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23.11.15

Eco Friendly Ponds Feng Shui Water Gardens and Low Maintenance Eco Friendly Water Garden Tips and How seeds planted sprout fast

Eco Pond
 Eco friendly ponds, water gardens and eco lakes are so important today to bring a balance in nature. doing your own bit for the ecological balance you can make sure your water garden is low maintenance and eco friendly with simple tips. Visited this eco friendly pond and loved the peaceful ambiance of the  space.  Fishes feed on algae, bacteria feed on  deposits and water plants grow well covering the layer protecting from strong sunlight that would kill the water life underside. Its like each one befitting the other and living in harmony and also maintaining the balance.
Meaning of eco ponds- they actually take care of themselves! People go out of the way to install pipes, irrigation systems, cleaning equipment and water features to make their water garden attractive. It would be advisable to think simply the natural way is best.
Plants, Aquatic plants add to the beauty of the water gardens and also give a great look to the design of your garden. Lotus, water lilies, algae,  sea weeds, water hyacinth, and many varieties of water plants are available to add on to the beauty and health of your water garden.
The process of nature goes in a circle, the feng shui ponds always are in balances and harmony and make a great ambient setting for a peaceful morning or evening time.
Nursery Local Plants For sale
 An eco friendly pond works along with nature. it provides food, safety and shelter to plants and animals. It is actually balancing the elements well so that each one takes care of the other and is linked, this leads to low maintenance and great feng shuid water gardens.
1) proper circulation of air, and water, is essential for keeping the ponds clean and healthy.Pipes installed correctly in right size helps to keep this circulation on thus keeping producing oxygen for fishes and water life.
2) Motors and pumps must be of efficient power too save electricity and thus reduce maintenance costs. Filtration and cleaning, an important process can be done manually (machines) or naturally by adding beneficial bacteria that keep the water clean.
3) Choose fishes and water plants that are low maintenance. Fishes that feed on algae and water debris are great water purifier agents,
4) Stones and natural rocks in all sizes are essential to maintain the water life and also aids in keeping the eco ponds clean. Pebbles and stones act as natural  filters.
Different Ponds Sections Eco Friendly Ponds
5) See that your eco friendly water ponds and gardens are not surrounded by large and too many  trees,as the leaves and flowers will keep falling in the pond making it difficult to keep it clean.
Wherever I go they seem to be following me! A few local plant nurseries at native place, visited these but this time did not buy as most were what we already have and now I have to look out for rare plants and exotic flowering ones, so the search continues..,
 Local Nursery

 Meanwhile on our terrace garden front again with some hope planting citrus fruits seeds. this time I have removed the hard shell covering to help the seeds to sprout faster, keeping my fingers crossed! Usually till the time the seeds begin to sprout they are either soggy with water or feasted upon by birds. So have to hasten the process. Dried them after cleaning them well, removed the hard cover and planted them. One inch bellow the soil they have been planted, lets see how nature helps out!.


All the Best from Rizwana!

4.11.15

Betel leaf Pan Climber and My Lovely New Extended Family and How to Grow New Hibiscus Plant from Cuttings

Betel Leaf Paan climber
Betel leaf, commonly known as Paan in Hindi, Pan in Bengali, Tambula and Nagavalli in Sanskrit, Tanbul in Persian. Betel leaf, paan is used as mouth freshener but known to stain teeth by regular consumption. Piper betel is the leaf of a vine, it includes pepper and kava. Not only eaten the leaves of Paan are used in many auspicious traditional ceremonies.
It is consumed by adding Areca nut, slaked lime, cardamom, saffron, cloves, fennel seeds, turmeric, aniseed, and sweeteners with tobacco according to preferences.
Have been fascinated by the wrapping techniques and the chewing sessions which were symbolic and a great respect for guests after meals. And of course the traditions of giving any offering of gift with this symbolic leaf under neath.
Requires partial sunlight and well draining yet wet soil and good support as it grows great in hanging baskets. But lots of protection from bird friends they  love this!
Good Quality Betel leaf climber

Close up of Betel  Leaf Plant
 Some of the new additions to our family look happy and keeping my fingers crossed for the sick ones  I bought recently , that they spring back to life!
Some New Additions to the Family

The Sick plant Poinsettia

Bulb of lilly

Chinese Rose plants
How to grow from Cuttings-
till date I have not been able to successfully grow from cuttings many plants Tried my hand on roses but they did not grow healthy and lost them. Then we have the Rubber plant and The Anant, Cup and Saucer, Heavenly blooms that has taken well from cuttings. Just that it took nearly a year to grow healthy, slow growth. Now trying on hibiscus plants and they look good.
1) Choose thick stem that has many tiny branches and leaves on it, this give the plant time to begin new life till the old leaves on its cutting of stem shed. 
2) Now this one is tricky, some plants love rains and sprout fast but from my personal experiences over the years I prefer winters.  
3) Choose partially shaded and some indirect  sunlight spot.
4) I know it feels strange , request the plant for its cutting and then cut the stem, otherwise it will not grow. 
5) Again keep your heart  strong and slit the base with scissors into tiny partings, it feels bad but this helps a lot, smash lightly the base of the stem, This makes the new plant root faster. people add root hormone and fertilizers but I have never gone this way as  a rich healthy soil is enough along with right water and sunlight for new plant from cuttings. 
Grow Plant from Cuttings
6) protect from birds and pests and pets and please please don't do like I used to do---- keep checking the new plant if it has come up with roots! and if it is alive or dead. New plant takes time, I have seen even months to start . keep caring and watering and as long as the stem looks wet and not dried hollow there are chances it has accepted your love!
7) When the new plant has grown a bit and looks adjusted then add fertilizers diluted in water.
Specially posted this as the festival season is on and when you receive roses and other flowers as gifts try this out! it works most of the times! and if you are in process of house cleaning , purify your house, check out my article in Spice Jet's Inflight magazine on House Cleaning the Feng Shui Way!
Hibiscus From Cuttings
Meanwhile have transplanted the Rare layered Hibiscus plant this time as the plant is not available everywhere and the cuttings go waste after the rainy season. Now the wait begins ... waiting for the new life.
All the Best from Rizwana!



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