Sharing a few of my garden beauties here. Hope you are as refreshed as I am and enjoy the journey with my green space as much I did with a cup of hot coffee!
Herbs have always been an integral part of me! Thanks to my herb garden, for it's because of them the fresh flavors linger from the kitchen when I bake a Focaccia or make a simple pasta!
Name: Basil
How to use: Simply chop and toss them in a salad. You can also add them to make dips or grind to make a sauce for your pasta!
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water on alternate days, to keep the soil moist. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Rosemary
How to use: Simply chop/crush them in salad/soup. Since the rosemary has a very strong flavor, a couple of leaves are more than enough to add flavor to your dish.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once in 3 - 4 days, to avoid the roots from rotting. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Parsley
How to use: Simply chop and toss them in a salad. You can also add them to make a dip or grind to make a sauce for your pasta!
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water is very essential for Parsley. Keeping the soil moist keeps the plant fresh. Watering every alternate day is the best alternative. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Celery
How to use: Simply chop and toss them in a salad. You can also add them to make a dip or grind to make a sauce for your pasta!
How to take care: Water is very essential for Celery. Keeping the soil moist helps the plant stay fresh. Spraying water to keep to soil moist yields fresh Celery. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Doddpatre/ Ajwain
How to use: Doddpatre leaves have a lot of medicinal values. When heated a little over the flame and eaten with honey, not only helps reduce dry cough, it helps in the soothing irritable throat.
Doddpatre leaves are used for a variety of Indian cuisines. When grounded with coconut, spices, and added to buttermilk gives a flavourful gravy that tastes good with hot rice [ Tambuli ]. Or simply add a couple of leaves to make tasty Chutney.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once in 3 - 4 days, to avoid the roots from rotting. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Lemongrass
How to use: Simply chop/crush them in the soup. Since Lemongrass has a very strong flavor, a couple of leaves are more than enough to add flavor to your dish. Lemongrass added to tea decoction is very flavourful.
Lemongrass acts as a natural mosquito repellent. Its oil is used in aromatherapy to help relieve stress, anxiety, and depression.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once every alternate day. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Tulsi
How to use: Tulsi is considered a sacred plant. Tulsi is also known as Holy Basil and has a lot of medicinal values. When consumed with honey, not only helps reduce dry cough, it helps in the soothing irritable throat.
Tulsi added to tea decoction is very flavourful.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once every alternate day. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Red Tulsi/ Krishna Tulsi
How to use: Tulsi is considered a sacred plant. Tulsi is also known as Holy Basil and has a lot of medicinal values.
Tulsi added to tea decoction is a very pleasing flavor.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once every alternate day. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Betel Leaves
How to use: Betel Leaves are considered to be excellent mouth freshener and aids in digestion. Betel leaves have a lot of medicinal values.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once every alternate day. Make sure the soil is slightly damp. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Ondelaga/Brahmi
How to use: Ondelaga/Brahmi when eaten on an empty stomach helps in increasing memory and promoting general good health
Ondelaga/Brahmi leaves are used for a variety of Indian cuisines. When grounded with coconut, spices, and added to buttermilk gives a flavourful gravy that tastes good with hot rice [ Tambuli ]. Or simply add a couple of leaves to make tasty Chutney.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once every alternate day. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
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Name: Amrutha Balli/ Giloy
How to use: Amrutha Balli has a lot of medicinal values. Amrutha Balli when boiled in water and consumed enhances natural immunity.
It can also be grounded with water and consumed.
How to take care: Do not overwater. Water once every alternate day. It needs a good amount of sunlight [at-least 6 - 7 hours of sunlight in a day].
Cactus are beautiful plants and also belong to the succulent family, which is very easy to maintain and grow. They do not need constant watering. Almost all of the Cacti that I have are watered once every week. And it's definitely okay even if we forget watering them for more than a week. It's just that, when Cacti is watered, we need to make sure that the water drains well from the drainage holes in the pots. These are good travel plants as they survive even if you forget watering them. They still enhance the beauty of your green space!!
Some of the thumb rules that one needs to keep in mind when nurturing Cacti are:
- Make sure your Cacti get a good amount of direct sunlight - Cacti love bright sunlight and make sure they get at least 6 - 7 hours of bright direct sun. Keep rotating Cacti so that it receives good sunlight on all sides.
- Watering them once in a week is sufficient. Make sure, when your Cacti is watered, the water drains from the pot’s drainage holes. This ensures that all the roots have been soaked with water and can sustain well until the next water. Overwatering can kill Cacti, so make sure the soil is dry between each watering cycle.
- Soil testing is very important. This means, dab or press your finger against the soil. If the soil sticks to your finger, it is still moist and watering can wait. [Be careful not to poke your fingers, as the thorns are really sharp. Even if they are not sharp, the touch of the nodes is sometimes enough to cause a rash!]
- NEVER spray on your Cacti. ALWAYS water the soil directly. Spraining or misting the succulent leaves will help fungus and moulds to grow on them, eventually killing your plant.
