Monsoon watch for your garden

Come monsoons and it is a time to take care of your plants

Monsoon is the part (season) of the year when plants require little care and maintenance – so goes an all too common misconception among growers and laymen. We tend to forget our garden and plants as well during this time, as if nature will tak e care of the flora and fauna all by herself.

Monsoon rains are characterised by heavy downpour with high humidity and low light and temperature. For most ornamental plants, both drought and heavy rains are not conducive. Potted plants are the ones most affected by decay of roots, yellowing and dropping of leaves, rotting of stem base etc.

Most plants have a kind of dormancy during the rainy season, with little visible growth. Gardeners are more cautious during the rainy months. Pathogenic fungi and insects cause a lot of damage to both ornamental and crop plants alike during this period.

Fungi tops the list of pests during monsoons. In tropical areas, they are more active and virulent during the rains, producing symptoms like root – rot, leaf spots, abnormal leaf fall etc. For the rose, black leaf spot is a common fungal disease which has high incidence throughout the rainy season. The fungus which causes this disease emits ethylene which leads to immature leaf fall in the plant. Succulent plants are more prone to root decay by soil – borne fungi.

Cultural practice

Most plants suffer in soggy, wet soils, especially when combined with high humidity in the air. One of the most important gardening ‘mantras’ all through the monsoon season is to provide good drainage. Proper pruning of plants during the rainy months not only enhance the air circulation around the leaves, there by reducing the incidence of fungal diseases but also helps in the production of new flushes and flowers in the very next season.

Pruning has been found to boost flowering and to check the formation nonproductive leggy branches in rose, bougainvilla, hibiscus, ixora, jasmine etc. A prophylactic pesticidal spray containing a mixture of Copper oxychloride as fungicide and Monocrotophos as insecticide can be given to the plant and its medium as well. This can be done before the onset of the rain season and during the lull between the rains.

Potted beauties Potted plants need as much care during the rains

Euphorbia, Adenium, cacti and similar succulent ornamental plants which require little water for normal growth can be kept under the shade or verandah, away from direct shower.

As the plants are in a state of dormancy, application of manures and fertilizers may be minimized during these months.