Sunday, December 16, 2001		Garden Life

Successfully grow varied plants
Satish Narula

TIME and again, I have been stressing that gardeners should try something different from others. In this context, I have tried to introduce you to some rare species too through my write-ups. At times, however, I get certain queries on how we can grow such and such plant when the conditions are not suitable for it as per the literature? My answer to it is: forget about the instructions. They are based on foreign authors’ experiences and typical to their conditions. Try it for yourself, of course, providing at least the minimum requirements of a particular species and I am sure you will be rewarded with success.

Over the years, I have been watching the gardeners at Chandigarh who have introduced various species of plants. So have a few gardeners at various other places too. Mostly, they shy away, saying that the climate of Chandigarh is far more conducive and gardeners there can experiment, while others can’t. Why not? Try, even if you fail, to get results as far as one is concerned you can succeed in others.

Last year, I planted Hedychium at the Pushpa Gujral Science City site at Kapurthala. The place is considered to have a harsh climate. The result was excellent flowering. Fragrant flowers appear in large numbers and have been doing so consistently for about a month and half now.

Also called orchid lily, butterfly lily or ginger lily, it is a rhizomatous plant grown from ginger-like rhizomes. These were planted on ridges, one foot from plant to plant and one and a half foot from ridge to ridge. The plant grows to a height of about a metre. They like a good amount of humus and wet feet. We grew it near the water channel on the side from where it received essential supply of water when other plants were watered. The flowers are borne terminally, are white with a yellow speck in the centre. The foliage is sheathed and clasps the main stem. Make sure, if you grow them, to grow them in semi-shade.

Similarly, we are successfully growing Eucharis, Anthuriums, Agapanthus, Zephyranthes, orchids, Hemerocallis, Hymnocallis Morea at Science City, Kapurthala, just to tell you to try it, at your place wherever you are.

Do not bother too much about the climactic conditions. Provide the minimum requirements i.e. shade, semi-shade, full sun, moisture or scant watering, less or more humus in the cold or warmth under some protection. There is no reason why you should not succeed.