Free counselling on plant care
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 2 — In addition to a number of clinics and hospitals for human beings and animals, the City Beautiful can now boast of a plant disease clinic, where free treatment of diseased plants and counselling on all aspects of horticulture and floriculture will be available to plant lovers on weekends.

The clinic, first of its kind in the region and set up by an horticulture expert, will not only serve residents of the city as far as ‘plant health’ is concerned, but will also serve as a showcase of rare plants and trees.

According to Dr Satish K. Narula, the city-based Punjab Agriculture Representative, not that only residents of the city could avail the facility, but anybody from the region could get services of the clinic without paying anything. The only condition is that the ''guardians'' of the diseased plants will have to seek a prior appointment on telephone No 701142.

“In case of an emergency, anybody could step in any time,” said Dr Narula, adding that like in hospitals, people could even get admitted their plants in the clinic — that too without paying any charges — if the disease was serious one and could not be treated at home. He said diseased plants whether afflicted by virus, malnutrition, etc would get treatment at the clinic at 2183, Sector 21-B.

Asked what had led him to set up such a clinic, Dr Narula said the idea behind the project was to help the people who developed sentimental attachment with their plants and got hurt when these perish due to one disease or the other.

"This was more in case when a plant is gifted to somebody by his near or dear one. In that case, the shock due to death of a plant is like death of any other living being."

People were free to consult the clinic regarding all gardening problems and proper methods to grow vegetables in their houses. He said the clinic was equipped with the latest equipment and medicines required for the purpose.

"We will educate people on the use of the latest techniques and equipment like drip irrigation of pots and overhead sprinklers and their benefits to plants," said Mr Narula, adding that the clinic would be functional on Saturdays and Sundays.

Rare plants such as schefflera, mussanda, begonia, dwarf acalypha and anthurium had also been displayed at the clinic, said Dr Narula.