Medicinal plants you can have in your house

Hello Everyone

Today we will talk about the plant which we can grow in our house for home remedies for may disease or common problems.We will talk about very few common plants which you can easily identify and get it easily.This topic is whole way of treatment called ayurveda.

List of plants are

Aloe Vera
Tulsi
Sweet Basil
Neem
Papaya leaves
Bael
Mint
Giloy
Hibiscus
Harsingar

Aloe Vera

also known as ‘Ghritkumari’ in Hindi, ‘Kalabanda’ in Telugu, ‘Katralai’ in Tamil, ‘Kumari’ in Malayalam, ‘Lolisara’ in Kannada, ‘Koraphada’ in Marathi, and ‘Ghrtakumari’ in Bengali

• Aloe Vera Juice helps in constipation ,improves digestion and immune system.
• Can be used as moisturizer on skin and hair scalp.
• Helpful on skin rashes or ,irritation,burns and cuts and helpful in stopping bleeding.
• Lowers the risk of cancer

Tulsi

It is a holy plant .Many people worship this plant .It purifies air.

• It helps in curing cough and cold.
• It helps in curing respiratory [problem and fever.
• It helps in reducing the pain caused by measles, chicken pox, and small pox.
•  A mixture of basil leaves juice and coconut oil can be applied on cuts and wounds to give relief.
•  Chewing a basil leaf or applying the juice of basil leaves on the area stung or bitten by an insect also helps relieve the pain as well as draw the venom out.
• It reduces cholesterol and blood sugar level.

Sweet Basil 
Is also known as "Marua" or "Marjoram"

• It helps in cough and cold
• it helps in sinusitis
• it helps in menstural problem

Neem

• Neem leaves have anti-bacterial properties which is why it works wonders on infections, burns and any kind of skin problems. It destroys the bacteria that causes infections.

•  For eye trouble boil some neem leaves, let the water cool completely and then use it to wash your eyes. This will help any kind of irritation, tiredness or redness.

• Turmeric combined with a paste of neem leaves can also be used for itching, eczema, ring worms and some mild skin diseases.
• Crush some neem leaves and take them with a glass of water to increase your immunity.
• Take some neem oil and rub it into the scalp, leave it in for a while and wash. Neem oil can strengthen your hair, prevent hair fall,grey hairs and treat dandruff.
• You can use neem oil as mosquito repellent.

Rest of the plants we will discuss in next time.

 

Summer Vegetable garden

Hello Everyone

Previously we talked about Summer flowers.We can have vegetable gardens.Vegetables you can grow in summer are as follows

Pumpkin
Bitter gourd
Ladyfinger
Ridge gourd
Bottle gourd
Colocassi
Capsicum
Onion
Tomato
Brinjal
Cucumber 
Zucchini
French Beans
Snake Gourd
Amranth Leaves(chawli Bhaji)

You can buy seeds or you can get from your kitchen.

How to Grow Vegetables

It will take around 1 1/2 to 2 months to start giving vegetables.

Summer Garden

Hello everyone
Today we will talk about the rest flowers which I listed in previous blogs which are as below.

• Roses
• Hibiscus
• Portulaca
• Aster
• Daisy
• Calendula

Roses

use larger containers with a minimum depth of 30-45cm (12-18in).Roses love sunshine and should receive sun for at least half the day.In container plants can be potted up any time between October and march.Better before march.Soil should be well drained and rich with compost and organic manure.roses needs lots of water but not over watered. pruning and hoeing helps a lot in plant growth and blooming.

Hibiscus

Cannot  tolerate frost and freeze.If its too cold keep it inside. Loves full sun.Soil should be fertilized and well drained.In very hot summer the soil should always be moist not soggy.Flowering may slow down in mid summer heat.

Portulaca

When planting the portulaca seeds, it is not necessary to cover the seed at all and, if covered, only very lightly as they need the sun to sprout and grow. Portulaca flowers tolerate many kinds of soil but prefer sandy, well-drained soil and love the full sunlight. These plants are excellent for high heat and drought tolerance, and will seed and spread themselves very well. When they are watered, just a light watering will do, as their root is very shallow.

Aster 

Very easy to grow not much care required. Deadheading is required for more blooms.It blooms in late summer,Loves full sun.

Calendula

Too much calendula care can result in stunted or slow growth of calendula plants. Poor to average, well draining soil and only occasional watering after plants are established is the secret to growing  calendula plants. Deadheading is required for more blooms.

Next time we will talk about vegetable garden

How and when to start summer garden

Hello Everyone

Now summers are on the way .So this is the perfect time to start your summer garden.In north India when chill winter is gone and winter is decreasing day by day generally in month of February and march you can start your summer garden.

 You can have 

• Flower Garden

• Vegetable garden

Flower Garden

It is time for us to discover what’s perfect for the over 30 degree weather. The summer season spreads from March to May with monsoon season beginning in June. Even though gardens require comparatively more nurturing and care during summers, the variety of flowers that bloom in this particular season make it worth the effort.

