In window gardening, plants are grown within the room just opposite or close to the window or on the windowsill outside. This is the most satisfying way of gardening for flat dwellers of cities where there is space crunch. Nowadays, window ledge (sometimes referred to as flowerbed) is a part of the architecture for keeping…
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Tubs or urns are classic garden ornaments, useful for display in the terrace, roof garden, backyard, veranda and on the doorsteps. Tubs and urns are portables and hence can be used for temporary decoration indoors or elsewhere. Ornamental plants displayed in these decorative containers at suitable places look beautiful. Even an ordinary plant grown in…
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In modern days, most of the working professionals spend more time on their office desk than any other place. We all have tried keeping a live plant next on our working or studying table with varying degree of success. Why not take it even further. Let’s have a look at various ways by which you…
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Microgreens are nothing but leafy vegetables picked at their first leaf stage. Microgreens are older than sprouts but, younger than baby plants, as harvesting is done within the first couple of weeks after seed sowing. Microgreens are grown in shallow containers and bright locations. Let’s have a look at all the benefits that microgreens have…
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For a landscape to be called as garden, it must be made up of lots of conventional and some unconventional garden features. The plantation part of a landscape gardening is called softscaping. In your own residential complex you can develop a complete garden by using right softscaping material. Let’s have a look at top garden…
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Marsh garden, also known as a bog garden, is a marsh area where the soil is swampy, and a shallow stream or trickle runs through it. The primary criterion for marsh garden is to keep it moist and in a swampy state. For this reason, marsh garden can be made at low lying site where…
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Miniature plants are getting more and more popular in home gardens of India. It’s important to understand that all small plants are not Bonsai. While Bonsai is an art of purposely dwarfing the trees, Miniature plants are genetically dwarf varieties of some of the famous ornamental plants. Many of the indoor plants have their dwarf…
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There are friendly visitors in your garden who give more than they take. These visitors from the animal kingdom are your true garden friends. Some help to pollinate your plants, some make the soil superior for planting while others protect your garden from pest attacks. Let’s meet our friends & learn about their importance: 1….
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This blog is part of our series of blogs on Bonsai. Here we are going to learn about making a fresh new bonsai from a non-bonsai plant. To understand the basics of Bonsai gardening, read ‘Art of making bonsai’ & ‘The magic of Bonsai trees’ Aim: To prepare Bonsai from the available plant. Requirements: Plant,…
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Vegetables that grow naturally without any cultivation or care are called wild vegetables. These plants mainly grow in forests, wilderness, edges of farmlands, and barren fields. In the early days of the monsoon season, these vegetables are available for consumption. Along with being vegetables, a majority of them are also medicinal plants. Most of the…
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The lawn is the centrepiece of a garden, the canvas against which the rest of the garden is painted. For many gardeners this makes it worth all the mowing, feeding and grooming that a good lawn demands. If your lawn has to serve as a play area as well, be realistic and sow tough grasses,…
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Palms are admired for their ornamental, economic and ecological importance. This unique group of plants contain about 212 genera and 2779 species belonging to family Palmae or Arecaceae. Palms inhabit nearly every type of habitat within their range from rainforest to deserts. Contrary to their typical coconut tree like appearance, palms exhibit an enormous diversity…
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Root cutting is a semi-artificial, vegetative plant propagation technique. While in stem or leaf cuttings, the process of rooting is essential, whereas in root cuttings the process of new shoot formation is essential. Quite a large number of plants can be grown by root cuttings. The general criterion is that root cuttings may propagate any…
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Shrubs or trees planted at regular intervals to form a continuous screen is called a hedge. A garden hedge can serve the purpose of compound wall, give shelter from strong winds, ensure privacy, and form a background screen for a flower garden, vegetable garden etc. A live impregnable hedge, reinforced with barbed wire, is inexpensive…
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A time will come very soon when composting at home or in your society will be made mandatory by law. Before you think that it’s being enforced on you, look at the primary reasons why it is so important. The following information will give you wider perspective towards the idea of home composting, and you…
