Saying no to garden pests

                                       Saying no to garden pests

                                                          

Be it enlisting the help of your pet or utilizing bio manure, controlling pests in your garden has never been this easy

With the monsoons setting in, you must have noticed an inexplicable freshness in the greenery around you. Rains, the harbinger of life, add an element of magic to your garden too - be it a sprawling one, a terrace setup, or even a few pots.

But monsoon is also a season that spells trouble for your green spaces. The high humidity, constant showers and damp weather can take their toll on your precious plants. Apart from these, another major disadvantage of monsoon is the sudden influx of pests. Be it a rat that nibbles on your veggies and spreads diseases or slugs that damage your plants, garden pests can undo all your gardening efforts in a jiffy. But before you decide to reach out for the chemical insecticides and pesticides, here are a few eco-friendly and safe methods to eliminate garden pests.

Prevention is better

Rats, squirrels and some insects make their home in cracks, crevices, discarded pipes and other items. So first, attend to these and close all openings, which could potentially house the pests. As they are shy creatures, it is only when they multiply that we begin to notice them. Snails stick on to the underside of stones and rotting wood. Clear out all debris to send them a clear signal of inhospitality.

Plants need to be pruned as monsoon arrives. This helps them grow better. However, ensure the pruning is carefully done, as pruning them improperly can damage the plant. As the plants receive plenty of rainwater, proper draining of the excess water is essential. This keeps the roots healthy and vibrant. Make sure that there is no stagnation of water around the plants, which attract insects to breed. Delicate plants can be kept indoors or in the veranda to prevent them from rotting.

Encourage visitors

Next, take assistance of some friendly visitors to your garden that naturally feed on the unwanted animals without affecting your plants. A cat in the compound keeps the rats away. Birds visiting the garden feed on bugs and insects. So, having a birdbath or a small birdhouse will not only add an element of attraction to the garden but also help in pest control.

But beware if you happen have fruit trees around. You may want to protect the fruits from birds by covering them appropriately. Earthworms in the soil make it fertile and feed on the moss and fungi. Beetles or ladybirds, grasshoppers and frogs feed on aphids and other insects. So, encourage the presence of these animals to keep the pests under control.

Encash on their dislikes

Plant garlic, onion, mint and dandelions in proximity of the garden. The strong odours of these elements discourage rodents and insects. Some insects run away from peppermint sprays. Sprinkling turmeric prevents ants from raiding the soil and damaging the roots.

Another way is to strengthen the plants naturally and make them pest-resistant is to sprinkle neem powder, onion, garlic, ginger and cardamom peels on the soil. Bio manures like cow dung are very effective and nutrient rich for plants. This not only fortifies the soil but also keeps fungus and insects at bay.

Get rid of them

Some infestations call for extermination. Aphids are white, velvety type of insects that cling onto the plants and destroy them. They can be one of the most difficult plant infestations to get rid of. Use a harsh jet of water to dislodge them. As they hold on to the plant by their mouth, the spray of water dislocates them. You can buy beetles from horticultural suppliers and spread them around to eat the aphids away. Additionally, spray neem oil mixed with vinegar and a little detergent on the plants to ward off the aphids. They hate the bitter mix and will not choose your garden as a home.

To eliminate snails and slugs, beer is found to be quite effective. Placing small containers of beer around the garden attracts them to it. They ingest the intoxicating liquid and usually drown in the container. Weeds grow at an alarming rate in this season and eat up space and nutrients, hampering the growth of the plants. Diligently de-weed the garden as soon as you spot them.

And it's time to see your garden flourish!

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Kitchen of your dreams

                                            Kitchen of your dreams

                                                             

Flexible: Modular kitchens can go with you if you move homes, and be modified to fit into the new kitchen.

Quite simply, modular kitchens are highly adaptable, custom-built kitchens. They consist of separate, pre-made modules, which when fitted together, make up a fully-functioning kitchen. The various units are designed to suit your kitchen space and then installed in it. They follow different layouts — straight, galley (or corridor), L-shaped, U-shaped — and you can choose the one that works best for your home. While a regular cabinet structure is permanent and immovable, modular units can be dismantled and reassembled. This means that they can go with you if you move homes, and be modified to fit into the new kitchen.

