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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

FAQ: How to create a sustainable garden?

Such balanced, consistent, and self-sustained ecosystems require minimal or no intervention, resulting into ecological conservation at a macro level.

At an individual level, choosing eco-friendly materials, native plants, optimising time and resources to create your home garden, makes it sustainable.

Such methods encourage natural ways of –

Growing

(with no frills attached)

Fertilization

(where the kitchen is the gold mine)

Pest control

(when the job can be done gently)

Watering

(when less is more)

Creating a sustainable garden at home requires a holistic approach towards incorporating natural ecosystems at a smaller scale. From the choice of planter materials to the type of plants and maintenance of gardens, one can create a self-sustaining microcosm within the confines of one’s home.
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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

3 reasons why you don’t need a lawn

A lush green, perfectly manicured lawn is something we all plan to have one day. But what if we told you that you could have something better along with it and that too, with minimal maintenance?

Yes, this is possible. Using sustainable gardening techniques, you can transform your lawn into any lively space you can imagine. From growing your food in small patches or creating a colourful and fragrant flower garden, your lawn can be an oasis of life.

Starting a lawn garden may seem difficult. A little bit of planning and investment in laying the right foundation can make it self-sustainable in the long-run.

Here are the 3 things you could start in your lawn:

Start a small vegetable or herb garden with the help of contemporary raised beds.

Create a colourful border with different flowering plants that are rich in aroma and beauty.

Use your lawn as a green hangout space for the friends of you and nature.

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blog Native Plants of India

3 native plants to style corners

Want to create an Instagramable living room? Try integrating a few tall, statement plants in the corners of your homes.

Plants can brighten up any space, if placed in the right setting. Be it bonsais that make an extraordinary addition to one’s house or simple palms, plants have the potential of making any corner lively.

While doing so, choose low-maintenance and hardy plants so that they can survive in indirect light.

Here are a few native plants that can help you achieve a stylish and sustainable corner.

Palms

There’s a lot of variety in palms that you could choose from. However, the ultimate favourite of all time remains Areca Palm, Raphis Palm, etc.

Ficus

Comes in different sizes, shapes, colours. Weeping Fig, one of the most popular houseplants, is making a serious comeback in our homes.

Schefflera

It is one of the most under-rated plants. It can really brighten up your corners with its interesting umbrella shaped leaf pattern and strong stem structure.

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blog Native Plants of India

3 native plants for styling living rooms

Who doesn’t like large, life-sized plants touching their roof? Plants have become central to home decor and tall plants help make a style statement.

However, the choice of plants can make or break this feeling. While exotic plants look beautiful, they’re often require high maintenance. Fragile root systems, watering issues and pest attacks are more rampant in exotic plants than native varieties.

Native varieties on the other hand, not only help your spaces look evergreen but also reduce maintenance stress for you. Additionally, such plants are versatile and can survive in almost any light condition, indoor or outdoor.

For instance, rubber plants, palms, ficus can thrive inside your house in indirect light and can also do well in your balcony in full sunlight. They adjust to their surroundings way faster than the exotic species.

Here are a few native plants that are low maintenance and can help you make a statement.

Areca Palms

It is the ultimate versatile and low-maintenance plant for living rooms. Keep it anywhere from direct sunlight to indirect bright light, and it shall thrive.

Ficus

Weeping Fig one of the most popular houseplants is making a serious comeback in our homes. Use it as a bonsai or tall, bushy plant.

Rubber Plant

Comes in several sizes, shapes as well as colours. However, the elastica variety is one of the most spectacular and hardy ones among all.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Myths v/s Facts: Bigger the better

Myth:

Size of pots determine plant growth.

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’We often, think that our plants need more space than they have currently. Larger and bigger the pots, proportionate will be the plant’s growth.

Especially, potted houseplants need more space to grow. This may not be necessarily and entirely true.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.

Fact:

It is important to choose the right size and kind of planters depending on the plants you have.

Every plant has a different root system. Some grow deep, some remain shallow.

