Tag: gardening

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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

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 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.

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blog Native Plants of India

Tarwar: The miracle flower

Tarwar – The miracle flower
Tarwar (Senna auriculata) is a miracle plant. It is popularly known as Avartaki, Avarampoo, Tanner’s Cassia. Bright yellow flowers, medicinal values, and an evergreen foliage, defines this humble plant
Found widely growing in the dry zones of peninsular India as far as the northern parts of Rajasthan, Tarwar is an extremely hardy plant. It can survive the harshest weather conditions.
Grown as a hedge plant, it is typically found along roadsides and various other open degraded habitats and in scrub forests, usually on stony, dry or sandy soils.
Tarwar is widely used a a household medicinal plant from being an antiseptic to treating skin disorders. In Ayurveda, the root of this plant is used in a decoction for fevers, diabetes, diseases of the urinary system and constipation.
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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 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

FAQs: What is the fuss about exotic plants?

If an exotic or non-native plant is introduced in a new country / region, it may thrive equally well like the locals. However, it comes at a cost. Both for you and our environment.

Exotic plants affect the ecological functions in several ways.

Outnumber natives

To survive, exotic plants multiply at a much faster rate than native plants. In the long run, such exotic plants become invasive and push the native plants into extinction.

Degrade soil quality

In the race of survival, exotics end up consuming more nutrients present in the soil. Slowly and gradually, this process deprives native plants of basic nutrition to grow.

Reduce foliage area

Leaf canopy or structure of such plants is usually thin, fragile. Exotic trees such as pine don't let other plants to grow besides them, thus, reducing the green foliage area.

Induce pest attacks

One of the common problems with exotic plantation is frequent pest attacks. Native plants have the immunity to fight known and unknown pests as compared to exotics.

Bring new diseases

Plants from different countries may carry along certain organisms and viruses. Such scenarios can give birth to new diseases among plants on a foreign soil.

A simple observation related to the movement and settlement of birds can give us an idea of this impact.

For instance, birds use their intelligence to recognize exotic trees and avoid building their nests on them in the absence of an alternative. (non-native or exotic trees are weaker in the rooting system as compared to the native trees and are more prone to falling).

On the other hand, invasion, predation of birds is higher when they settle down on exotic trees v/s native, displacing species and eventually leading to their extinction.

Exotic plants are not bad by themselves. They are just plants after all, but happen to be in a different place, unknown environment, and more often bring along a host of issues. The human endeavor to introduce and multiply exotic plants in non-native conditions creates a negative impact on the local ecology.
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blog Client Project Sustainable Gardening Basics

5 native alternatives to popular houseplants

In our earlier post, we talked about the top five exotic houseplants. But what do we use in their place?


Here’s a list of native or indigenous plant that can serve as alternatives to exotic plants in your garden. Such plants are not just similar in terms of size, shape, colours, formation but are pro local environment.

Start by adopting these hardy, low-maintenance indoor plants that can serve as great alternatives to exotic plants.

While creating a new garden or adding plants to your existing one, choose plants wisely. Building a home garden with native varieties has several benefits – for you and our environment.
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blog Sustainable Gardening Basics

Microblog Series: 3 similarities between humans and plants

Plants and human beings are no different. We share a similar response and survival mechanism. Few of these aspects include:

A little bit of fresh air is something we all need. Like us, plants can also suffocate in closed, non-ventilated spaces. Such conditions slowly stagnate the growth, eventually leading to pre-mature death of the plant. Placing plants near open windows or spaces which have some air circulation can help them grow.

Social distancing doesn’t protect us alone from germs, it also protects plants. A little bit of space between each plant can help in preventing pests travel from one plant to the other. Space also allows plants to flourish and avoid the feeling of claustrophobia.

A regular dose of nutritious meals can really boost our metabolism and immunity. Similar to us, plants also need a regular intake of minerals, vitamins, proteins to reach their full potential. Natural, organic ways of providing nutrition can go a long way in maintaining plant health.