Most House Plants will be in their growing phase. It is also a good idea to give you houseplants a bit of TLC by gently pruning the weak and dead branches. Prune above the node for fresh growth. Also, many will require regular feeding from now until the end of summer. Do plant cuttings of almost any plant that you want to multiply, and it is sure to take root before it gets too warm.
Spray NPK 20:20:20 once a week. Take out as much as you can in a pinch, between your thumb andindex finger, and add it to a litre of water. Water regularly and look out for pests and diseases. Turnthe soil of the plants at least once in two weeks. Add any organic manure and water.
All fruit trees should have the land dug around them to make deep basins. Add manure and irrigate generously. New trees, Climbers, shrubs and hedges should be planted this month.

Be careful of sunning the indoor plants in the midday sun. Its time to put the plants out after sundown, leave them out the entire night and let them
get the gentle morning sunshine, and be sure to bring the plants in before the burning heat of the mid-day sun. This is also a goodtime of the year to add to
your indoor plant collection since the nurseries are well stocked with them this time of the year. The plants will need a little more watering than they did in the summer but please stick to the GOLDEN RULE OF WATERING PLANTS. Touch the soil with your finger. If it feelsdry then drench the soil so water comes out
of the drainage hole at the bottom. Bets to water with a sprinkler, so the plants feel it’s raining on them. If you are in doubt as to whether the soil is
wet ordry, then wait another day before you are completely sure and only then water. Spray the plant severy day. Wipe the leaves gently with a soft cotton
cloth or sponge, while supporting the leaves with the palm of your hand. One can create and INDOOR GARDEN JUNGLE. Keep the humidity up around the plant and make sure plants are kept away from the draft of ACs or fans.

Roses are in full bloom. Enjoy them but be sure to cut away the wilted ones. Dahlias are in full bloom. Do cut away the faded
flowers daily. Important to cut from below, so that one doesn’t see the beheaded stems.

Good time to plant Chrysanthemum suckers in small
4’’ to 6’’ pots. Keep in the shade and pinch off any growth on the top.

 

Please grow Caladium and Cana. Can add Coleus and Ipomea to the mix as well.

Caladium Easter lilies too are hardy and the leaves look fresh all the way up to winter. For a garden, one can mix-and-match
of spider lilies and zephyr lilies (also called rain lilies for
theirspectacular show of flowers during the rains), ginger lily, elephant’s ears, bird of paradise and canna. For a potted version, plants that end well to
a container can be handpicked, such as blood lily also called football lily and tuberose.. Whether growing in a ground garden or pots, abundance works from the aesthetic point of view. It is ideal to grow a few or more bulbs together; it puts on a much more pleasing spectacle than lone warriors growing out of the soil. Less marks and injuries, big size and more weight
is the key. An injured bulb has more chances of rotting in the soil, while a big size indicates a mature bulb and ensures more flowers.

Winter bulbs would have all finished flowering by
now. Some varieties of winter bulbs like Lilliums are hard to keep in Delhi for the next season, unless you can send them to a home in the mountains ,where they will happily dormant and sprout the next season.

Coriander can be grown. Bitter gourd, Bottle gourd, Tindal,
Cucumber, French beans, Okra and Watermelon seedlings can be sown this month.

Winter Flowers will be at the tail end of their blooming period. Regular watering and deseeding has to be done. Deadheading 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 utilized for new blooms.

If you haven’t done it as yet, It is still  time to sow seeds for the summer flowers: Since I am a big fan of flowers that grow easily and last the longest, please
grow Sada Bahar (Desi Sada Bahar if you don’t want any fuss.), Sunflowers(Teddy Sunflower
is particularly pretty as is the Giant Sunflower) and portulaca. Can also sow Cosmos, Celosia, Cockscomb, Gaillardia, Gomphrena and Kochia.

Move Parsley, Celery and Rocket in a shaded area for these to last
longer. The only herbs that do well in the Delhi summer are varieties of Basil, Talsi( which is also called Holy Basil) Chives, Sage, Lemon Grass, Mint and Rosemary. Its best to grow Talsi and Basil in big open mouth pots. So the seeds fall in the soil and sprout in the monsoon. You will never be short of any.

A great time to take care of any bald patches or to plant new grass. If you have bald patches, loosen the soil, and take some grass roots out of the overgrown edges of the lawn. Plant it with a 2’ gap and watch the bald patch fill out in no time. Feed it with neemkhali and bonemeal and/or finely crushed Okhla khaad or Sieved pattikhaad. Water regularly.

Do move the succulents and cactus in the semi shade. 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.