Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Shifting gears (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/)

-   -   Gardening experts in Team BHP? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/89939-gardening-experts-team-bhp-15.html)

Gulmohur should be leafless in the winter months, so I believe this is the Peltophorum pterocarpum or Copper Pod, Vernacular Name :Haladi Gulmohur

https://www.google.nl/search?client=...GqbH8Afy-7KoBQ


Should bear yellow flowers in March-September, and you will be sure, as the leaves very similar to the ref flowering gulmohur

With my limited space, knowledge and gardening skills I'm trying to figure out the easiest options for potting mix in my pots. Right now all my pots have regular mud / soil dug from around the house with some vermicompost thrown in. The problem is that this becomes quite hard. Some plants grow well and others look like they are having a bad day.
I was considering using some cocopeat or perlite for future plants. I'm not confident enough of repotting the present set, unless absolutely necessary.
What are your thoughts on cocopeat and perlite?
I have two small nurseries in my city and they sell mainly manured soil or mud and vermicompost.

You need to mix your hard soil and manured soil 50/50.break them down and add coco peat before putting the mix in pots. I put about 15% cocopeat. Use small plants from nurseries that come with their own soil. Add some nitrogen to spur green growth. The bacteria in the nursery soil will spread out into the pot eventually. Its all about the top 1 inch soil.

This method has worked great for me these winters. I planted 30 pots of flowers and none failed.

P. S. in a pinch human urine diluted in water is a good source of nitrogen :)

In front of my house in Delhi there are at least five Gulmohar trees and they all have leaves even in Delhi cold. Anyway once the summer starts we will know from the flowers.

Hard soil is due to excessive clay, The best option is to introduce coarse sand in the mix available from any construction site. To be ensure that the sand does not have any chemicals or salt, wash it with water a couple of times, easiest method is to put the sand in a jute bag and pour water from the top.

So my next gardening query:
I bought (what I thought was called) ball cactus and it was doing well. It was in a small pot and was nice and green. It received plenty of direct sunshine - in fact its become summer here.
Watering was prudent and I never overwatered.
Suddenly this happened (as shown in picture).
Any idea what upset this fellow so much that he blew his top?

I am also looking for similar info on tree which can be planted in home garden for shade. They should not have big roots. I am not able to decide. I live in Bangalore. People at Nursery have little or no help.

Can anyone pls refer manual lawn mower for Mexican grass lawn? I am looking for one which can be repaired easily in future

There are two types available
. Wheel traction
. Roller Traction

I have personally found that the cheaper ones are the best as they are usually have simple mechanicals. Here are a few ling that you can peruse

http://www.amazon.in/dp/B06XCJGQB9/r...rds=lawn+mover
https://www.tolexo.com/unison-junior...009033955.html

I have some vermicompost to give away. I guess gardening gurus may be interested.

Check the post on giveaway thread

if any one requires vermicompost in large quantities in Bangalore, pls let me know. A person I know makes this on his farm near Hessaraghatta,

Need suggestion on planting small trees at my home which would cover the view from outside and provide privacy. It should be tall/thick for a 2 floor house. I can do without fruit trees else the street kids may throw stones to pluck the fruits. Trees with minimum maintenance.

Thanks :)

I have an aloe vera potted plant. What kind of treatment does it need? More water, less water? More sunshine, less sunshine? Does it need fertilizer?

How about bamboo ? It can form a 'screen' quite quickly and easily. Try and look for the thinner shorter ornamental type varieties. We have some of the common variety growing in our garden since 4 odd years and most of it grows to about 2nd and 3rd story on average with 3 inch thick stems

A few more of my random, sporadic queries:
1. I managed to surprisingly grow some potato plants that are about 10 weeks old. They have started slowly withering. I dug a bit and got a couple of small potatoes. When is the ideal time to harvest them? If I wait longer will I get bigger potatoes or rotten ones? Present size is about 5 cm.
2. I am considering using dried leaves and veg peelings for preparing compost. I only have a small balcony and cannot afford it to stink. I am also quite lazy and would prefer something easy to use. will amazon be a good friend to buy some of these compost bins (aerobic vs anaerobic, etc).
More random questions later...