Roses on 23/03/2018

BETAL WINE GROWS IN MY HOME GARDEN

Family Piperaceae

Scientific name : Piper sarmentosum

Growing Betal creeper is pretty easy but you need to learn its requirements. This rare mildly stimulant herb can also be grown in a big pot or containers in a balcony and even indoors in partial sunlight.

It belongs to the Pepper family. Its waxy green heart shaped leaves are used for medicinal and culinary purpose.When crushed, it exudes cool peppery scent. It is used for making a famous Paan which is chewed with betal nut a a mouth freshner. This mildly stimulant herb is popular in whole south Asia (Indian subcontinent) Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

It is a perennial herb which can be grown in containers and hanging baskets.  You can cultivate it from cuttings and root division. 

It thrives well in subtropical and tropical climate but growing betal leaf creeper in a cold climate is littlebit difficult.

Plant's primary stem grows upto 1 m high after that, it forms creeping stems having heart shaped leaves that contain mild scent and exotic white spike like flowers. It can be either trained as a climber or grown as a ground cover.

How to propagate?

If you want to propagate from cuttings, take about 8 cms long stem. make 90 degrees cut using a scissors, just below the leaf node. Remove all the leaves except top 2 leaves. Put the cutting in a glass of fresh water rand place it on a spot like a windowside, in indirect sunlight. Keep changing the water every day. Once several roots appear, transplant it into a deep container or in ground.

Prune regularly after it reaches 2 m. height to control the plant. Regular proning and plucking of leaves encourages new growth and sweet and tender leaves.

Occasional feeding in every couple of month in growing season of the plant with nitrogn rich organic manure or fertilizer is recommended. During winter season, it becomes darment in brutal cold and sometimes shed its leaves too, but get to grow again in spring and remain in growth. In such conditions,  regular watering is not needed. Over watering can cause root rot disease.

Medicinl benefits of betal leaves:

Betal leaves are especially helpful to clear the bronchial passages, cough, cold and for the female reproductive system.

It removes the bad breath. It also instigates the peristalic wave an important aspect of digestion

Ithelps with urination discomfort.

Betal leaf is said to be diuretic in properties so it eases the urination comfort.

It has analgesic properties and can cure the mental illness.

It softens the stools. It supports oral treatment of dryness, pain or any uncomfortable oral conditions.

It aids in digestion. It is said to help with flatulence by encouraging saliva and  other digestive juices.

                                                                                                                                   Courtesy: Google

                         

Hence, it is a must have herb in our home garden. You can buy it from nursery or you can propagate by the stem cuttings. 

LEMON FRUIT IS READY TO HARVEST

Hi Dears!

I am very much excited to show you that this is the first lemon fruit in my home garden. I think that it will take one more week to ripe and change to yellow colour. But the aroma of the lemon fruit is in air. 

But old leaves are dull and spotted. I have to remove the old leaves.Then only, young leaves grow fast. 

It is amazing to know about the health benefits of lemon fruits . It treats the indigestion, constipation,dental problems, throat infections,fever, internal bleeding, rheumatism, burns, obesity, respiratory disorders, cholera and high blood pressure, while also benefitting our skin and hair.

Known for its therapeutic property since generations, lemon helps to strengthern our immune system, cleans our stomachit ishighly appreciated as a blood purifier.

It is well known for treating the kidney stones, reducing strokes and lowering body temperature.

It helps to reduce weight.

Nutrional benefits:

Lemons contain vitamin C, Citiric acid, flavanoids, B complex vitamins, calcium,copper, iron, magnesium, phosperous,potassium and fiber.

Lemons are said to be have more potassium than in apples and grapes.

                                                                                                                 

ROSES OF MY GARDEN

Family Rosaceae

Botanical name: Rosa Damascena

This is the local variety of Roses. Pleasant pink coloured flowers that emanate the pleasant

fragrance. They are strung as strands or offered to God.

