January

Welcome to January, from now on the days will start to get a little bit longer and you and your garden will be raring to go for the long-awaited spring. Annuals will start to bloom. Salvias, Petunias, Pansies, Geraniums, Begonias, Dahlias, Calendulas, Dianthus, Carnations, Cinnenarias...the choices are immense.

If you haven’t got an outdoor space with flowers, this is the time of the year you wish you did. It’s not too late, just dash out to the nurseries and buy some seasonal flowers. If you have shaded areas, stick to Impatience, Kalenchu, Salvia, Cinnenaria, Begonia and Geraniums. If you have sunny areas, then you can get all the ones that grow in the shade, as well as Dahlias, Petunias, Pansies, Carnations, all will do extremely well. Do not buy those in full bloom. Those are probably from the hills and much past their prime. Select those that are just beginning to bloom. Those are sure to last till March or April. Do keep an eye out on Delhi’s public parks, round abouts and road side gardens. The municipalities and RWA’s do a super job of all the winter flowers.

As always during winter, ensure bird feeders and or bird tables are stocked with plenty of food as their natural resources are reduced during the colder months.

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House Plants

Plants are in their dormant stage. These need less water but watering in the winter is necessary. Please remember the golden rule, water when the soil turns dry. In peak winter, house plants will probably need water once in 10 days. It’s is recommended that a diluted liquid of fermented cow dung be given to the plants which work like warm wine for them.

Grapes can be planted at this time. Existing grape vines can be pruned.

Apply manure to all fruit tress, specially Mango, Citrus, Jackfruit, Fig and Mulberries.

Indoor Plants

Keep these under cover at night and protect from the frost. In fact the best thing to do with Indoor plants is to actually move them inside the house. Treat indoor plants like children. Send them out in the sun between 9 AM and 4 PM, but must bring them in once the sun goes down. Do not leave them out in the cold winter nights, the frost is extremely harmful to them. The key to keeping your indoor garden jungle and oxygen bombs healthy is to maintain a more or less constant room temperature.

Roses, Dahlias & Chrysanthemums

Roses: are in full bloom. Enjoy them but be sure to cut away the wilted ones.
Dahlias
Dahlias require plenty of sunlight.
Care: Remember to pinch the buds when they’re around 15 inches tall. This will enforce good branching, and help increase budding. Add plenty of water to the plants, as they require much nutrients, and use organic mulch to conserve moisture while preventing weed formation. Stake the plants as they become tall.
Chrysanthemum: Select mums for next season. Cut off 5 cms from the ground and tag your plants. These will be throwing off new suckers soon.

Bulbous Plants

Winter bulbs will be in full bloom. When bulbs are first planted they need less water because they have their own storehouse of water. But once these start flowering then watering when the soil turns dry is essential. Rananculous or butter rose, Lilliums are my favourite.

Vegetables

Melon &Watermelon seeds can be sown. Brinjal saplings can be planted. Spinach and Coriander can be grown.

Seasonal Flowers

Winter Flowers have started to bloom. Regular watering and deweeding has to be done. Debudding is extremely important. Remove dead leaves and wilting flowers from the plants, as nothing looks worse than wilting flowers on a plant. Apart from aesthetics, the energy can get utilised for new blooms.

Herbs

Protect your tulsi plants. Ideally these should be in an area where they get sun during the day and can be covered with a thick plastic sheet at night. Water regularly. An old tulsi plant will be easy to save in the winter frost. The new ones are the most fragile. Parsley, Celery and Rocket will grow well.

Lawns and Hedges:

Please remove the winter frost from your lawns every morning. This goes a long way in keeping your grass alive. Use a pipe as in the video below or lightly sprinkle with water to wash away the frost. Watering can only be done once in 2 or 3 days so best to use both methods to remove the frost. Mow the lawn in the last week of January. Trim the hedges and water regularly.

Succulents

A great time to multiply succulents. Divide by root or by cuttings, these will all grow. The sun is getting warm so water once a week. Please water from below and not from the top of the succulents as it leads to rot.

  • DIG OUT WEEDS

    Clear your garden, lawn, flower beds and potted plants of perennial weeds.
    The best way to get rid of these weeds once and for all is to dig them right out, roots and all.

  • PRUNING AND TIDYING

    Cut back, tidy and prune everything which needs it. You will find that even doing this task will make your house and garden look tidier and brighter.

  • TRIMMING

    Now is a good time togive any hedges you may have a good trim.

  • COMBINE PLANTS AND DECLUTTER

    Plants can be combined .. so, if you have 3 not so healthy looking plants then combine all in a larger pot to get 1 good looking plant. (this is my absolute favorite gardening operation because it declutters a garden, balcony or terrace )

  • LADY BIRDS

    Remember that insects such as ladybirds help to tackle garden pests, so use pesticides with caution to avoid harming beneficial wildlife.

  • PESTS AND DISEASES

    Spray neem oil once a week, because this is the time of the year that weeds, pests, and diseases are growing as well. Check plants regularly for pests and diseases and deal with them promptly to prevent them spreading. Prevention is better than cure.

  • SNAILS AND SLUGS

    Protect susceptible plants from slug and snail damage, specially varieties of Money plants and Pothos . Spray neem oil on the leaves twice a week.

  • RELOCATING PLANTS

    Plants can be relocated provided the entire root ball is dug out. Contrary to what your gardener tells you, January end is the best time to do this. It may not be the best time for your gardener, but it is the best time for the plant.

  • REPOTTING PLANTS

    Trim old roots and get rid of the tired soil, fill the pot with nutritious soil to help the plant thrive. If the pots are too big or too heavy, get help and have it done. If not then replenish the top soil.