01 — Indoors & Orchard

House Plants

Most house plants are in active growth and unfortunately, so are pests and diseases.

• Pinch multi-branched plants to maintain compact shape
• Watch for leaf spot, powdery mildew, and rust
• Fertilise heat-tolerant plants such as coleus, hibiscus, melampodium, pentas, plumbago, and zinnias

This is your last chance before peak heat to repot, refresh topsoil, fertilise, and declutter. Combine smaller or struggling plants into one healthy display with less clutter, stronger plants.

Take cuttings of ground covers, philodendrons, coleus, jade, and similar plants before temperatures rise further.

Spray NPK 20:20:20 once a week (a pinch per litre of water). Turn soil every two weeks, add organic manure, and water thoroughly.

All fruit trees must now have deep basins prepared to ensure efficient irrigation through the hot months.

02 — Indoors

Indoor Plants

Move indoor plants away from direct drafts from air conditioners, coolers, and fans.

Avoid midday sun. The best routine:

• Put plants outdoors after sundown
• Leave them out overnight
• Allow gentle morning sunlight
• Bring them indoors before midday heat

Nurseries are well stocked and this is an excellent time to add to your indoor collection.

Water slightly more than winter but always follow the golden rule:

• Touch the soil and if dry, water deeply until it drains
• If unsure, wait another day

Use sprinklers when possible. Mist daily, wipe leaves gently with a soft cloth (supporting the leaf with your hand), and maintain humidity. Create an indoor jungle, but keep plants well away from AC and fan drafts.

03 — Flowering

Roses, Dahlias & Chrysanthemums

Roses: Prune long branches and remove root suckers.

Chrysanthemums: Shift plants from 4-inch pots to 6-inch pots. Pinch regularly and water consistently.

04 — Bulbs

Bulbous Plants

There is still time to plant:

• Caladium
• Canna

Look out for alocasia and elephant ears in friends’ or neighbours’ gardens — small divisions establish easily.

Caladiums and Easter lilies remain fresh and attractive well into winter.

For garden beds, combine:

• Spider lilies
• Zephyr (rain) lilies
• Ginger lilies
• Elephant ears
• Bird of paradise
• Canna

For containers, choose:

• Begonias
• Blood lily (football lily)
• Amaryllis
• Tuberose

From an aesthetic point of view, abundance always works. Plant bulbs in clusters rather than singly.

Choose bulbs that are large, heavy, and injury-free. Damaged bulbs rot easily, while larger bulbs ensure better flowering.

Winter bulbs have finished blooming. Some, like lilliums, are difficult to carry over to the next season in Delhi unless stored in cooler mountain climates.

05 — Vegetables

Vegetables

• Sow: Bitter gourd, bottle gourd, tinda, cucumber, French beans, okra, watermelon
• Plant capsicum saplings
• Grow ginger and haldi on raised ridges
• Spinach and coriander can still be grown

06 — Seasonal

Seasonal Flowers

Clear winter flower beds and prepare them for summer planting.

Plant summer saplings or sow seeds. Highly recommended:

• Sada Bahar
• Portulaca

Also sow: Cosmos, Gaillardia, Gomphrena, Kochia, and Zinnia.

07 — Herbs

Herbs

Move parsley, celery, and rocket into semi-shade to extend their life.

Herbs that thrive in Delhi summers:

• Basil varieties
• Tulsi (Holy Basil)
• Chives
• Rosemary

Grow basil and tulsi in large, open-mouthed pots so seeds self-sow during the monsoon and you’ll never be short.

08 — Garden

Lawns & Hedges

Feed lawns with:

1 kg neem khali + ½ kg bone meal per 12’ x 12’ lawn

Repair bald patches by loosening soil and transplanting grass roots from lawn edges at 2-inch gaps. Water and mow regularly.

Important: Never leave an open pipe on the lawn. Always sprinkle. Open pipes encourage deep-rooted weeds like motha and cause weak, leggy grass.

Trim hedges every two weeks. Always cut less rather than more as harsh cutting in summer leads to long-term damage. A beheaded hedge can take years to recover.

09 — Succulents

Succulents

Move succulents and cacti into semi-shade to prevent sun damage and discolouration.

You can still propagate by division or cuttings. Water once a week and always from below — top watering causes rot.