GREEN MATTERS
Cactus can bloom in your courtyard if you care
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The popularity of cactus kept increasing in recent times due to the concept of ‘rock gardens’, says Swathi. V
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RUgged beauties: The popularity of cactus kept increasing in recent times due to the concept of ‘rock gardens’ or ‘rockeries’.
The mention of ‘desert’ invariably summons to mind the vision of mounds of sand sporadically raised into a storm, of herd of camels trudging heavily on their paths and of nomadic tribes halting by an occasional lagoon. The mental image would hardly ever allow any foliage unless it belongs to a cactus lover.
Deserts are supposed to be dry and hot with low rainfall and hence non-conducive to plant life. However, we keep forgetting that cacti are the plants that survive the toughest of weathers and yet come up with blooms of all hues.
The popularity of cactus kept increasing in recent times due to the concept of ‘rock gardens’ or ‘rockeries’. Essentially theme gardens that could be the focal point of the entire courtyard if provided with enough foliage and water ways, rockeries are the easiest to maintain too.
Sandy soil, boulders, stones, ground cover and a variety of cacti and succulents are the basic requirements for a rock garden. Water ways may be provided to complement and enhance the scenic splendour.
“Care should be taken to avoid water logging lest plants should begin to decay. Cacti are tuned for hot weather conditions, but also grow in cold places like hill stations if protected within poly-houses,” M.M. Hussain from Plants Land nursery said.
Most plants used within a rockery are xerophytes or desert plants that use less water, but need more of the sun. Hence, the location of the rock garden should be so as to gain the maximum sunlight. Usually prepared on mounds, rockeries will have boulders and stones arranged in natural anarchic patterns, with plants filling the cavities.
Echinocactus grusonii (golden barrel cactus or mother-in-law’s chair), Ferocactus horridus, Espostoa lanata (old man cactus), Astrophytum ornatum, Agave americana, Agave angustifolia media picta, Agave filifera, and Agave sisalana are, according to Mr. Hussain, a few among the cactus varieties that may be grown in rock gardens. Grafted cacti grown on cereus as root stock add additional hues to the garden.
“One particular charm about cacti is that some of them bloom once in a year, and some others, only once in hundred years.
Those which flower in night usually have beautiful white flowers that last only for a day,” says Mr.Hussain.
Succulents may be used for filling along with ground covers to improve the look. Aloes, Epiphyllums, Rhipsalidopsis, Zygocactus, Yuccas, and Adeniums are a few succulents that may be used within a rockery.
Ground covers along with succulents will provide relief and break monotony within a rock garden or desert landscape. Palms such as Phoenix sylvestris and Phoenix dactylifera apart from Palmyra palm may be used within a landscape while ground covers or grasses such as Portulacas, Euphorbias, Verberas, and Daisies will fill the gaps or run on a strip among rocks.
They may be mere foliage or flowering varieties.
“The soil for a rock garden should be porous enough for the water to be drained away. Two parts of soft red soil mixed well with one part of fine sand and one part of manure should be used wherever the plants are grown. Watering once or twice week should be enough and there should not be any water logging,” Mr. Hussain says.
Stones or boulders may be lifted from their natural locations.
Smaller stones of fibre glass or chips that may be used for water ways are available with any nursery or aquarium dealer.
For river stones, one may contact M. K. Sagar Fountains at 99890 33888.
Those who do not have much space for a rockery may grow all the aforementioned cacti within pots. Plants used in rock gardens are usually hardy and disease resistant.
In case of rotting, the soil may be drenched in fungicide solution.
Good drainage system is a must for a rockery for easy flow of water during rains.
This is the precise reason why rockeries are grown on slope-like mounds.
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