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| How much sunlight is required for my plants |
From cold climates to snow falling countries and back home here in our hot humid climate we need to be very careful with the amount of sunlight our plants receive.
For all those who have grown flowering plants will definitely share that they need loads of sunlight for many hours of the day to give out blooms. I have seen roses die of frost and fungus in shaded areas and chameli, champa , mogra flowering plants never giving out any blooms due to less sunlight.
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| Vibrant Blue Bell shaped flower Vishnukanta climber |
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| Exotic flowers Anthuriums |
There are no universal rules regarding sunlight requirements of your plants and with experience I have understood each plant is unique.
1) In general find information about indoor and outdoor plants. But remember even indoor plants require sunlight, maybe once a week to survive. Si I have learned however much artificial lights are provided they long for the free open sunlight.
2) Observe your plant how it reacts to full sunlight, indirect sunlight and when and what quality it produces blooms. This can be done by shifting the pot in different places, you can bet the plant will communicate to you where it is most happy.
3) Under the sun does not mean literally in scorching heat! It need some protection at least for some hours other wise the leaves and flowers burn.
4) Most Flowering plants require sunlight , at least few hours morning or evening and the rest of day mid afternoons some partial light and not direct light. Other wise they do not give out blooms or give out weak blooms.
5) Colors of flowers are deepened and vibrant when they receive direct sunlight for some hours at least. I have seen hibiscus, blue bells and many others that give out a beautiful vibrant glow only when they are under the sun. The ones with less sunlight give out weak blooms and many times buds fall off.
6) Sunlight though very important always protect your plant from watering in afternoons and hot times. It will burn.
7) Few hours of direct sunlight maybe three to four at least for flowering is essential for flowering plants.
8) Exotic plants require less sunlight and die in full sunlight. That does not mean they do not like sunlight. They need a place where they receive indirect sunlight to give out blooms. I have lost so many plants over the years due to this environmental effects. Now I am very careful in choosing and buying plants.
Finally each plant is unique, I have seen one mogra plant under direct sun give out so many blooms and the other one drying off looking sick under the direct sun! such plants require so much energy to survive under the sun that they stop giving out blooms.
Then there are some who love to play, they want direct sunlight but hide among other plants and bloom like this blue bell Vishnukanta climber which loves to be in other pots with tall big plants and hides behind other plants under direct sunlight.
Find the right place for your container plant, in the beginning try shifting them and see how they respond, your plants communicate to you in form of showing signs of sickness or gifting you with lovely blooms! and once they get the best place, environment, where there is appropriate sunlight and shade they are so happy, they show off by blessing you with huge sized blooms!
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| Vermillon Red Layered Hibiscus Flowering Plant |
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| Pink Poppies with yellow butterfly |
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| New flowering plants added to the terrace garden family |
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Hi Rizwana:
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for very helpful tips regarding watering and sunlight.
I had a few questions:
My orange ixora that was ailing sometime back is on the road to recovery. It has put forth two new buds and a shoot with two leaves. I had changed its position ( a west-facing balcony) with the advent of winter. It now receives four hours of direct sun between 1:30 and 6 p.m. But, sometimes in hot sun, the shoot starts drooping. Is it common for flowering plants? Do I need to water the plant in the evening as well? I water all my plants only once at 7 am.
Usually, the subsoil remains moist for twenty-four hours (plastic container) and I do not water them for the second time. What are your experiences?
Hello Dr. Vivek, yes if the plant drops in evening and comes back in morning, means it requires water twice. and I prefer to have mud / cement pots as plants are more happy in them.
DeleteDear readers of the blog:
ReplyDeleteThis is to alert all of you to the infestation of Mumbai's Rain Trees between Dahisar and Byculla by the mealy bugs and white flies. Nearly 500-700 trees have wilted and have been felled and Mumbai is fast losing its canopy. The Mumbai-based NGO, Vanashakti found out that as Mumbai's top soil remains asphalted, trees do not have sufficient opportunity to breathe and absorb water and nutrients. As a consequence of lowered immunity, trees have become susceptible to mealy bug infestation!
This is very sad, Anonymous thank you for posting this, really our trees are facing the grunt of constructions and the unexpected climatic conditions, I am so sad, I too lost a few flowering lovely plants due to this, the ones who had been with us for so many years.
DeleteGod Bless , Save our Trees!
www.razarts.com
Dear Rizwana:
ReplyDeleteYour readers would very much value your experience with respect to composting kitchen waste in apartment blocks and recycling the soil of potted plants. Thank you very much.
Yes Anonymous I will surely share how I use home left overs and composting my garden plants as well as recycle the soil to make a more nourishing one. Thank you for the suggestion, God Bless form Rizwanna! www.razarts.com
ReplyDelete