With the temperature breaking all records and the quest to save the plants, our unit 7b called a very talented person – Mrs. Sonia Kapoor to talk about Summer plants care and protection from heat and about Water plants.
Mrs. Kapoor shared her knowledge and enlightened us with various tips to protect the plants during the summer months. She said the watering should only be done early morning or late evening when the temperature is low, or else the hot water will burn the plants. Clay/Plastic saucers can be placed under the pots with water to maintain the humidity. Shade nets can be put over the plants so that direct sunlight is blocked. The net can have hooks and poles which can be used to beautify the area. We can put some hanging plants on hooks and creepers on poles.
She showed an empty tender coconut and told us how to use the shell. Keep it in the sunlight to dry and then break it into small pieces. This can be used as Coco chips and can also be used for mulching. It is resistant to fungus and is even better than moss.
As we humans don’t need heavy food during summer, the same way plants also don’t need too much fertilizer during this time. NPK spray should be done once in 15-20 days and whenever we feed the plants we should water them first. The area should be kept clean so that no infestation happens.
She also told us a very interesting trick to attract the pollinators. As most summer vegetables require pollinators to turn a flower into a fruit – to attract them – mix 1tsp honey in 1lt water and spray in the air (not in the roots or leaves). The pollinators have great olfactory receptors which can sense from far away places and are attracted towards that environment.
Coming to water plants, she shared – they are hardy and it is difficult to kill them. We can start by placing a container where sunlight is good but not in front of a glass window. Always maintain the water level. We can put small guppy fishes in the container to create a symbiotic relationship. Fishes feed on weeds and mosquitoes that breed in water and their faeces act as compost for plants.
Water plants, like water Hyacinth, float on water because their leaves are extended to form bubbles which have air trapped in them. The plant becomes light and they make a beautiful flower bed on water.
It was then time for a demonstration on water garden. Nanditaji, our expert in container gardens, made a beautiful water garden in front of us and this was further enhanced by adding a fountain by Mrs. Kapoor.
It was indeed a very informative session. The meeting came to an end by Nanditaji presenting a beautiful plant to Mrs. Kapoor and thanked her. This was followed by some snacks and sweets organised by the conveners.