When smaller plants are given extra large planters, they may in fact not survive owing to dispersal of water in the soil. Hence, understanding the space requirement for plants is very crucial for their healthy development.

One easy tip to check if your plants need more space – tilt your pot and check underneath for any roots coming out of the hole. If yes, then your plant is wanting to be repotted in a slightly larger planter. If no, then it is okay with its current home!

For instance, Orchids like airy planters while palms can remain pot bound for a very long time. For shallow rooted plants such as houseplants or indoor plants small sized and wide shaped planters would do just fine.

However, for deep rooted and fast growing plants such as flowers, edibles, etc you must invest in deep or tall height planters.

So before, you start repotting your houseplants, look at the signs and choose the planters wisely.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

FAQ: Where can I get sustainable gardening products?

The answer is simple and within your reach. To create a garden with sustainable materials, you don’t have to travel far.

Buying these products online will certainly give you a variety to choose from. However, longevity and sustainability – especially in the case of plants, remains highly doubtful.

For example, when you buy plants online, they travel from various locations outside the city. The time spent in transit from one location to the other in a cardboard box pushes the plant into shock. By the time it reaches your doorstop, it has already suffered the long journey and transplanting in a new environment becomes lesser conducive.

When it comes to plants, always buy from a local nursery or plant store. It not only ensure good health of the plant but also reduces cost of transportation, carbon emission etc. Plus the entire experience of visiting nursery itself is fulfilling.

Same applies for planters. Each city in India from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad is filled with skilled pottery artisans. Visit any local pottery hub to acquire some unique terracotta planters for your garden.

To sum up, here are two interesting ways
of making your garden sustainable.

Go local

Buy terracotta planters from local pottery artists, native plants from local nurseries, and other gardening materials from local stores.

Not only it will save you the transportation and packaging hassles but you may just find artistic and real products too.

Up-cycle

Reuse, recycle some of your junk / used products into interesting planters. Using empty plastic bottles, glass jars, tin boxes, can be made to grow plants that do well in water and lesser soil.

From money plants to kitchen herbs, such planters can help you make your own style statement.
Needless to mention, we will be happy to assist you in your quest to make your garden fully sustainable by recommending local partners who can fit the bill.
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blog Native Plants of India Sustainable Gardening Basics

5 native flowers to bring home this winter

Winters in Mumbai may not be as harsh as the northern cities. However, they could be the same for plants. The cold weather brings its own set of challenges for plants. With pest attacks such as the powdery mildew, mealy bugs, white flies, etc, plants are more prone to diseases and decay in winters than any other season.

Hence, while adding plants to your garden, choose a mix of both evergreen and seasonal flowers. This way you can keep your garden colourful and lively at all times.

When it comes to perennial flowering plants, you can opt for Orchids, Kaner, Ixora, Roses. On the other hand, winter blooming flowers such as Sevanti or Chrysanthemums, Kalanchoe, Begonia, Hydrangeas can add vigour to your garden.

These native flowers are not just hardy in nature but beautiful in blooms and foliage. So go on and bring them home now!
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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Pal Talks

It’s that time of the year where we begin to feel that slight nip in the air. And we start preparing ourselves with winter wear, food and lifestyle, etc.

Our plant buddies do that, too From changing colour of leaves to shedding them, they adjust their clothing and food habits in winters to survive.

3 things to look out in potted plants during this season

Sunlight

Regulate watering according to sunny & rainy days

Water

Be extra careful in your watering routine. Do not over water your plants. And certainly, avoid misting the leaves with sprayers. Just water the soil directly.

Fertilizers

It’s holiday time for plants too. Avoid over-fertilizing as they are in resting or dormancy mode. Perennial and spring season plants save their energy to grow back in full glory the next season.

Must have plant: Cockscomb or Lalmurga

Celosia argentea var.cristata, Amaranthaceae family

You can use it to add beauty to your existing garden or in flower arrangements as the Japanese do.