Rose Garden nurtures the soul. It has to be done slowly and with an immense interest. Above all, we have to give it our personal attention and affection. It includes peace of mind as the achievement of calmness by deep meditation. This is a good exercise to mind and body.

IVY GOURD VINE

Coccinia Grandis, the Ivy Gourd vine   

Ivy gourd vine is also called as Baby watermelon, little gourd, gentleman's toes and popularly termed as Tindora belonging to the Family Cucurbitaceae. Roots form everytime the branch touches the soil.

Each root is enlarged giving the ability to grow long period of the season.

The leaves are slightly broad and flat shaped as a heart and having sometimes different shapes of leaves seen. The flower is white with five petals with a tube-like base.

This vine is fast growing and aggressive in growth.It is said that the growth is 4 inches per day. There is a wonderful and true saying that is if we don't consume the ivy gourd, Ivy gourd will consume the environment. That much aggressive and dominating growth is its nature. This vine smothers the nearby trees.

In my home garden, this aggressive vine smothers the lemon tree nearby. The vine is recorded as an invasive weed in Pacific Islands.

Perennial vine up to 12 m tall which forms the dense leaves and vines that cover the entire shrubs and trees nearby. Stems are green slender and when it matured becomes succulent and thick.

Flowers are not seen in our garden because I remove certain stems whenever it covers the lemon tree.I heard from my mom that the fruits are wonderful red colour and soft the parrots love to eat this fruit.

Health benefits of this Ivy gourd is amazing.

Prevents kidney stones.

It controls blood sugar levels.

It acts as a immune system regulator.

It is rich in Beta-carotene.

It is used for culinary purpose. I rarely use these young leaves of the ivy gourd vine for green gravy. Sometimes I add two different greens with this Ivy gourd leaves in dal base and consume. It is very tasty. For that nutritional and culinary benefits, I love this vine very much.

CURRY LEAVES- MURRAYA KOENIGII

Curry leaves are richly packed with iron and folic acid. Folic acid, you know, is mainly responsible for absorption of iron. So we can conclude that the curry leaves are the rich source of both the iron and folic acid also that they are the very natural remedy for anaemia.

Curry leaves check the blood sugar levels and so it is good for diabetic people. They lower the high blood sugar levels and they are proved to be rich in fibers

Researchers prove that curry leaves help in lowering cholesterol levels. It is packed with antioxidants and prevent the oxidation of cholesterol that forms LDL cholesterol (bad ) and simultaneously it increases the good cholesterol levels protecting the body from the heart diseases and atherosclerosis.

It improves digestion and it supports the weight loss thereby treating diabetes right at the root level.

According to the researchers, curry leaves can reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It protects the chromosomes and bone marrow and prevents the production of free radicals in the body. What an astonishing ability of these wonderful leaves!

It sounds unbelievable remedies. Isn't it?
Curry leaves consist of antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal properties so that it is dealing common skin infections like the fungal infection of nails.
Moreover, it accelerates the abundant hair growth and prevents the greying hair.it fights dandruff.

These leaves are termed as Kadipatta in Hindi.

It is not only used for seasoning but also it has a lot of benefits for our health.

Scientific name: Murraya Koenigii Family Rutaceae native to India and Sri Lanka.

Curry leaf plant can be grown from seeds or cuttings.  Sow the seeds in pot soil and keep them damp.
but not too much wet. It can grow well in the exposure to sunlight after growing some inches high.
Freshwater accelerates its growth abundantly and bright green, elongated leaves. Its baby leaves and stem are red in nature. They are much aromatic and beautiful.

Pinch the tips of the branches so that the many branches will grow.

Prune the plant during the winter season to avoid pests and worms. It goes dormant and the leaves turn black and dotted and drop out the entire leaves and stand alone. But it will cherish during the months of March and April during summer seasons.

The more you harvest, the bushier the plant will grow.

LEMON FRUIT GROWTH