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024:Common Name: Barbed Wire Cactus Scientific Name: Acanthocereus Tetragonus |
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023:Common Name: Fuzzy Buckeye Scientific Name: Parodia Leninghausii |
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022:Common Name: Bunny Ears Prickly Pear Scientific Name: Opuntia Microdaysy |
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021:Common Name: Moon Cactus Scientific Name: Gymnocalycium Mihanovichii |
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020:Common Name: Billberry Cactus
Scientific Name: Myrtillocactus Geometrizanu |
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019:Common Name: Powder Puff Cactus
Scientific Name: Mammillaria Bocasane Poselger |
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018:Common Name: Peanut Cactus
Scientific Name: Echinopsis Chamaecereus |
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017:Common Name: Cactaceae
Scientific Name: Parodia Leninghausii |
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016:Common Name: Old-lady Pincushion
Scientific Name: Mammillaria Hahniana Werderm. |
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015:Common Name: Silver Ball Cactus
Scientific Name: Parodia Scopa |
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014:Common Name: Cactaceae
Scientific Name: Mammillaria Spinosissima Lem. |
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013:Common Name: Cactaceae
Scientific Name: Mammillaria Winter Boed. |
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012:Common Name: Thanksgiving Cactus
Scientific Name: Schlumbergera Truncata |
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011:Common Name: Mistletoe Cactus
Scientific Name: Rhipsalis Baccifera |
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010:Common Name: Triangle Cactus
Scientific Name: Acanthocereus Tetragonus |
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009:Common Name: Bunny - ears pricky-pear [ Yellow variation]
Scientific Name: Opuntia Microdasys
 | 008:Common Name: Bunny - ears pricky-pear [ White variation]
Scientific Name: Opuntia Microdasys
 | 007:Common Name: Silken Pincushion
Scientific Name: Mammillaria Bombycina Quehl |
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006:Common Name: Madagaskar Palm Romosum
Scientific Name: Pachypodium Lamerei Drake |
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005:Common Name: -
Scientific Name: Kleinia Stapeliiformis
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004:Common Name: Night-Blooming Cereus
Scientific Name: Hylocereus Undatus
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003:Common Name: -
Scientific Name: Mammillaria Gracilis |
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002:Common Name: Pink Easter Lily Cactus
Scientific Name: Echinopsis Oxygona |
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001:Common Name: African Milktree
Scientific Name: Euphorbia Trigona Mill |
Succulents are beautiful plants that are very easy to maintain and grow. They do not need constant watering. Almost all of the succulents that I have are watered once every week. And it's definitely okay even if we forget watering them for more than a week. It's just that, when succulents are watered, we need to make sure that the water drains well from the drainage holes in the pots. These are good travel plants as they survive even if you forget watering them. They still enhance the beauty of your green space!!
Some of the thumb rules that one needs to keep in mind when nurturing Succulents are:
- Make Sure Succulents get a good amount of direct sunlight - Succulents love bright sunlight and make sure they get at least 6 - 7 hours of bright direct sun. Keep rotating succulents so that it receives good sunlight on all sides.
- Watering them once in a week is sufficient. Make sure, when your succulents are watered, the water drains from the pot’s drainage holes. This ensures that all the roots have been soaked with water and can sustain well until the next water. Overwatering can kill succulent, so make sure the soil is dry between each watering cycle.
- Soil testing is very important. This means, dab or press your finger against the soil. If the soil sticks to your finger, it is still moist and watering can wait.
- NEVER spray on your succulents. ALWAYS water the soil directly. Spraining or misting the succulent leaves will help fungus and molds to grow on them, eventually killing your plant.
- Try to avoid keeping pebbles/stones around the succulent. This prevents the easy growth of PUPs or baby succulents. The PUPs need easy emergence from the soil.
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025:Common Name: -
Scientific Name: Peperomia Ferreyrae Yunck |
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025:Common Name: House Leek Scientific Name: Sempervivu |
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024:Common Name: Moulded Wax Scientific Name: Echeveria Agavoides |
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023:Common Name: Pearl Echeveria Scientific Name: Echeveria Agavoides |
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022:Common Name: Ghost Plant
Scientific Name: Graptopetalum paraguayense |
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021:Common Name: Japanese Rubber Plant Scientific Name: Ficus Elastica |
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020:Common Name: Golden Sedum Scientific Name: Sedum Adolphii |
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019:Common Name: Christmas Cheer Scientific Name: Sedum Rubrotinctum |
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018:Common Name: Toad Cactus Scientific Name: Orbea Variegata |
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017:Common Name: Mother of thousands Scientific Name: Kalanchoe Daigremontiana |
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016:Common Name: - Scientific Name: Graptopetalum Macdougallii Alexander |
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015:Common Name: White Stonecrop Scientific Name: Sedum
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014:Common Name: Pale Stonecrop Scientific Name: Sedum Sediforne |
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013:Common Name: Red Flames/Campfire Plants Scientific Name: Crassula Captella |
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012:Common Name: Window Boats Scientific Name: Haworthia Cymbiformis |
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011:Common Name: Pig’s ear Scientific Name: Cotyledon Orbiculata |
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010:Common Name: Echeveria Scientific Name: Echeveria Colorata |
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009:Common Name: Golden Sedum Scientific Name: Sedum Adolphii |
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008:Common Name: House Leek Scientific Name: Sempervivum Tectorium |
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007:Common Name: - Scientific Name: Sedum burrito Moran, Sedum rubrotinctum Clausen |
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006:Common Name: Scientific Name: Kleinia Petraea |
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005:Common Name: Iceplant Scientific Name: Mesembryamthemum Cordifolium |
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004:Common Name: Burro’s Tail Scientific Name: Sedum Morganianum E.Walter |
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003:Common Name: Elephant Bush Scientific Name: Portulacaria Afra Jacq. |
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002:Common Name: Aloe Vera Scientific Name: Barbados Aloe |
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001:Common Name: Pillow Plant Scientific Name: Plectranthus Prostratus Gurke
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It's a nice feeling and a feel-good factor to enter a home with beautiful plants that welcome you with their freshness! I have few Ornamental plants, which I rotate as my indoor and outdoor plants from time to time, to make sure they get sunlight and shade over a period of time.
