Gardening – something that I truly love to indulge in. No matter what my mood is, just going through the few pots in my balcony can lift my spirits high. I am sure anyone who loves to tend to a garden would accept with me. These roses are about 6 months old and the plant is placed in the west direction. Gets direct sunlight for just about 4 hours from 2.00 pm until sunset. This girl too has been I love with the Bangalore rains and weather and has blessed with three big roses from the same stalk for the very first time.
Size of the pot:
The drinking water can’s top portion has been cut and filled with red soil. It is painted with black spray paint to prevent algae formation. If algae start growing in pots, they will consume all the nutrients leaving very little for the plant. So, it is highly recommended to insulate transparent containers like water cans and bottles.
Tips for growing roses in Indian balconies
- Place the pot in the spot of your balcony that gets maximum sunlight.
- Never use red soil alone. Mix it with a quarter portion of sand and add compost or manure. This will ensure the soil is loose with good aeration and drainage. Using red soil alone will make the soil as hard as a rock. This means, the roots will suffocate and the drainage will be poor.
- If you get only red soil from the nursery, ad lots of banana peels under the soil. In my experience, banana peels will decompose fast and add enough looseness to the soil. Then, plant the store-bought plant.
How to Choose rose plant from the nursery:
- Choose a healthy-looking plant.
- Do not get allured by big flowers. Choose the plant that has strong stems and lots of new shoots. The plants in the nursery are heavily fed with chemicals to get big blooms. And these blooms will die off when you bring them home.
- Choose plants with minimum yellow leaves.
- Choose the plant that is well-grown and tall. Check for a good root structure. A well-grown plant in the nursery will have roots propping out of the black plastic bag.
How do I care for rose plants in a container in a balcony
- Add lots of banana peels.
- Add cleaned eggshells.
- Borrow a few earthworms from other pots and put it rose plant pots.
- Add diluted bio enzyme as pesticide and fertilizer.
- Keep a close watch on scale pests. When they start attacking the plants,(which they will do every single time) remove them off with a sharp object. I use a blade. If they are spotted at a very early stage, they can be handled easily unlike aphids.
- Water once a day. I do not stick to any particular timings. When I see the soil hard, I water them.
- Water slowly giving the soil the time it needs to absorb the water. If you just pour it on the roots, water will just come out through drain holes immediately and most of the water will not be absorbed by the bottom soil.
- Never the last, shower them with lots of love.
Cost of rose plants in Bangalore nurseries
Rose plants that are available in small plastic pouches are usually available from INR 50 per plant and go higher based on the plant size, color of the rose, and the pot in which it is placed.
Happy Gardening!!
|| Om Shakthi Om ||
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