If there’s one thing the pandemic can be credited with, it would have to be getting everyone’s creative juices flowing. If you look through Instagram, you’re likely to see aspiring chefs, artists, and the like. And besides cooking and art, if there’s one hobby that gives us hope and keeps us busy working, it has to be gardening. (I mean, are you even a millennial if you aren’t a plant-parent?) Millennials love plants so much that they name them and talk about them as if they were their first-born children. And if you want to join the green movement, Vinayak Garg, founder of Lazy Gardener, clears up all your doubts by answering even your most basic plant questions. Vinayak Garg is often called the Chief Gardener of LazyGardener, the company he started in Delhi to help urban gardeners with their gardening. He also finished the Gurukul fellowship run by H.H. Dalai Lama’s foundation in 2008. This started him on the path to mindfulness.
1.If I’ve never grown plants before, which ones should I start with?
There are many things to do. You can start with the snake plant, pothos, spider plant, aloe vera, dumb cane, syngonium, Chinese evergreen, cast iron plant, and rubber plant tree.
2.What plants do you recommend for an apartment in the city?
You could choose air plants, sansevieria samurai, peperomia, pothos, anthurium, peace lily, calathea, ferns, philodendron birkins, philodendron Xanadu, and baby rubber plant.
3.How often do I have to water my plants?
If you don’t know when to water, use chopsticks or your hands to see if the soil is dry. You’ll figure out when to water your plants over time. In the winter, you don’t have to water as often as you do in the summer. During the summer, you may need to water some outdoor plants twice a day.
4.What should I use to make my pots?
Every pot, whether it’s made of plastic, ceramic, terracotta, or metal, has pros and cons for you and your plants. Plastic pots are cheap and easy to take care of. They have more holes for drainage and are light, so they are easy to move. They come in different sizes, shapes, and colours, and they can’t be broken. But they get hot or cold quickly, which can sometimes hurt plants.
They are fine to use in places with some shade.
Ceramic and terracotta are great materials because they look good, can be reused, and absorb alkalinity from the soil. The ones with more weight at the bottom are good for places where there is a lot of wind. But the ones that are porous tend to dry out the soil quickly, so your plant will need more water. Also, these pots only have one hole for drainage, they can be broken, and they cost more than the others. Metal: These are not only strong, but also look good and are decorated.
But they are expensive and can rust if they get wet. Also, they don’t let air in, so make sure to drill holes.
5.How much sun do my plants need to grow?
Plants in full sunlight need about six to eight hours of sunlight, plants in partial sunlight need four to six hours, and plants in full shade need about three hours.
6. How can I take care of my plants while I’m away?
When you travel, you can do some prep to save your plants. If you travel a lot, choose plants that will do well even if you forget about them. If you’re going to be gone for a week, clean up your plants. Take off any dead leaves or flowers to save the plant’s energy. Take the dead leaves out of the soil to keep insects from coming. Give them a lot of water. Don’t leave any water in the tray, because that could cause the roots to rot. You should also put them together a few days before you leave so that they can get used to each other and there are no signs of plant shock. Putting them together also helps keep their humidity levels steady. Put them in a spot with some shade. Also, ask a friend to take care of them and water them while you’re gone.
7.What are your best tips for making sure my plants stay healthy?
1.Place the plants where they will get the most light, or at least move them around outside once a week.
2.Underwatering is better than overwatering. When your plants are thirsty, give them water.
Get to know them, because the leaves are the first thing to show that a plant needs water.
3.Give them regular fertiliser. Like us, the plant needs food to grow.
4.Wipe the leaves down, because mist helps them grow. Do it over and over again. Don’t be afraid to repot, either.
5.Spend time with your plants and talk to them, and you’ll see them grow.