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048:Common Name: Elephant Bush [hanging] Scientific Name: Portulacaria |
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047:Common Name: Custard Apple Scientific Name: Annona Squamosa |
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046:Common Name: Rose Rabbit Ear Calathea Scientific Name: Calathea Roseopicta |
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045:Common Name: Money Tree Scientific Name: Pachira Glabra |
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044:Common Name: Lemon and Lime Philodendron Scientific Name: Philodendron Hederaceum |
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043:Common Name: Australian Laurel Scientific Name: Pittosporum Tobira BONSAI - Approximately Two years old as of July 2021 |
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042:Common Name: Lemon Scientific Name: Citrus Lemon BONSAI - Approximately Four years old as of July 2021 |
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041:Common Name: Orange Lily Scientific Name: Lilium Bulbiferum |
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040:Common Name: Elephant Bush [white]
Scientific Name: Portulacaria Afra Jacq. |
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039:Common Name: Common Staghorn Fern Scientific Name: Platycerium Bifurcatum Approximately One year old as of September 2020 |
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038:Common Name: Indian Laurel Fig Scientific Name: Ficus Retusa BONSAI - Approximately Five years old as of September 2020 |
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037:Common Name: Parakeet Flower Scientific Name: Heliconia Psittacorum |
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036:Common Name: Boston Fern Scientific Name: Nephrolepis Exaltata |
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035:Common Name: Indian Rubber Fig Scientific Name: Ficus Elastica Roxb |
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034:Common Name: Moss Rose Scientific Name: Portulaca Grandiflora Hook |
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033:Common Name: Tarovine
Scientific Name: Monstera Adansonii Schott |
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022:Common Name: Elephant Bush [Green]
Scientific Name: Portulacaria Afra Jacq. Approximately Three years old as of 2020 |
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021:Common Name: ZZ Plant
Scientific Name: Zamioculcas Zamiifolia |
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020:Common Name: Calathea
Scientific Name: Calathea Rufibarba Fenzl |
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019:Common Name: Christmas Flower
Scientific Name: Euphorbia Pulcherrima Wild |
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018:Common Name: Clubed Begonia
Scientific Name: Begonia Cucullata Wild |
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017:Common Name: Snake plant/Mother-in-law's tongue Scientific Name: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prain |
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016:Common Name: African Bowstring-hemp Scientific Name: Sansevieria Trifasciata Prain |
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015:Common Name: Malayan Banyan Scientific Name: Ficus Benjamina L. |
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014:Common Name: Poaceae Scientific Name: Pleioblastus Viridistriatus [Regel] |
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013:Common Name: Araceae Scientific Name: Philodendron Xanadu Croat |
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012:Common Name: Inchplant Scientific Name: Tradescantia Zebrina Bosse |
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011:Common Name: Purple Queen Scientific Name: Tradescantia Pallida [Rose] |
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010:Common Name: Sprenger’s Asparagus Fern Scientific Name: Asparagus Densiflorus |
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009:Common Name: Boston Fern Scientific Name: Nephrolepis Exaltata [l.] Schott |
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008:Common Name: Golden Money Plant Scientific Name: Epipremnum Aureum |
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007:Common Name: Marble Prince Money Plant Scientific Name: Epipremnum Aureum’ Marble Prince |
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006:Common Name: Marble Queen Money Plant Scientific Name: Epipremnum Aureum’ Marble Queen |
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005:Common Name: Jade Plant Scientific Name: Epipremnum Aureum’ Jade |
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004:Common Name: Neon Money Plant Scientific Name: Epipremnum Aureum’ Neon |
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003:Common Name: White Rosemallow Scientific Name: Hibiscus Arnottianus A.Gray |
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002:Common Name: Chinese Hibiscus Scientific Name: Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis L. |
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001:Common Name: Jasmine Scientific Name: Jasminum Magnificum Lingelsh
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