Truly customized

A modular kitchen is all about you, and built to match your every whim: your space, usage style, needs, likes, and budget. Every kind of personaisation is possible, from different-sized sink units, tall units to save (horizontal) space, and wall units to save on the floor area used. You also get to design the look and feel of your kitchen to match your taste. This includes choosing shutter finishes, materials for counter tops and cabinets, and kitchen accessories. Whether you’re moving into a new home or are looking to renovate an old kitchen, modular kitchens come at prices that are perfect for different budgets.

Deciding on a modular kitchen over a regular one helps minimize the wastage of the three most sacred things in our modern era: space, time and effort.

Space: In most Indian homes, the lack of space can be overwhelming. With modular designs, you can use and access every nook and corner of your kitchen.

Time: The time it takes for a carpenter to deliver the kind of kitchen you have in mind, is many times what it takes to get a pre-manufactured modular one. You’ll have the kitchen up and running in less time.

Effort: The pre-determined designs of modular units have been tried and tested for years. What you see is really what you get, with no unpleasant surprises.

In such setups, modules are thoughtfully designed to maximize convenience and comfort, so everything you need is at your fingertips. Tall units for groceries, 

Bottle racks for spices, plate racks, cutlery drawers, sink units with an inbuilt dustbin — there’s a place for everything. Carousels that roll out when you open the storage unit help you reach far corners with ease. In case of breakage, every unit can be assembled, disassembled, and hence repaired easily. Also, if you want to get something repaired, that part can be taken out separately and sent for repair. 

Modular kitchens are seriously good-looking kitchens. They’re sleek, modern, elegant and easy to maintain. A bevy of pre-designed templates ensure that you get to choose from the latest designs.

Play with deep reds, midnight blues and moss green, or stick with classic teak or mahogany. Choose from a range of textures and colors for your shutters, like solid wood, veneers, lacquered finishes, laminates, acrylic and glass shutters and water-resistant materials. Add your own creative touches. For instance, you can opt for stained glass panes for your crockery cabinets, and jazz them up with LED lights.

While there are many options, granite works best in Indian kitchens. It’s also available in different colors. Select a slab which has raised edges to contain small spills or one with smoothly-rounded corners, which are easy to clean. 

No more pains

The trick to minimizing aches and pains in the kitchen is to use an intelligent storage system. 

* Keep the most frequently used light items within easy reach, preferably at a height between your elbow and shoulder. 

* Heavy jars and containers that you use on a daily-basis are best stored at waist level to avoid having to heft them. 

* Heavy stuff that is not used regularly can be relegated to the bottom on your cupboard. 

* Miscellaneous items that you don’t use much can be stashed away on the top of your cabinets. 

* Stretching to reach for things can cause pulls. So, invest in cabinets and storage areas that come with pull-outs to minimize stretching.

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Growing orchids at home

 

                                      Growing orchids at home

                                                     

Most orchids are easy to grow indoors because they thrive on air

Orchids are a challenge to look after. You need a lot of patience.

And just when you are about to give up, they surprise you with their real beauty -in various shapes, sizes, colours and fragrances. And like most pretty things, they are high-maintenance. However, not all orchids are difficult to grow. Some are practically indestructible. It is estimated that there are more than 1,300 species of orchids found in India, primarily in the Northeast -Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh -and also in Sikkim and south India. Most orchids are perennial herbs with simple leaves and if raised in the right conditions (temperature not less than 1617oC), they should last eight weeks with flowers, after which the blooms slowly start dropping off. They eventually re-flower. A word of caution: Never cut off the aerial roots, and never, ever remove the orchids from the pots they root in.

BEGINNERS' CHALLENGE

Growing orchids can be addictive. Most orchids you get in nurseries are hybrids, created specifically for flowers. They are easy to care for at homes and offices. However, a few things should be kept in mind, like light and humidity. If you can imitate a plant's natural habitat, it will thrive.

FOR A GOOD START

The most commonly available orchids, such as the Moth Orchid, Phalaenopsis and Cattleya are so popular because they grow well at home. Phalaenopsis hybrids are usually considered the `beginners' orchids', largely because they rebloom under the conditions most windowsill growers can offer them. They require lower light. African violets can adapt to different humidity levels. They, however, easily die off due to over-watering. Under watering can be a problem too. In Vedic scriptures, there is mention of a plant named Vanda, which has been adapted as a generic name for one of the most beautiful group of orchids. Vandas could be mostly found on trees. And unlike most plants, they do not grow in soil, but air. Their roots attach to trees or rocks, and they draw moisture and nutrients that wash over them in the forest. Beginners often make the mistake of assuming that orchids need to be potted in soil like other blooming flowers. That would be a grave mistake. Most orchid roots need far more air than potting soil would give them. So, look for a porous mix.

