It is a question asked for all eternity by mankind. And looking at where we are now, isn’t happiness something amazing and truly pleasant in your life that you already have right in your homes…?
For me, I never knew how much a garden changes you and your home until I actually started gardening. I didn’t know what a happy feeling it is to come home to see your plants until I had my first plant. And now to imagine a house without garden is truly an empty feeling!
So, what is happiness…? It is safe to say it is the happy feeling I get after I come home from a frantic day, and even the few minutes I get in my garden with a cup of tea is what happiness is!
Back on popular demand! I had written about this flower back in 2018, but there was a lot to be written! So here I am with a brand new post on Jasminum Sambac – Mogra!
Arabian Jasmine is an evergreen shrub, that often reaches 5 ft in height in pots. The flowers are used in making perfumes and as a flavoring in tea. Arabian jasmine is native to India. This woody shrub features green oval shaped leaves. The most attractive aspect of this plant is its small, white, star-shaped flowers, which are fragrant and have a wonderfully sweet scent.
This everblooming Jasmine has bushy growth and does particularly well on windowsills. It is well known in Asia for its use in teas and religious observances. Also known as the “Arabian Tea Jasmine,” it is the National Flower of the Philippines, where it is known as ‘Sampaguita.’
There are numerous cultivars of Jasminum sambac which differ from each other by the shape of leaves and the structure of the corolla. The cultivars recognized include:
‘Maid of Orleans’ – possesses flowers with a single layer of five or more oval shaped petals. It is the variety most commonly referred to as sampaguita and pikake. It is also known as ‘Mograw’, ‘Motiya’, or ‘Bela’. ‘Belle of India’ – possesses flowers with a single or double layer of elongated petals. ‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’ – possesses flowers with a doubled petal count. They resemble small white roses and are less fragrant than the other varieties. It is also known as ‘Rose jasmine’ and ‘Butt Mograw’. In the Philippines, it is known as kampupot. ‘Mysore Mallige’ – resembles the ‘Belle of India’ cultivar but has slightly shorter petals with distinct and immense fragrance. ‘Arabian Nights’ – possesses a double layer of petals but is smaller in size than the ‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’ cultivar
Here are a few most frequently asked questions about this plant. Hope this answers all your doubts and queries. If you have any questions other than the following, let me know in the comment section below.
Mogra Phulala, Mogra Phulala Phule vechita baharu kaliyasi aala… These beautiful words by Sant Dnyaneshwar, Music by Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar and melodious voice of Lata didi really paint a beautiful picture of this flowering plant in your mind.
This is a small clip of the mogra that we have in our garden Cover by #NotesByNeha , Neha Gore.
Do let us know what you think about it in the comments section below and don’t forget to like and Subscribe to our channel! Your gardener friend, Reema.
Now you may be thinking that growth is pretty simple, you grow, I grow, plants grow, big deal! How is that relatable with my life right now, with the problems I am facing in my life, the issues I have no time to deal with. So, let me tell you, growth is simple, yet the beauty of it is unseen by many.
We all have a side to us that is harmful to ourselves or those near us. It’s almost infected. So are plants. And they can survive and blossom if they get pruned on time; yes, a cut on time does save nine! Same is the case with us humans.
In this race we call life, we just want growth but for that we sometimes forget that we need some cuts on our problematic side. Because only if we do that on time, we will get the growth and eventually the fruits that we are so looking forward to!
The color of harmony and health, green is a generous, relaxing color that revitalizes our body and mind. It balances our emotions and leaves us feeling safe and secure. It also gives us hope with promises of growth and prosperity, and it provides a little bit of luck to help us along the way.
Most prominently found in nature, the color green embodies rich foliage, lush greenery, and vast landscapes. This earthy hue is commonly associated with Mother Earth, which is why it’s thought to be calming and ubiquitous.
Offering relaxation, green soothes with its gentle and peaceful undertones. Green squelches chaos, making it a force to be reckoned with. In terms of health, green exemplifies optimal well-being. Some people maintain that it boasts healing powers.
It’s for this reason why pharmaceuticals use the color green when advertising their products. Many people unknowingly make a connection between wellness and the color green. Green is also often seen as a fourth color on top of the primary red, yellow and blue (think Microsoft and Google), bringing a sense of visual balance and, as a result, a soothing and relaxing influence.
How early you wake up for gardening… Or how late you garden is not important. It’s not important if you spend 5 minutes every day or 5 hours. However, what is important is how well you feel after spending that time.
For me gardening is one way of feeling alive, of getting some peace and learning something unexpectedly every once in a while. I can’t guarantee everyone will feel that way, but I’m sure your experiences will be as unique as you.
