takes us back to the most fundamental questions – when exactly to water the plants? Just yesterday it was pouring, today it is sunny.. what should be the watering routine?
The answer lies within your touch!

A few thumb rules to help you and your plants this monsoon:

Feel the soil

Be 100% sure while watering your plants with this finger test.. especially for indoor plants.

Dip your fingertip (about an inch) in the soil and see if it sticks to your finger.

If yes, there’s enough water and you can avoid watering your plant. If it doesn’t stick at all, only then water your plants.

Make simple changes

In addition to this, you may do the following:

reduce overall quantity of water to avoid filling up the plates or containers for indoor plants

remove the trays / plates for outdoor plants to allow excess water to flow out from the bottom

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

3 things we can learn about community building from trees

Have you ever wondered about we build communities? Well, the answer may not be that complex. Building communities is much like growing a garden. Both need time, patience, knowledge and above all, compassion to thrive in an environment.

Investing in creating a community and garden has immense payoffs – not immediately, but in the near and far future. Plants not only help us in our day-to-day living but also teach us several virtues. Such as:

With the help of an extensive root system, native plants, share their nutrients with their neighbours. Such sharing of materials enables plants, trees self-sufficient.

It’s no surprise that trees change colours of their leaves with changing seasons. Such adaptive behaviour helps them survive better and longer than being rigid.

No one does it better than trees. From alerting others about pests attack to sharing an underground root network, plants know that working together is best for survival.

Plants are no different than us in their behaviour. Observe these similarities between you and them next time when you’re in your garden.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Pal Talks Volume 4: May-June 2023

It is the season of yellow! From mangoes to marigold, you’ve waited long to enjoy your favourite fruits and flowers.
This takes us back to the most fundamental questions – when exactly to water the plants? Just yesterday it was pouring, today it is sunny..However, when your plants aren’t blooming to their glory; when trees aren’t bearing fruits; when you see plants drying up; this wait may seem endless. what should be the watering routine?
The answer lies within your touch!Don’t get disheartened. Don’t stop here. Gardening is a journey of patience and perseverance, discovery and experience. So, keep digging..
A few things you must ensure to boost productivity of your plants:

Routine

Establish a watering schedule in this dry season. Water early morning to help plants produce food efficiently during peak hours of sunlight.

Fertilization

Both, over or under fertiziling plants can affect their growth. Know when they were fertilized before adding.

Cleanliness

Avoid water stagnation in trays / plates. They not only affect the root growth but also act as a breeding spot for insects, pests in the garden.

Patience

Perhaps, plants aren’t mature yet to bear their fruits, flowers. Constant weather changes also cause distress. These are factors beyond one’s control.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

3 steps to creating beautiful indoor gardens

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought several changes in the way we live and work today. One of them being co-living with plants.

The rise of indoor gardening in urban cities in the last two years has been significant with people growing their own food to making plants central in home décor. However, the after-effects of this rising trend are visible more now, than ever.

Thanks to the internet, one can now buy plants online – just like any other non-living thing. Thanks to technology, plants can be mass produced in almost any climatic condition – making them an exotic. And thanks to transportation, such plants can be introduced them in any part of the world – making them aspirational.

Problems with such gardening practices are infinite, not only for gardeners but also for our environment. From reducing plant survival, increasing a garden’s maintenance costs, to dispersing local biodiversity and degrading soil quality, there are several challenges that exotic gardens pose.
Investing in creating a community and garden has immense payoffs – not immediately, but in the near and far future. Plants not only help us in our day-to-day living but also teach us several virtues. Such as:

Hence, while starting an indoor or outdoor garden, one must consider these three aspects:

1) Origin of plants

Choose native or indigenous plants over foreign-origin or exotic species. The more exotic, the more maintenance.

For instance, in place of Bougainvillea one can use Madhumalti or Rangoon Creeper. Thunbergia Grandifora over Morning Glory. There are several native plants of India which can complement one’s space in terms of style or design as well as help butterflies, bees to flourish.

2) Choice of materials

There is a problem of plenty when it comes to selecting gardening products such as pots or planters. Majority of these products are made of non-eco-friendly materials such as plastic, resin, concrete.

On the other hand, natural elements such as terracotta (clay), metal, wood, or bamboo, natural fibres not only give a sophisticated look but also a nurturing environment for plants.

3) Thoughtful planting

Plants make a great addition to décor. However, this experience can be daunting if style takes over sustainability. It is imperative to strike a balance between science and aesthetics.

Simple techniques such as selecting plants to suit light + space conditions, reducing clutter, choosing the right materials, can help in creating a self-sustaining home garden.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Myths v/s Facts: Mess v/s Method

Myth

Potted plants stain the exterior walls of buildings. They’re not meant to keep in the windows or grills.

In urban cities, especially Mumbai, several housing societies have banned houseplants.

Residents are discouraged to keep potted plants in the exterior fittings of the buildings such as window grills or panes, a/c ducts and sometimes even balconies.

The primary reason behind such intentions are to avoid mud marks as well as reduce weight on the exterior walls of buildings.

Fact

Potted plants without plates underneath and overwatering are the main reasons for causing stains on walls.

While placing plants on windows, balconies or terraces, one must always invest in plates or trays to collect the excess water. During summers, this excess water can also help birds to quench their thirst. However, we recommend to keep the trays clean periodically of this water to avoid breeding of any insects or pests.

Second, avoid flood irrigation or pouring large amounts of water in one go. It will not only save you from creating those ugly stains but will also from eroding nutrients from the soil.

Keeping these two factors in mind, one can create a green window without affecting the beauty and integrity of building walls.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Did you know? Black soil is not always the best

It is not necessary that blacker the soil, the better it is for your plants. There are several types of soil found across the world.
From colour to density, each kind of soil differs depending on a region’s typography and weather conditions.
Hence, while starting an indoor or outdoor garden, one must consider theIn India itself, every state has different kind of soil, rich in minerals in their own way. From black to red, from alluvial to marsh, soil conditions vary from region to region depending on the respective climate and environment.se three aspects:

1. Rich in minerals and organic matter

Each region in India has a different typography, geographical conditions and mineral compositions. Using local soil gives access to these rich deposits of minerals and organic materials.

2. Well-suited to support native plants

Local soil is equipped to handle the local plants. It complements the strengths of these plants and gives essential support in building immunity towards pests, other threats.

3. Avoids degradation of environment

Lesser transportation, lesser use of fertilizer, lesser burden on plants, there are several advantages of using native soil in gardens. They thus help in reducing the environmental impact.

Next time you want to change the soil of your plants or create a new garden, choose the locally originated ones. Here are the top benefits of using native soil in your garden v/s the commercially available garden soil.
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blog Native Plants of India

Son Champa: A perfume that spreads joy

Magnolia champaca aka Son Champa or Son Chafa is a native tree of India, and is found in abundance throughout the country.

It is popularly known as the joy perfume tree in English due to its strong aroma and attractive yellow petals, which is a key ingredient in perfumery.

The flowering season usually starts from May and stays until December. From a large, evergreen tree to a bonsai shrub, Son Champa is one of the most fragrant and aesthetic flowers indigenous to India.

It holds immense ornamental, medicinal and religious values. From anti-cancer to antimicrobial, antioxidant properties, Son Champa is an all-rounder plant to ensure one’s wellbeing. In Indian scriptures, Son Champa is revered as a sacred and divine flower. From Lord Vishnu to Lord Krishna, son champa finds it way in almost all mythological stories in India.