• Sunflowers

Sunflowers grow best in locations with direct sun (6 to 8 hours per day); they prefer long, hot summers to flower well.
Sunflowers have long tap roots which need to stretch out so the plants prefer well-dug, loose, well-draining soil.
Sunflowers are heavy feeders so the soil needs to be nutrient-rich with organic matter or composted (aged) manure. Or, work in a slow release granular fertilizer 8 inches deep into your soil.A light application of fertilizer mixed in at planting time will encourage strong root growth to protect them from blowing over in the wind.Tall species and cultivars require support. Bamboo stakes are a good choice for any plant that has a strong, single stem and needs support for a short period of time.

• Lilies
• Zinnia

• Zinnias are grown from seed; they grow very quickly in the right conditions. Zinnias do not like to be transplanted.
• Full sun is essential with a minimum daylight temperature of 60 degrees F.
• If soil is amended with compost, the flowers will grow more quickly.
• Sow seeds ¼-inch deep.
• Deadhead to prolong flowering.
• Maintain moderate soil moisture and fertilize lightly.
• Zinnias will die with the first frost.

• Pansy

1. You can start pansy seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before you plan on transplanting them.
2. Plant seeds in late winter for early spring and summer flowering, or plant seeds in the summer for winter flowering.
3. Plant in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. 
4. Pansies like sun and cooler temperatures.
5. Space the plants about 7 to 12 inches apart. They will spread about 9 to 12 inches and grow to be about 6 to 9 inches tall.
6. Remember to water your pansies regularly.
7. One of the most common reasons pansies fail is because they are not watered enough, so if your pansies are not doing well, try watering them more.
8. You can use a general, all-purpose fertilizer around your pansies to help them grow.
9. Remove faded/dead flowers to prolong blooming and encourage more flowers to grow.

Marigold

• Marigold requires mild climate for luxuriant growth and flowering.
• The optimum temperature range for its profuse growth is 18-20°C.
• Temperatures above 35°C restrict the growth of the plants, which leads to reduction in flower size and number.
• In severe winter, plants and flowers are damaged by frost.
• Marigold can be grown in a wide range of soils, as it is adapted in different soil types.

• Lotus.
• Roses
• Hibiscus
• Portulaca
• Aster
• Daisy
• Calendula

Summer flowers


Rest flowers we will talk next time.

Beautify your home with Hanging Baskets

Hello Everyone

When you have space problem you can fulfill the desires of planting plants by hanging them on wall or roofs in a basket or similar container which can be suspended from a building by a small rope or chain and in which decorative flowering plants are grown,which is called hanging baskets.But there is limitation all plants cannot be planted in baskets ,still lots of variety can be planted in hanging baskets.

Different types of basket

Coco fiber pot in wire Basket

Wire Basket

Plastic Basket

Coco liner Basket

You can create vertical gardens also.You can use your waste for making different types of planters.

Vertical Garden

Glass planters

Coco liner Basket

The sheets of brown coconut fiber mold to the container, which is usually a basket made from wire. The natural fibers in coir allow for extra drainage and air circulation for the plants, but they'll also need extra water. Coconut fiber pot is also available which we can use alone or with wire basket.


Wire Basket

In wire we need to give base. Base can be of coco liner or moss grass, Moss grass gives less absorption to water.


Plastic Basket

It is same as we plant in containers.

Line the basket. Lining a basket helps to keep the soil in place and reduces the need for watering; it also neatens the appearance of the basket. The best lining for a hanging basket is sphagnum moss. This works especially well with hanging baskets that are wire based. Another lining that can be substituted for sphagnum moss is polythene; be sure to punch some holes in the base of this lining to allow the water to seep through and ensure good drainage.

How to plant in basket

The potting mix or compost  used  for basket should be of a good quality  for hanging baskets. Add a slow-release fertilizer and mix well before filling the basket.

Plant  selection for basket

Flowering Plants

• Petunia
• Portualca
• Salvia
• Verbena
• Begonia
• Geranium
• Baby's Breath
• Fuchsia
• Nasturtium
• Pansies
• Polyanthus

View Flowers

• Parsley
• Basil
• Mint
• Sage
• Chamomile
• thyme
• coriander
• Boston fern
• Asparagus
• Philodendron and Spider Plant
• Ivy

Problems

Hanging baskets rely most on the gardener to ensure they don’t dry out. However, poor flowering can be remedied by trying the following:

• Ensure the baskets stays moist but not soggy
• Feed once a week with a liquid fertiliser

Winter hanging baskets do greatly benefit from a sheltered, sunny spot. If the position is exposed, consider giving the basket some protection in the coldest weather. Use either a layer of fleece, or sit the basket on a bucket in a cool greenhouse for just the worst days

Watch out for common pests such as aphids, slugs, snails and vine weevil. Diseases that may be troublesome include powdery mildew, pelargonium  rust , fuchsia rust and impatiens downy mildew.