Because, these plants are like feelings. If you never want to acknowledge them, they’ll still be somewhere around but you’ll miss all the ups and downs of the wholesome experience that is gardening. You can be a gardener for 5 minutes, or 5 hours… Having the garden that suits you, that is what matters!
There are so many of us with so many different personalities! We can look at the same thing and everyone’s view will still be so different!
Fortunately, gardening is one of those things which is so incredibly multifaceted, that I am sure you will find something or the other impossible to resist about it!
One of such facets that really intrigues many people is the direct and instant effect that plants have on any room they’re in.
You’ll rarely see beautiful home/office décor without a houseplant in it! With indoor plants being so diverse and different than the outdoor plants, I love the way plants fit in so many different peoples’ personalities.
There are lazy plants, active plants, clingy ones, happy ones and all of them have one thing in common, they may start as décor but they will definitely win over your hearts!
If we start talking about creativity, there is nothing more creative than nature itself!
Nature has been and always will be one of the most awe-inspiring things in our lives, and especially when our daily lives are changing as drastically as they are, a garden is a place you need in your home and in our surrounding.
A garden is a small piece of nature we can have in our modern, urban living.
Creativity needs inspiration and when you have inspiration right in front of your eyes, how can you not feel inspired? 😊
So, my plan this year is to get my creative juices flowing and to see to what extent these little green havens can inspire my creativity!
A lot has been said and written about Hibiscus! Even I had written about this plant almost three years back! Click here to read the old article. (it’s really fascinating to see myself evolve as a blogger!) You must be wondering what new can I add to this post that you aren’t aware about! Well I have tried to write about all the common problems that Hibiscus Plant Parents face so that you’re all set to have this plant in your Garden. Not to mention that as usual I’ll be talking about all the care and maintenance this plant requires.
Let us just enjoy the beauty of this plant! It is a must have if your #garden receives good amount of sunlight (at least 4 hours).
One question I often get asked about Hibiscus is that, why does the plant get affected by pests so often? Yes it is true that hibiscus is prone to pest attacks. So I often tell my Gardening Course and Workshop participants to use organic Neem Pesticide (which is actually a pest repellant) as a preventive measure once every fortnight rather than using it as a curative measure.
In case of a pest attack, what you can do is, cut off the affected area and apply the organic neem pesticide on rest of the plant. Below is the instruction on how to use pesticides.
It blooms throughout the year.
Every part of this plant is useful for cosmetic purposes – may it be flowers or leaves or stems.
It’s one the most beautiful flowers.
Available in variety of colors. Though primarily available in shades of red, orange & yellow.
Opt for Single Petal flower plants. They are stronger and even look better.
If you’re looking to know in detail about the single and double petal flower you can click here and learn more about it.
Now that we have dealt with the pest issue, another common problem hibiscus plant parents face is that the plant is growing very tall vertically and is not bushy. Well, if that the case with your plant as well, here’s what you should do. Pinching (often called as pruning) is the answer. Cut off the plant 2-3 inches below the top node so that the plant bifurcates and develops new branches. Here’s more on pruning:
Now its time for general care and maintenance tips, for those who are new to this plant, here’s how you can manage this plant. But before that, let me address a few frequently asked question about this plant.
Precautions while buying Hibiscus – Always go for indigenous varieties. Never buy them just before season change. Buy them after the season has changed. It is highly advisable that you pot your hibiscus plant rather than getting a potted one.
A plant that is found in every home and needs no introduction – let’s talk about Money Plant. Botanically known as Epipremnum aureum, this plant is known by various other names like golden pothos, Ceylon creeper, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, house plant, money plant, silver vine, Solomon Islands ivy, marble queen, and taro vine. It is also called devil’s vine or devil’s ivy because it is almost impossible to kill and it stays green even when kept in the dark. It is sometimes mistakenly labeled as a Philodendron in plant stores. It is commonly known as money plant in many parts of the Indian subcontinent.
It is one of the easiest plants to grow and survives any light conditions. Excellent air purifier and a climber, it is a must have. Here’s some of the quick tips for you:
Water them once in 3-4 days or you can even grow them in water.
If you don’t have this plant, just buy one. And then you can make multiple plants by propagating them. The propagation technique is very simple. Just take a stem cutting with 2-3 nodes and roots and place them in water. You’ll have new plants ready in a week.
Fertilize once every 60-80 days. They need very little fertilization. Or you can fertilize often if you feel there isn’t enough foliage.
Now comes the placement part! How and where do you place these plants such that they get enough light to thrive as well as add to the aesthetic appeal of your place? Here’s a quick video for you that will help you in designing your space with pothos!
Now let us know in the comment section below – How do you prefer your money plant?
