For a greener world...

The Garden City is fast losing its lush green cover. The temperatures are soaring, pollution levels rising. Such dire times call for apt measures. Susheela Srinivas suggests gardening in the comfort of your home.

 The greenery in Bengaluru is thinning out pretty fast, don’t you think? The City, once known for its innumerable gardens, seems to be losing its lush green cover, paving the path for a concrete jungle. The current soaring temperatures are proof enough of this dire scenario. So, is there anything we can do to remedy the situation? 

Sure, as individuals, we can do our bit to restore the greenery in our immediate vicinity. All we need to do is grow a green thumb. Even if you don’t think of gardening as your forte, it is never too late to begin. All it takes, really, is some determination and effort. One of the biggest misconceptions about gardening is that it takes a lot of space and time. Many believe that gardening needs large, open spaces, lots of time and professional training. But that’s not true. Plants can be accommodated in any given space of your home. Unlike most creatures, these green beauties don’t demand much of your precious spaces. 

The ‘green’ effect

Studies have shown that green is an eye vitaliser and the wavelength of green light is best for healthy eyes. The additional lungful of oxygen is a bonus. Given the speed at which the City is moving towards a concrete future, it’s the right time to start going green. If you can sensitise and rope in your family in this venture, it can be a great bonding exercise, minus all the gadgets and other distractions. 

For a garden in your home, feel free to choose flowering plants or a small vegetable patch. Or you could include both , fresh fragrant flowers and organic veggies in your abode. If you are wondering what to put where, here are some guidelines to help you get started:
* It is easy to fit in a few pots just about anywhere — on the steps, the balconies, windowsills, terrace, near the main entrance or indoors. Some creepers are easy to hang from ledges, ceilings or along the wall. Even a matchbox-sized balcony can easily accommodate five to six pots at any given point of time. In fact, a six-by-three-feet balcony can easily house a couple of flowering plants and a few greens or vegetables. A bigger balcony obviously offers the advantage of space, thereby letting you experiment with more plants. 

* A terrace is a great place to have an eye-catchy garden. Along with pots, plan for a mini lawn or landscaping. This space is versatile as it can hold many pots together. Maybe you could grow flowers like jasmine, chrysanthemum, dahlia and roses here. 
* If you are amongst the few fortunate homeowners blessed with a patch of land around your home, what can I say? Just get started on your green venture now. 
* Windowsills are ideal for growing herbs like mint, basil, and greens like fenugreek and mustard. Even veggies like beans could be grown in mini pots in this space.
 If you find regular watering and tending a hassle, why not choose cacti and indoor plants? They need very little maintenance, even though they add a touch of exquisiteness to the home. Even something as simple as a money plant can do wonders for a space. You could let it hang from a hanging pot, or climb it along the railing of the staircase. How about the kitchen windowsill or a corner in the bathroom? A visit to a good nursery will open up a plethora of options to suit your space and time constraints.

Once you figure out the kind of plants and the right amount of space, there are other essential factors to consider. Here are some of them: 

Pots: Cement or mud pots are long-lasting and sturdy. However, even old plastic buckets, containers or pickle jaadis are fine to start with. 
Soil: Soil that has the right mix of manure can be sourced from the neighbourhood nursery. They will be able to guide you through the initial phase. Neem-based products serve the purpose of pest control. Additionally, peels of garlic, onion, ginger etc from your kitchen can strengthen the plants from within and make them naturally pest-resistant .

Once or twice a year, you need to re-energise the soil. Either learn the technique and do it yourself or engage a gardener. Re-energising mainly involves giving the soil a good shake-up. Remove the potting soil and mix it with some natural fertiliser. If there are any lumps, break them down. Now put back the loose rich soil back into the pot and start planting again.
Water: Here, your options include sprinklers, a hose or the regular bucket and mug. You can also water the plants with the waste water from your kitchen — water used for washing veggies, rice, lentils. The plants benefit immensely from this water and it will also help you save on natural resources. Place a plastic tray under the pots to collect excess water or ensure the excess water runs out freely. Else, the roots will decay soon.
Tools: It is good to invest in a few handheld tools like a spade, digging fork and cutter. You need them to cut, prune and dig around the plant. These also help in de-weeding, sowing and airing the plants. It’s a good idea to invest in a pair of gloves if you do not like to soil your hands.  
Seeds: Always go in for good quality seeds that are easily available in the market. For flowering plants, visit a nursery and have your pick. For vegetables, your kitchen itself is a good source — tomatoes, chilli seeds, okra, and beans. Instead of throwing away ripened vegetables, remove their seeds and plant them. The stalks of greens from the market with the roots intact are good enough. Soon, you will see them spring to life with tiny leaves. Though the yield is low in this method, it is an encouraging start.
Sunlight: Moderate to good amount of sunlight is necessary for a good yield. Some plants need very little sunlight though. So, choose the plants according to the availability of sunlight around the house.
Crop rotation: Borrow from the farmers’ experience and rotate your plants for a better yield. 

It’s that simple. Keeping these pointers in mind, you can easily add a dash of green to the colour palette of your home and contribute to greener surroundings. Change begins with you.