[sumanr]

Hi all
I am interested in gardening and want to start growing some (atleast small) plants.
I guess I got very inspired after reading the posts here.
Can someone help in going about this task ?

I live in Chennai and unfortunately bonk, I stay in a flat at the ground floor. But I do have some space on the sides and back of the apartment.
Can you tell me, what kind of containers i need to buy & where, where to get seeds, manure etc.

thanks in advance

[PrabhaSaravanan]

Hi Sumanr,
. Its good that you got interest in gardening from these threads....sure you would become more excited when you get into this....

In chennai there are lots and lots of nurseries providing you all kind of plants and seeds and also the manure.
There is one in the main road in st.thomas mount(opposite to military hospital road), ramapuram, then so many in OMR road and ECR....
you need not require too much of space for gardening only thing needed is your interest...
Initialy try with some few flowering plants that grow well in chennai climatic conditions.All the best for your new developing gardening

Regards,
PrabhaSaravanan.

[Anandchitra]

Hi all
I am interested in gardening and want to start growing some (atleast small) plants.
I guess I got very inspired after reading the posts here.
Can someone help in going about this task ?

I live in Chennai and unfortunately bonk, I stay in a flat at the ground floor. But I do have some space on the sides and back of the apartment.
Can you tell me, what kind of containers i need to buy & where, where to get seeds, manure etc.

thanks in advance

Hello Prabha has given good pointers to get started with.. Here is a link to a discussion we had sometime back

Balcony Gardens

You can grow wonderful plants and flowers in a small space.. Like Prabha says its the interest that counts.
One of the plants that I can immediately suggest is Hibiscus and roses too.. Please keep posting here so all of us can help.

[sumanr]

Dear Prabha/AnandChitra,

Thank you very much. I cannot explain how encouraged I am by your words.
I referred to the link on Balcony Gardens.

1. Can roses & hibiscus be planted in pots? Or do they need ground only ?
I have a small patch of ground (1ft in width and approx. 7 ft in length). I also have some cemented area. So I need to carefully plan on what should go in the ground & what in the pot.
Please help.

2. Also, can I grow organic stuff? Then, what will be the food for the plants?

thanks.............

[Shanvy]

sumanr,

I have a small garden on my roof. that is i live in a flat. on the terrace i have a small garden and all the plants are in the pots.

i have hibiscus 4 varieties, omum, tulasi, banana, kanakambaram, roses.mint, you can just put few sprigs they will latch on.

for chillies and tomatoes, i use pots only.

On the patch, you could grow nityamalli, jadhi, which are climbers, you could lift them to the terrace ofcourse only with the permission from other owners.

[sumanr]

Thanks Shanvy.
Your terrace garden is indeed inspiring. Thanks again for sharing the pictures.
The ones that you have look like cement pots ? Is there any difference between these and mud pots?

Will follow your suggestions and get back...

[Anandchitra]

Dear Prabha/AnandChitra,

Thank you very much. I cannot explain how encouraged I am by your words.
I referred to the link on Balcony Gardens.

1. Can roses & hibiscus be planted in pots? Or do they need ground only ?
I have a small patch of ground (1ft in width and approx. 7 ft in length). I also have some cemented area. So I need to carefully plan on what should go in the ground & what in the pot.
Please help.

2. Also, can I grow organic stuff? Then, what will be the food for the plants?

thanks.............

1. Roses adn Hibiscus can be grown in pots.
2. I will go with Shanthi's recommendation for the open patch.

ABout the pots to use, I will recommend mud pots. But due to the heat in Chennai, cover the pots thickly with mulch and moss to help retain moisture.
Info about moss etc are available in threads in this forum.

Hope this helps. good luck.

[Shanvy]

Sumanr,
both are different. mud pots retain moisture a little longer than these cement pots and are too heavy to carry,but it worked better for me , as mud pots used to break fast.

But my nursery lady tells me that mud pots are becoming rarer..than these... and you can get loads of concrete cement pots painted also...

do tell me which area you are placed. so that i can even guide regarding the nurseries.

[sumanr]

Thanks Chitra & Shanti !! I will try out something by next week and post my feedback.

Shanti - I live in Thiruvanmiyur. So let me know about some nurseries there/ on ECR/ OMR etc.

[Anandchitra]

Sumanr,
both are different. mud pots retain moisture a little longer than these cement pots and are too heavy to carry,but it worked better for me , as mud pots used to break fast.

But my nursery lady tells me that mud pots are becoming rarer..than these... and you can get loads of concrete cement pots painted also...

do tell me which area you are placed. so that i can even guide regarding the nurseries.

Thanks Shanthi.. I was also goin to request you to write here when you find time. Its interesting to note about the cement pots and mud pots!