Importance of weeds

What is meant by the word 'weed'? Any unwanted plant is termed as a weed. For instance, a tomato sapling growing in a lawn is a weed; and also lawn grass growing in a bed of tomatoes in a kitchen garden is a weed.

The so called weeds in nature play very important role. We all know importance of trees. But in certain cases, these lowly weeds and the small shrubs, creepers are the only ones who can protect soil erosion, more than the trees. On steep slopes and on rocky areas trees cannot grow easily, but the weeds, shrubs and creepers can grow densely and prevent erosion. Decaying, dying weeds enrich soil. The crevices in the rocky areas get rich with humus, in which, at later stage, trees can get proper hold. On the steep slopes of hills, not trees, but mainly the weeds, shrubs and creepers are capable of controlling soil erosion.

Even if trees grow very densely, they cannot prevent soil erosion completely. Under the dense growth of trees, weeds, small shrubs and creepers find difficult to sustain. Though the impact of raindrops is borne by the trees, rainwater does fall on the bare ground under the trees. If the ground is level, some rainwater percolates in the ground. But in heavy rains, water flows and is capable of carrying top soil with it. On the slopes this accelerates the speed of soil erosion. Accompanying photographs can give better idea of my theory.

Soil erosion under a tree

In my profession as horticultural consultant, I come across many farmland owners, who spend a lot in removing weeds every year. No land should be denuded of any weeds unless some other plantation is to be done on the cleared spot. To protect the tree saplings from wildfire it is a common practice of these farmland owners to cut all the weeds after the rains. This is absolutely unnecessary. Weeds around each tree sapling should be removed so that about 6 meters diameter open circle is formed. Thus even if wildfire starts; the tree saplings stand protected.

Anthurium

On seeing a beautiful flower quite often we exclaim, "Looks as if it is made of plastic". Also seeing an artificial flower, we say, "Looks as if it is a real flower". But today we shall see a beautiful flower, which not only looks like a 'plastic flower', but lasts almost a month on a plant. Most flowering plants need full, open sunlight for good flowering. But Anthurium is an exception; it needs semi shade. This plant is also resistant to most diseases and pests.

Anthurium andreanum

Anthurium andreanum

Anthurium andreanum

Anthurium andreanum

Anthurium andreanum

Really speaking, what we call as a flower of Anthurium is not a single flower. It is inflorescence. Most colourful part of this inflorescence is a sheath called as 'spathe'. It covers a flowering spike. What is inside the spathe is called as 'spadix'; which has numerous, tiny flowers growing on it.

Anthurium andreanum, spathe & spadix

Tiny flowers on a spadix

Anthuriums love highly humid environment. They grow better in pieces of coconut skin pieces instead of garden soil. However, a small quantity of soil-manure could be added along with the coconut skin. This will provide the plants some nutrients. They have spongy roots and need good aeration. Coconut skin pieces provide good aeration and also humidity.

Roots need good aeration

Anthurium amnicola

Anthurium hybrid

Anthurium hybrid

Anthurium schezerianum

Acorus calamus (Sweet flag, वेखंड, वचा, बचा), Family: Araceae

This medicinal plant, Acorus calamus, commonly known as Sweet flag, grows in slushy soil. Though it can be grown in just moist soil like many other plants, it will thrive in a place where water stagnation occurs. Contrary to the belief that the roots have medicinal properties, it is the rhizome, thickened underground stem that has medicinal uses. Dehydrated stem can be stored for months and is available in market for medicinal uses. However, after about 6 months after dehydration, the stems lose their efficacy.

Acorus calamus

In one of the farms, where I visit as a consultant, we had planted this medicinal plant is mass. In that farm for trial I had made a small ditch by lining it with plastic sheet. It was filled with planting soil and a few saplings of Vekhand were planted in it. After planting, the ditch was watered to make soil slushy. Within 4 months, it showed excellent results. This encouraged us to do mass planting in the farm, where there used to be water stagnation in monsoon. This too proved quite successful.

Coir rope in gardening

These days Sphagnum moss which is extensively used in nurseries for making moss sticks to grow money plants, Philodendrons etc has become very expensive. Many nurseries use coir in place of the moss. However, the appearance of the coir sticks is a bit shabby. Apart from that drawback, it takes good amount of labour in tying the coir on the stick.

Philodendron grown on coir rope sticks

Hanging coir rope stick. See the growth in 45 days

To save the cost I tried using coir ropes. This becomes not only cheap but also saves a lot of labour. Here are two images of the coir ropes usage.

Grasshoppers

Close relatives of the notorious locust, grasshoppers too are a nuisance in a Most grasshoppers camouflage perfectly and are experts in merging with their surroundings. Many birds, praying mantis, frogs and garden lizards greedily feast on these insects. Camouflaging is mainly to hide from these enemies. On the other hand, 'Painted grasshopper' not only does not camouflage, but brazenly flaunts its presence with its colourful body. In fact its bright colours are meant to warn the predators that, "Dare not touch me; I have poison in my body." Since Calotropis, a poisonous plant, is the staple food of the painted grasshopper, it is unpalatable to its predators.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Painted grasshopper

Grass hoppers are mainly found near the ground level. Though capable of flight, they can fly very short distances. To escape the predators, they vault with their powerful hind legs.

Unlike other insects, the grasshoppers do not go through complete metamorphosis. Male grasshoppers rub their hind legs on the wings and create rasping sounds to attract females. Females lay eggs in the ground. From the eggs tiny 'Nymphs' or 'Instars' hatch out. They molt 4 to 6 times and become adults.

To protect the plants from grasshoppers, plants can be sprayed with wettable Sulphur. The thin coat of Sulphur on the leaves, makes them unpalatable and thus deters insects from attacking leaves.

Making a bottle garden

Here is a video of bottle gardening. Implements to insert plants, pruning etc were made by me using old umbrella spokes. With properly designed implements, see how easy it is to make & maintain bottle gardens.

Many of my friends requested me to give details of the bottle gardening implements I made by using old umbrella spoke. So here are the details with video & images.

To make bottle gardens one needs special implements; as the opening of the bottles are very narrow. In many foreign videos, I saw that they use some very shabby apparatus, like a kitchen fork tied to a stick or a bamboo stick split. Moreover if the plants overgrow, to prune them becomes quite difficult with their implements. So by using old type umbrella spokes, I made a few implements which serve all the operations of bottle gardening.

Bottle garden implements made from umbrella spokes

Closeup of the fork

Trowel cum soil compactor

All umbrella spokes do have a fork-like joint. So I took one such forked spoke. From another spoke, I removed the forked attachment & passed a small ring made of brass wire through the already present hole on the spoke. This ring was slipped on the fork. To get proper grip of plants, I slid a small piece of polythene tube on one side of the fork. On another spoke from which to forked joint was removed, I riveted a piece of aluminium angle, which serves as a mini trowel. On the other side of the same spoke I fixed a cork (one can use wooden piece or fix M Seal plastic putty to make a cork-like part). On another spoke I fixed a shaving blade, which acts like a pruner.