A survival guide for gardeners: How you and your plants can hold on this summer

The pandemic led to a renaissance of hobbies - from baking to gardening. While some couldn't continue as demands on their time increased, others kept pursuing them, growing micro greens, herbs, and what not. "I was always fond of gardening, but due to studies and work commitments couldn't dedicate time to or concentrate on it. But during the lockdown, I got more opportunities to follow my hobby," says Arzoo Panchal. The 26-year-old stock investor has set up an elaborate garden at her home in Kandivali. "I have around 85 varieties of plants in the garden and throughout the house, including flowering plants, edible plants, air purifiers, show plants. I also grow edible plants, such as curry leaves, lemon grass, basil, also insulin plant, guava, lemon plant, garlic, and betel leaf."

Summer plant care can be tricky, especially when the mercury is off the charts. Although certain plants such as succulents are fairly easy to maintain, leafy tropicals might be a bit challenging as they are prone to heat damage. If you are someone who has filled their house with plants and feel out of depth this summer, we've got you covered. Mumbai-based gardening enthusiasts share tips on how to take care of your plants this summer, and answer frequently asked questions.

What is the best time to water plants?

Ideally, the best time to water plants would be early morning when the sun isn't very harsh. However if you are a bit late, ensure a second round of watering as water starts evaporating faster. Also try not to water plants in the evening as plants have to sit in soaking wet soil overnight when no photosynthesis is happening. This increases the chances of root rot.

How can I ensure my plants don't die when I go away for the weekend?

There are a couple of methods to water your plants in your absence. The most economical would be to water pots thoroughly and then take newspapers soaked in water crumple lightly and place them around your pot. What this does is, as newspapers take a while to dry up the soil remains moist for a long time and also plants can absorb from the newspapers if required. One can also purchase watering spikes from the market and attach them to old cold drinks bottles and place them in the soil.

Are there any specific watering tools or gardening equipment you would recommend for easy care?

Beginners can use self-watering pots where the plants absorb as much water as required through capillary action. Beginners can also invest in a good soil thermometer which indicates soil moisture, light and PH levels.

What are the most important things to keep in mind while taking care of indoor plants during the summer?

There is nothing such as indoor plants. They are just plants that require less sunlight. During harsh summer keep these plants that require less sunlight under a green net or inside the house near a window pane where it receives filtered sunlight i.e. indirect sunlight. Make sure to water them when the upper two inches of soil feels dry.

Her friend, Ashish Vadgama also took up gardening during the pandemic when he was spending an extended amount of time at home. Below, Vadgama and Panchal share easy-to-follow tips for summer plant care that you must keep in mind:

Watering
A good way to avoid killing your plants during summer when the temperature is rising would be to water them twice a day. Water plants thoroughly in the morning followed by misting or spraying in the evening.

Cutting
Do remember to cut the dry leaves as they utilise a lot of the plant's energy. By cutting away dead leaves and branches, the plants can divert its resources for growing healthier leaves and flowers.

29-year-old Ashish Vadgama set up a terrace garden to add some life to the barren terrace. Once he realised how gratifying gardening was, he assembled a huge garden within a few months. Photo/Ashish Vadgama

Humidity
If you have plants like fiddle leaf figs, ferns, orchids or other tropical plants that require high levels of humidity, you can fill a large bowl with water and add some pebbles in it and arrange plants around it. What this will do is as the water evaporates the humidity will be maintained and aesthetically also it looks pleasing. Try using a mud or terracotta planter instead of plastic ones. Mud planters are not only good for the environment but also help regulate moisture and humidity levels.

Fertilisers
During summer, plants also need proper nutrients to grow. A good way to provide the required nutrients is to do a thorough foliar spray on leaves and branches and also add vermi-compost or cow dung compost, repeating alternatively every 15 days.

Digging
During summer, the evaporation rate is high and soil tends to dry up and become hard. Remember to dig the upper two inches of soil every fortnight so as to ensure water and nutrients reach the soil effectively. The harsh afternoon, from 1 pm to 5 pm, can actually damage some plants. It is advisable to either tie the green gardening net above them or, if possible, shift them near an eastern facing window where they receive early morning sun.

Shade
It seems obvious but providing plants as much shade as possible will protect them from heat damage, especially during the afternoons.

Re-potting
I also re-potted plants after the monsoon was over because they received too much water then and it felt it was best to have a better water flow so there's no stagnation. I also did this because I had read that you should not re-pot plants during summer.

Be attentive
You could always look for stress signs in plants, especially during summers - either because of too much water, or too much sunlight. Sometimes leaves turn yellow or brown or start to burn when they receive too much sunlight so one must keep an eye out for such signs.

Also Read: Terrace gardening for healthy living aiding immunity booster

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