LIGHT

Direct sunlight should be avoided. Some common types of orchids that thrive on bright light are Cattleya and Vanda, while low light is preferred by Phalaenopsis and Pahiopedilum, among others. Orchids should be given as much light as they can tolerate. Varieties with thicker and erect leaves can tolerate more light than those with thinner or more horizontal leaves. Too little light is one of the common mistakes beginners make.

TEMPERATURE

Warm-growing orchids like day temperatures between 21oC and 29oC. This includes Phalaenopsis orchids. The commonly available orchids that are sold in nurseries do well in temperatures that are comfortable for human beings.

HUMIDITY

Most orchids like about 70 per cent humidity in the atmosphere, which is more humid than most homes. So, you have to make an effort to provide your plants with extra humidity. Orchids usually appreciate misting with a spray bottle. If the plant has aerial roots growing up and out of the pot, those roots will like getting some moisture. At home, you can keep the planter on a tray. Fill it with water and gravel. As the water evaporates, it will provide some extra humidity to the plant. For anyone keeping tropical plants on a windowsill, this technique really helps.

NUTRITION

Orchids need nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium for growth.

WATER

Overwatering kills far more orchids than under watering. When in doubt, just don't water. The potting mix also has a lot to do with how often an orchid needs watering. Most orchids are sold in mixes that allow for weekly watering. Don't water until the soil is approaching dryness. To water an orchid, just submerge the pot in a bucket for a few seconds, then lift it out and let the excess water drain off.

PRUNING

Beginners often wonder how to prune orchids.

Trimming old flower stems that have turned brown is a good idea. If it's still green, it may re-bloom, either from the tip or by branching further back on the stem. Trimming orchids should only be done to remove leaves, roots, or flower stems that have already died or have turned brown. You must sterilize your cutting tools or use disposable ones so that you don't spread diseases between plants. The best time to re-pot is when new roots start to grow. So, what are you waiting for? Get started.

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Grow a herb garden at home

                                 Grow a herb garden at home

                                                  

Herb gardens can be grown in the smallest of spaces and add more to your menu

It is a myth that these exotic herbs can't be grown in hot climes because the seeds aren't available. Those who stay in small apartments and cannot indulge in gardening due to lack of space, also have reason to rejoice. Floral beds and manicured gardens sure have that come-hither oeuvre and magnetic appeal. Welcome to herb gardens that are garnering a lot of interest these days.

EASY TO GROW

These exotic herbs can easily be grown at home. City entrepreneur Ashok Agarwala, who has a green thumb, reveals, “There are a lot of people who try and create special atmosphere for exotic herbs, but you can grow them easily at home if you give balanced love, care, light and humidity and not over indulge these delicate plants. I grow three varieties of basil, celery, lettuce and many other herbs with regular care given to them and the results are heartening. But yes, you have to shield them from extremities of weather.“

SEEDS AND SAPLINGS

It is a myth that these exotic herbs can't be grown in hot climes because the seeds aren't available. There are a lot of shops where you get the seeds of almost all the herbs. And in certain cases, you can order them online too. Sanjay Lokhande, one of the owners of a nursery, adds, “Seeing the growing demand for kitchen garden plants, we have started selling the saplings of various herbs. And we plan to add more of these herbs to our stock.“

SPACE NO CONSTRAINT

Those who stay in small apartments and cannot indulge in gardening due to lack of space, also have reason to rejoice. Artist Gunjan Khandelwal, who has turned her small terrace into a vibrant garden replete with varieties of fruits and vegetables shares, “I have a specific corner dedicated to herbs and they are the pride of my tiny garden. Right from thyme to green garlic, basil and oregano, everything grows in these tiny spaces. You can also nurture them in pots and bring out the gardener in you.“

START IT SMALL

There are certain enterprising gardening enthusiasts who believe in the goodness of starting their own herb gardens from the scratch. You can start your own mini herb garden right on your kitchen window sill. You can grow fresh garlic by putting a few pods in a pot and grow mint and coriander without any fuss. Using the fresh ingredients picked while cooking can add that beautiful aroma to any dish. From bay leaves, basil, black pepper, lettuce to lemon grass and more, grow them all. It is such a satisfying moment to see these glorious beauties grow right in front of your eyes.