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Landscape gardening is all about the right use of ornamental plants. All over the world, more or less a fixed set of popular ornamental plant varieties are used, regardless of their origin. In fact, most of the ornamental plants in our garden are exotic. One has to understand that even if these plants are lovely…
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About Vetiver Plant: The scientific name of Vetiver is Chrysopogon zizanioides belonging to family Poaceae (grass family). In India, Vetiver is commonly known as ‘Khus.’ Vetiver is one of those multipurpose grasses that are economically and ecologically important. Vetiver is a bunch-grass that can grow up to 5 feet tall. Leaves are long and linear…
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Cassia fistula is the most widely known Cassia in India. This leguminous tree is native to the Indian subcontinent. The tree is known by many common names; the most popular ones are Golden Shower, Pudding Pipe, and Indian Laburnum. Locally in India, it is widely known by its Hindi name ‘Amaltas.’ Many other vernacular names…
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About Mogra plant: Mogra plant is dwarf growing shrub with almost stalkless leaves and wavy margins. The plant can be grown as a short climber too. The heavy scented white flowers are borne in clusters of 3 to 12 and may be single, semi-double or perfectly double. The plant flowers mainly in the summer and…
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Plants can fall sick because of many reasons. It is important for gardeners to understand the difference between plant diseases and physiological disorders. The symptoms of both can be quite deceptive and confusing at times. In this blog, we will look at primary symptoms of plant diseases caused due to fungi, bacteria and viruses, signs…
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Dahlias grow in a wide range of colours and forms. The plant is not difficult to grow, and even an amateur can raise beautiful Dahlias. The genus Dahlia belongs to family Asteraceae. The so-called flower of Dahlia is a capitulum inflorescence made up of many flowers (florets) arranged peculiarly. The outer ray florets have all…
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There are plenty of things that we regularly use without knowing their alternative benefits. There are many such household materials we can use for the gardening purpose. We bring forth the usual list materials with their unusual application in gardening. Enjoy! 1. Aspirin A famous painkiller often referred as wonderdrug in the medical world; aspirin…
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Vegetable gardening can be exciting and somewhat addictive. Unlike ornamental and flower gardening, growing vegetables is a more demanding job, as a gardener has to engage in a whole lot of dedicated activities. One has to follow a routine of general gardening practices like sowing, soil mixing, land preparations, watering schedule, plant protection, fertilizers etc.;…
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Every garden lover has to invent their styles of gardening commensurate with their budget, taste and nature of the site. You can develop your garden design only when you study all the great garden styles carefully and grasp the underlying principles in them. Following are three basic forms of gardening: 1. Formal gardens: A formal…
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Orchids are undoubtedly the most curious looking ornamental flowers in the world. They belong to a botanical family Orchidaceae, which is one of the largest families in flowering plants. There are about 700 genera and more than 30 thousand wild species of orchids. Among them, around 1,300 species are found in India. The number of…
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Home gardening in India is a fluid concept. One may have a proper front yard or a backyard garden. One may grow plants in pots placed on a terrace, rooftop, balcony or even windowsills, and it all qualifies for a home garden. One thing is common in all Indian home gardens is the choice of…
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What is Topiary? The art of clipping and shearing the shrubs, small trees and sometimes even herbaceous perennials into ornamental or abstract shapes is known as topiary. Topiary can be the most exciting feature of a garden with the forms of birds, animals, beasts, humans and lot more. The term is derived from Roman word…
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January not only brings the opportunity to start the year afresh, but it also gives us another year to celebrate the Republic Day. The day dedicated to honoring the Constitution of India that came into effect on 26 January 1950, is celebrated with great vigor throughout the country. This year let’s change the traditional way…
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The duration of light during a day is termed as photo-period. Photo-periodism is the physiological reaction and developmental response of plants to the length of day or night. The duration of photo-period has the most profound effect on flowering of plants. Plants can be subdivided into following three groups according to their daily requirements of…
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In bonsai gardening, re-potting is the beginning of presenting a plant in a special form. The plant is placed specialized bonsai pot, which is a shallow ceramic container with two distinct drainage holes at the bottom. Re-potting in bonsai is always done in association with root pruning, and complete or partial modification of soil mixtures….
