Shanti

There is no reliable rule that every plant should be watered daily, weekly or on the same schedule. Watering frequency depends on the plant, soil, weather, root depth, container, drainage and stage of establishment. The most useful rule is: check the root zone and water when that plant needs it. A gardener checks soil moisture by hand beside a healthy mixed planting, with organic mulch, drip irrigation and a watering can supporting practical, efficient garden watering. What determines...

A useful beginner plant is one that suits the gardener’s climate, light, water, space and intended use. No plant is easy in every situation. Begin with a few plants that the household will genuinely use. Learn how the site behaves before expanding. A beginner gardener harvests a small amount of sweet basil from a practical container garden growing chives, flat-leaf parsley, rosemary, spring onions and loose-leaf lettuce. Define “useful” A plant may provide: Food Culinary flavour Tea Cut...

A declining plant may recover if living roots, stems or buds remain and the cause can be corrected. Recovery cannot be guaranteed. The safest approach is to stabilise the plant, identify the main problem and change one factor at a time. A gardener examines the soil and pale living roots of a stressed container plant, checking drainage and remaining healthy growth before deciding on the next care steps. Confirm that the plant is still alive Look for: Firm stems Flexible twigs Healthy buds...