  • Blooming time: October – April
  • Soil: Well-drained acidic soil
  • Sunlight: 4-6 hours of bright direct sunlight
  • Nutrition: Manure/Vermicompost Once a month
  • Essential tip: Keep removing seeds from the tips to achieve bigger, healthier blooms
A Sustainable DIY: Bio-Enzymes for plants

Citrus is the flavour of the season.
Why not give a dose of Vitamin C to yourself and your plants! This simple and multi-purpose DIY bio-enzyme can be made within your own kitchen.

You can use it to add beauty to your existing garden or in flower arrangements as the Japanese do.

What you need:

  • 3 bowls of seasonal citrus peels (orange, lemon, pineapple)
  • 1 bowl of crushed or powdered jaggery
  • 10 bowls or 1 litre of water
  • An empty air-tight plastic jar (1/1.5 litre capacity)
  • And a lot of patience but it’s worth it!

How to make it:

  • Dissolve jaggery in water properly.
  • Add your peels, mix well, and close the lid tightly.
  • Keep the jar in a dark corner, away from direct sunlight.
  • Every alternate day open the lid momentarily to burp out the gas

Caution:
Bio-enzymes will release gas in the process. Make sure to open the lid at regular intervals to release it, else your container can explode

Note:

  • Your bio-enzyme will be ready in 3 months for use.
  • To fertilize plants, mix 30 ml from the stock with 1L water. Spray it on the plant foliage as well as flowers.
  • White scum forming on the upper layer indicates that fermentation is going fine.
  • Black spores or discoloration with a foul smell, discard the potion.
  • Leftover can be used as an accelerator for new batch of bio-enzyme or disinfecting your house.
  • Once the first batch is ready after 3 months, you can keep remaking it every month.

About the authors:

Dipti Agarwal

A full-time gardener, a part-time homemaker, and an ex-marketing professional. Holds diplomas from organic farming to public policy. Interests include taking care of plants, birds, humans, and everything else in between.

Aakanksha Dutta

Holds a Master’s in Plant Science and Herbal Wealth. Currently pursuing Ph.D. in Botany with Specialization in Medicinal Plants & Orchids.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Microblog Series: 3 daily routines for you and your plants

There are several similarities between us and plants. Our basic necessities are theirs too. In order to understand what plants need, a gardener must think about his or her own daily wants, such as Hydration, Fresh Air and Health Check-ups.

Hydration

Our water or liquids intake differ from season to season. In summer we feel more thirsty as compared to winters. Same is with plants. To understand how much water they need, look at their leaves. If they’re upright, they’re fine. If they’re drooping downwards, they’re thirsty.

Fresh Air

We all are oxygen loving creatures. A daily dose of fresh air is all we need to keep our lungs healthy. While plants can survive in closed, non-ventilated spaces, they might not thrive. Keeping them in open air or breeze can keep pests at bay, ensuring their good health.

Health Check-Ups

Prevention is better than cure – applies to plants as well. Diagnosing problems at the right time can give them a new lease of life. Whether it is a pest attack or lack of nutrients in soil, such problems when detected in early stages can help the spread and long-lasting effects.

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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Myth v/s fact: Maintenance v/s sustenance

One of the most common questions or concerns while creating a garden is centered around its maintenance. For new gardeners or beginners, this alone becomes the single, most important decision-making factor.

So let’s help our friends who are thinking of starting a garden.

Myth: Creating a garden means a lot of maintenance.

Gardens especially indoor gardens require more time, resources, attention and care. We need to install modern technologies such as humidifiers, mystifiers, air conditioners, for the plants to survive.

Fact: The kind of plants one chooses decides its maintenance.

Native or indigenous plants generally doesn’t require as much care, support and interventions as much as exotic or foreign origin plants do. They can sustain themselves easily if the garden is built using the right principles.

Native plants by default become low-maintenance as they’re well versed with the climatic conditions, weather and environment around them. They have spent centuries learning and adapting to it. These plants deploy their natural, in-built defence mechanism against unpredicted weather changes, pest attacks, or any kind of external influence.

Having said that, plants are like human beings. While they need food, nutrition, air, water among other things, they also need a gardener’s love, care and attention in order to thrive and become fully self-sustainable.