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1. Project set up by a retired Army Officer with an aim to promote the culture of gifting Live Exotic Potted Plants . We grow and propagate - ORCHIDS, ANTHURIUMS, BROMELIADS,FERNS, CACTI , ADENIUMS, DUTCH BULBS AND SOME EXOTIC WINTER SEASONALS TOO.soil less media in light weight plastic containers , hence ideal for indoor placing on coffee/ dining / study tables etc.children and students accompanied by parents / teachers to visit, especially those interested in Botany. We have a huge collection of botanical curiosities guided tour of the Farm. (Institution Staff may please coordinate with us before a visit).
Green ThumbTips of the day
When shopping for plants choose those suited for the intended spot. In all weather conditions ensure plants are properly wrapped for trip home. In summers put the plants in the boot of car, if intending to park the car for a while while taking plants home. In body of car they will get scorched when the car is parked even for a few minutes. If plant is kept in droughty conditions it is likely to need more watering. Also plant is likely to be feel effects of cold or heat much sooner. Hanging plants should not be so high that their needs are neglected. Best at eye / head level. Orchid flowers have very long bloom life. If given the right conditions and a little care they give spikes after spikes in subsequent years. Azaleas need acidic soil. Learn how to make soil acidic before getting an Azalea home. Azaleas need daily watering and prefer shade. When removing dead flowers from some plants, it is likely that new growth / shoots also get damaged. Must know the growth characteristics of your plant before pruning. Most plants prefer air circulation as it aids transpiration and thus uptake of nutrients. Make plants a feature of a room rather than making them incidental. Use a mix of foliage and sesonals. When moving plants from inside to outside, gradually increase the amount of light. Else scorching will take place. It is more rewarding to have a few plants in the best of their health rather than have many plants in an average condition. Cacti reward you with most exhilarating flowers in the summers. The beauty of these flowers is at par with some of the most beautiful orchids. Also cacti flowers and orchid flowers have similar pearly lusture. Cladiums lose leaves in winters due to cold. If brought inside the leaf drop can be prevented. Alum dissolved in water helps make soil acidic. Azaleas, Camelias and Hydrangeas need acidic soil. Sulphur added to soil makes the soil acidic. Azaleas, Camelias and Hydrangeas need acidic soil. Cacti need anti fungal care in monsoons where temperatures are high. Cacti need a winter rest. Very sparse watering should be done in winters. Cocopeat added to soil mix helps in retention of moisture and also increases air spaces. Cacti on root can be easily raised from seeds in spring. Plant on sand . Avoid direct sunlight and keep potting mix moist. Grafted cacti give a fast growth, rapid multiplication and profuse flowering. Fleshy leaved succulents are easy to propogate from either leaves or pieces of stem. However, they must be dried after dividing and it should be done in a season when they throw out roots. Besides foliage bugs there are also root mealy bugs. Evidence of their presence is white powder around the roots of the plants. Handling cacti becomes easy with a collar of paper around the plant. It does not damage the plant as it does not stick to spines. Trichoderma viride can be used as an antagonistic fungus. Use a moist sponge to clean glossy leaved indoor plants. It will add to the shine of leaves. Plants whose leaves are sensitive to water can be watered from below by keeping the pot in a dish full of water for a few minutes. Eg Saintpaulias – African violets. Plants should never be left between window and a drawn curtain . Temperature extremes will kill the plants. Platyceriums can be mounted on wooden boards. Boards can be hung on trees or any convenient place where they can be conveniently watered . In spring if repotting is not possible then you may resort to top dressing. Remove top three inches of soil and replace it with fresh soil mix. Always rotate your pots from time to time. Especially those that get sunlight only in some part of the day. This will prevent them from leaning towards the sun. Plants like us have a limited life. They won’t stay young and fresh forever, so , care for them in the first place and secondly cherish them in whatever stage of growth they are. Don’t compare the cost of plant with longevity of flower or plant. Watering of plants should not be frequent and superficial but seldom and copious. This wets the roots to the bottom.
