Pests take a summer vacation!
Having learnt that summer is indeed good for robust growth of plants last week, soak in this good news too -- that this is also the time when you need not worry too much about pests. Read on for some gardening tips from M.M. Hussain, expert and Managing Director of Plants Land, a reputed nursery in Somajiguda.
Indoor plants
For indoors, diffenbachia, aglonimas, aria palms, philodendrons, ferns, schefflera, bracios, species of phycus, spathyphyllums are good but avoid anthuriums and orchids as they need extra care in summer.
Outdoor ones
Best flowering shrubs are bougainvillea, petunias, vincas. Bougainvillea once settled, the less it is watered, more colourful it will be. It can be grown in pots or like climber, shrub, hedge or left hanging from top.
Exora species like jatrophas, `alamanda', plumbago, pentas, cassia biflora, beloperone, malphigias and night queen are ideal for summer. So is Lantanas, which is available in 10 to 12 colours. `Nandivardhanam' too flourishes throughout the year.
Gerbera, petunia and vincas do not like water-logging and so summer is the best period for them. Xerophytes (cacti and succulents) which require less water and other thorny plants like roses are good for summer as thorns reduce water evaporation. Other summer plants are neriums, `parijatam', russelias, a semi-cascading shrub in red and yellow, cashiafistula, temple tree, plumaria trees, adenium (Desert rose), Mr. Hussain says.
Plants with colourful flowers need ample sunlight to look striking. When plants show signs of wilting, they can be moved to shady areas.
Soil should be conditioned for retention of moisture. Soaked oil cakes can be fed in the form of solution for potted or ground plants.
The solution can also be sprinkled over lawns. Lawns also will be at their best in summer due to extra light. They need to be watered well and using sprinklers is the best way .
Pest management
Basic thing is to keep the surroundings of container plants, pits, beds clean and hygienic. Plants like hibiscus and rose are to be sprayed once in 10 to 12 days whether or not affected by pest or disease, with fungicide in mild dose. Procure insecticide from standard companies.
Certain plants are susceptible to millibug (white spongy sucking pests) as in crotons, hibiscus, akaliphas. An insecticide can be sprayed at initial stages to curb the pest. If the problem is severe, plant need to be pruned and the stems rinsed with cotton dipped in insecticide. The insecticide must be sprayed once a week for three to four weeks. Neem oil also serve as an organic pesticide in the initial stages.
Vacation woes
Another point is how to take care of plants when the family goes on a vacation. Mr. Hussain says one can fill big trays with water and place the pot in it.
Through capillary action of roots, water would slowly be absorbed by the plant. One can also use gels which can hold 200 times of water and can be released slowly to the plant.
Mr.Kurdukar of Agri and Horticulture Society, Public Gardens says that evaporation losses can be prevented by placing a layer of vermicompost in the pot.
Similarly pebbles too can be used to form a layer on soil to check evaporation losses. In flats, a five-litre barrel can be placed at a height and small outlets be provided for the water to pass through pipes placed in the pots.
M.L. MELLY MAITREYI
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