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A green roof is a vegetated space (plantation) that is integrated on the top of a man-made structure like a commercial or a residential building. A green roof is often referred as rooftop garden or terrace garden in India. These gardens are developed to be accessible to people and may involve elaborate landscaping requirements such…
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2018 is going to be crucial for environmental protection. Gardeners have to step up and take up the responsibility as representatives of the green team. Apart from soil and water conservation, the following are five important green resolutions, which if fulfilled will have long term impact on sustainable development: 1. Collect seeds: Humans have always been…
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Many plant growers often ask what kind of soil or potting mixture should be added to a pot of indoor plants? What is the ideal potting mix? Are the properties of ideal soil or potting mixture measurable? Well, it turns out that physical and chemical properties of ideal soil and potting mixture are measurable. Let’s…
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Cocopeat is natural fiber made out of coconut husks. The extraction of coconut fiber from husks gives us this byproduct called coco-peat, which is a 100% natural growing medium. This cocopeat dried in the natural sun is processed to produce different items namely cocopeat block, coco peat briquettes, cocopeat tablets, etc. Loose coco peat is…
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Propagation of plants by cuttings is the cheapest and most convenient method of vegetative plant propagation. While stem cutting is widespread, many plants can be grown by leaf cuttings, particularly the fleshy-leaved one and succulents. Following are different types of leaf cuttings: 1. Leaf stalk cuttings: A mature adult leaf with stalk can be inserted…
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What is pinching? The act of pinching involves the removal of the growing point of a shoot along with few leaves. About 1-2 cm of a growing shoot of a young plant is snapped off with fingers. Pinching is done mostly in annuals and herbaceous perennials. It is hardly required for any trees or shrubs….
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Scientific name: Plectranthus amboinicus Family: Lamiaceae Plant part used: Leaves. Medicinal properties of Patta Ajwain: Coolant, Stimulant, Digestive, Stomach Gases, Anthelmintic, Wound Healing, Cough, Cold, Reducing ‘Kapha’ and ‘Vata.’ Patta Ajwain information: It’s a small, erect, perennial, herbaceous, aromatic plant. Leaves are fleshy, green, hairy and full of essential oils and aromatic compounds. The stem…
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Plants require 16 elements for healthy growth and reproduction. The essential elements C, H, and O are supplied largely from the air (carbon dioxide and Oxygen) and water. The remaining 13 elements, usually referred to as mineral nutrients, are provided from several sources. Let’s have a look at essential functions of all 13 mineral nutrients,…
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What is Polyhouse? Polyhouse is a type of greenhouse where specialized polythene sheet is used as a covering material under which the crops can be grown in partially or fully controlled climatic conditions. Traditionally, the greenhouses were constructed on wooden frames where the glass was used as a cladding material. With the advancement of plastic technology,…
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Of all the annuals, the Sweet pea is unique in its exquisite beauty and fragrance. This plant has different requirements than other annuals, therefore, justifies a particular spot to itself in a garden. The Scientific name of sweet pea is Lathyrus odoratus, and it belongs to the Leguminosae family. Sweet peas is a vine that…
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Scientific name of betel leaf: Piper betel Family: Piperaceae Plant part used: Leaves Medicinal properties of Betel leaf: Digestive, Cathartic, Taste stimulant, Mouth freshener, Mouth cleansing, aphrodisiac. Betel leaf information: In India, Betel leaf is popularly known by the name ‘Paan,’ meaning leaf. There are ‘Paan’ shops in literally all street corners of every town…
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Who can resist the delicious snap of crunchy, sweet homegrown carrots? Most people think carrots can be grown in long rows on the ground in the garden, but they are perfect for containers too. The long and narrow veggies fit comfortably in a container. There are hundreds of carrots varieties all over the world. In…
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Kale is a cool-season crop, that is a member of the cabbage family and a healthy leafy green vegetable. It is one of the most popular and nutritious vegetables around the world, and its popularity is steadily increasing in India. The Scientific name of Kale is Brassica oleracea; it belongs to the same species of…
