Gardening is a rewarding hobby that can be taken up at any time of the year. Now that you are enjoying your summer vacation you can experiment growing and nurturing different plant varieties that require your time and care and of course, attention.

It will also give you knowledge about different plant species, plus you can always share the joys of gardening by exchanging plants with your friends and cousins and/or by gifting them a plant on their birthdays. A unique idea isn’t it?

If you are fond of plants and gardening and really want to have some nice plants around you, then you must have some information about the plant you intend to buy or grow from a seed or sapling. For instance, you need to know the quantity of water and how much and how long your plant requires sunlight and what is the right kind and size of pot for it.

Gardening offers you pure pleasures and innocent joys while you don’t have to spend time in the blazing sun to water and take care of your plants.

Now that your morning timings are not occupied by school, wake up early and water your plants before the sun is overhead. This is also the right time as the water does not evaporate in the scorching sun, but remains in the soil for a few hours. At this time of the day, you can also enjoy gardening activities such as removing dry leaves from your plants or pulling out any weeds growing in the soil that eventually hamper plant growth. These repetitive activities are in fact meditative and provide relaxation.

You need to consider different factors explained in the following paragraphs when keeping plants.

Perennial and seasonal plants

Mother nature has bestowed us with both perennial and seasonal plants. Seasonal plants are mostly flowering while the perennial variety includes both flowering and non-flowering plants also shrubs. Summer brings with it Zinnia flowers; while winter comes with asters, pansies and chrysanthemums blooms. Among the perennial varieties are roses, hibiscus and many more local plants and shrubs found at nurseries.

Sunlight

Many flowering plants like roses won’t flower in shade. Roses require seven to eight hours of sunlight every day, while seasonal plants also require sufficient sun. When buying shrubs from the nursery, you can ask the sales person about how many hours of sunlight your plant will need.

Non-flowering plants are unique because of their fascinating leaves, they don’t require much sunlight and will grow well in partial shade.

When you are done with selecting the plant variety, you will then have to assess how much sunlight your chosen plant will get in your lawn, balcony or chosen spot. Among non-flowering plants, such as money plants and crotons, they can be placed/grown in shady places.

Water

Plants should not be watered in direct sunlight. Try watering them early morning or early evenings. Some plants require daily watering, while some will require water every two or three days.

When you water plants early morning the afternoon sun will dry off extra water so that plants will not get waterlogged.

Soil

Soil should be a mixture of clay and sand called loam. Loam is good for plants as it’s not too sticky or too sandy. You can add organic soil/compost which is easily available at the nurseries and at shops that sell seeds and gardening tools.

The right pot

Pot size is also important; choose the one in which plant roots can have enough space to grow and expand and they have a good drainage system also. The holes at the bottom of flower pots assure that the roots don’t get water-logged.

Also clay pots are better than plastic ones. However, if you are using a plastic pot instead of a clay pot, then your plant will require more frequent watering as roots become hot in plastic pots.

Safeguarding from pests

Although we don’t need pesticides at home for the local plants that we buy and grow, be watchful of the health of your plants. Plants are also susceptible to pests. When buying a pesticide, you should take an infected leaf to the gardening shop. This will help the shopkeeper assess which kind of pesticide your plant will be need.

As you are young, you must not use pesticides, if there really is a need of using the one, ask the gardener or an adult to spray the right way.

Trimming

Some plants having wayward growth require regular trimming. Trimming should be done after the flowering season and that also be done correctly by the gardener.

Wrapping

Delicate or young plants can easily be damaged by winds. Give support with a stick and tie them with loose strings so that the damage due to winds is minimised; this also gives them right direction to grow.

Gardening is a hobby that is rewarding but it requires patience at the same time. In addition, it makes you a responsible person as you water plants every day and take care of them. Gardening also has therapeutic benefits and it helps people with change of mind as they see nature very closely. Unlike some other hobbies, gardening can be taken up at a minimum of cost. You can buy small pots, plants and seeds from nurseries that are not very expensive.

To start with, you can ask your mother to give you coriander seeds. You can plant those seeds and reap a harvest of home-grown fresh coriander every day. Coriander also grows very fast and you won’t have to wait long before your mother can use it in the kitchen.

You don’t need to have a large space to adopt gardening as a hobby, because pots are available in all sizes and can be placed in balconies too. A kitchen garden will give you fresh supply of organic, home-grown vegetables while growing ornamental plants and shrubs will add beauty to your home.

Instead of only watching TV or spending time on social media, this vacation you can take up gardening and enjoy to the maximum.

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 27th, 2019