If you have naught to do, or are just tired of watching the greys of the rains take over the skies and your life, why not make things brighter and create a verdancy to brighten things up? And what better than a home garden to do that! With geraniums, ferns andfrangipani among other plants, it’s possible.
Jyoti and Nikunj Parekh who have been active in the fields of bonsai, landscape and gardening for the past three decades, explain it is easy to do so. “People often feel that managing a garden is the toughest thing in the rains, but there’s such a large variety of plants to choose from and with a little care you can totally transform your surroundings,” reveals Jyoti. Their terrace home at Babulnath that resembles a utopia of green, stands out on the surrounding urban milieu.
Terrace plants
Cactus plants, such as Succulent, she says, should not be used as they store water in their trunk and do not need any extra water. “I’d advise people to keep Ficus — it’s one of the most widely used houseplants in the world and can be kept indoors and outdoors,” hints Jyoti.
One may also have flowering plants such as bougainvillea, frangipani, Brazilian rain trees, which are very good, Kamini (a white, fragrant flowering plant) and palms. “Just make sure your terrace has good drainage facilities,” joins in husband Nikunj.
Indoor magic
You can choose a variety of plants. “Indoor ones need less sunlight and yet look lovely,” say the couple.
While rose plants do not flower in the rains, Monstera, which needs a moss-stick for support, rubber plants, ferns, three types of money plants — golden, green and phillodendron, bamboo, Ixora — with its littlw pink, white and red flowers, peace lilies, heart-shaped enthuriums and periwinkle (also called baramasi) are all perfect for the home and can brighten it up,” she says. “But, while they may look neat, bonsai plants are a no-no as they need direct sunlight, so you may only keep them temporarily at home, say if you are having a party,” warns Nikunj.
Maria Goretti likes to tend to her eight-year-old terrace garden, “I have always loved flowers, they are like my own children and make make everything so vibrant and cheerful,” she says, while Mandira Bedi and husband Raj Kaushal love being surrounded by greenery too.
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