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In Maharashtra, Narak-Chaturdashi is considered as the first day of Diwali. On this day a particular type of aromatic bath is taken called ‘Abhyanga Snan’. Before the bath, a fragrant herbal paste called Utna or Ubtan is applied to the body. It’s made out of special herbs which have a therapeutic value. Following are the…
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The staunch nature lover may advocate that flowers look best on the plants only. While this is true to a great extent, the practice of using flowers for decoration is an age-old tradition, which is followed today and may remain so far ages to come. Indian style floral ornaments are used on special occasions like…
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The line is the most fundamental element of landscaping. It creates a sense of direction and movement. If you have to design any landscape or draw a garden plan, it more or less starts with drawing lines. In landscaping, lines exist in softscape (garden plants) as well as hardscape (manmade features). Read about 10 tips for…
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About Sita Ashoka tree: Ashok is one of the most legendary and sacred trees of India. The Scientific name of Sita Ashok is Saraca asoca, and it belongs to Leguminosae family. This tree is native to Indian subcontinent & it is found growing naturally in the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas. It is a…
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Propagation of plants by division: Propagation by division is the simplest method of vegetative propagation. The plants which produce masses of stems at ground level, each having its own root system, are lifted from the ground and divided into individuals. Many of the plants such as Aster, Chrysanthemum, Russelia, Plumbago, Tuberose, and most of the…
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Do you wish to Bring these Nine Colors of Navratri in Your Garden? We will tell you how. Navratri – The nine-day long festival is full of fun and fervor. All the carousel is incomplete without the nine colors that are dedicated to Goddess Durga’s nine forms Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Skanda Mata, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Katyayani, Maha…
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Gardening is full of challenges, and there is no bigger challenge than having a control of pests and insects. This problem can get severe in vegetable farming and kitchen gardening. It is not a good idea to use toxic chemical pesticides right away. As part of prevention, you must include protector plants in your vegetable…
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What are bulbs? Botanically, Bulb is a specialized plant organ, which is a modification of stem with scaly leaves. In bulbs, the stem is reduced to a disc around which fleshy leaf scales remain attached. The word ‘Bulb’; in commercial horticulture and gardening means much more than the strict botanical interpretation. Besides bulbs, this includes…
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Evergreen or flowering small trees are dominant elements of a home garden and contribute substantially to the garden atmosphere. The selection of trees would depend on the architecture of home garden and the landscaping purpose for which the tree is required. Let’s have a look at some of the small trees that can be grown…
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Many of the houseplants in their natural habitat receive a high amount of humidity. It is impossible to maintain high humid conditions indoors because it would be uncomfortable for the inmates. As a result, plants that require high humid conditions can face difficulty growing indoors. But it is possible to improvise methods by which humidity…
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Color is the most conspicuous element in the landscape and is usually the focus of most homeowners. Color is found in the soft-scaping features like flowers, foliage, bark, and fruit of plants. It is also found in hardscaping features like buildings, rocks, pavers, wood, and furniture. However, the seasonal flowering plants consist of all imaginative…
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In Ganesh festival, there is a ritual of offering 21 Patri (leaves) to Lord Ganesh during Ganesh puja. This is a time of the year in India when there is greenery everywhere. Most of the plants used in Ganesh ‘patris’ are common household names, and some of them are rare. Earlier all the women in…
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About Kadamba tree: The Scientific name of Kadamba is Neolamarckia cadamba; however more popular synonym is Anthocephalus cadamba. It belongs to Rubiaceae family. The Kadamba tree is indigenous to hotter parts of India. It is known by numerous other names throughout India. Kadamba is a large, handsome tree that can grow more than 10 m…
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