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Future homes: 3D printed and ready to fly

                    Future homes: 3D printed and ready to fly

                                                  

Homes you can print transport on the back of a truck, even fly. They sound like the homes of science fiction, but they might well be the real residences of the not-too-distant future. Impelled by the pressures of climate change and population growth and shaped by the promise of technologies like 3D printing, a revolution is brewing in the future of home-building around the globe.

We need to rethink almost everything about the way we live, especially in coastal cities, because our world may be reshaped by rising oceans in ways we can't yet fully anticipate, says Hans-Peter Plag, a professor and director of the Mitigation and Adaptation Research Institute at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Complicating the problem of a shrinking landmass is the prediction that the human population will bloom to almost 10 billion people by 2050.

Behrokh Khoshnevis, professor of engineering at the University of Southern California and director of its Center for Rapid Automated Fabrication Technologies, is one of many innovators looking to ease the housing crises. He hopes his 3D printing construction method, which he calls Contour Crafting, will create a way to build homes for a fraction of the current cost. Khoshnevis said his technology would bu ild a house in a day and cut down the construction cost by 30%, a goal he says will happen within the next year or two.

Arthur Mamou-Mani, director of Mamou-Mani Architects and FabPub as well as a lecturer at the University of Westminster, said 3D printers and other fabrication machines “will empower people to participate in the designs they want.“ He said some people have talked about how drones could pick up and move houses in the future. “The house will be the drone. Why separate the thing that carries you from the house? Just make it the house,“ he said, adding, “Our generation is increasingly nomad, raised with low-cost airlines and often working from home with laptops, therefore flying our homes will seem normal in the future, and as for any migrating bird, borders between countries will seem like an absurd relic of the past.“

Kasita, a company in Austin, Texas, is moving toward a model that would allow people to move a home between cities without wheels or propellers. Imagine owning a micro-movable apartment that you parked in a building in Austin, where it slides in like a drawer. When you needed to move to LA, a crane would come, put your house on a truck that would drive it to your new location, where a forklift could slide it into an opening in your new building.

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                             DESIGNING INTERIORS WITH VAASTU

                                                      

While you are reading this article many people are juggling with the choice of colour applications and placement of interior objects in their homes and workplaces.`Which colour goes where?' `Which is the best place for T.V.?' are the common question asked by people all over the world.

Zones and locations

Vaastu is of immense help in deciding room decor as per zonal locations. For instance, the Earth element is associated with the colour green, and with the eastern zone, that mainly governs social networks and associations.Colour schemes and room functions match. For instance, the kitchen is ideally located in the south-east, and the best colour is red. If it is blue in colour, then this zone will be afflicted, and health and financial problems may arise. Also, if the room location cannot be changed, the wall and floor colours can be.By choosing the suitable colour, the negative effects of an erroneous location can be overcome. There are plenty of Maha Vaastu books and courses that can inform you about which pitfalls to avoid.

Likewise, there are clear ideal zonal placements where utility items, like the washing machine, inverter, the music system, and so on, are best placed. A home can be totally designedplanned, down to its last, Vaastu-friendly detail.Each utility item represents an activity . Vaastu lays down which zone is good for which activity. There are single or multiple locations that have different effects on the user.

Placing utilities

The inverter is helpful in the north-west and will bring in support and help at all times. The television set in the east and east north-east will refresh, entertain and educate the user. The music system in the east north-east will refresh the user. The washing machine and aquarium represent churning, and ought to be in the zone of churning, namely, the east south-east. These will help make the mind peaceful and focused. The computer and work table will bring gains and knowledge in the south-west, west south-west and the west. For the other utility items, find out the best locations. Ask a MahaVaastu expert if you have any doubts about object placements.

The north-east should house the mandir. If there is anything else here, check its suitability, especially since mental clarity is at stake. An important rule is that nothing except the toilet and dustbin, brooms and cleaning materials should be in the south south-west. This is the zone of waste and expenditure. Be careful about this while designing interiors. The cleaning cupboard can be placed here. Also, ensure the southwest, the zone of skills and relationship is decorated in yellowcream or white colours. This is a critical zone in every house, determining good family life, finances and work skills.

Vaastu basics

Vaastu is the science and art of traditional Indian architecture that also deals with ideal placements of rooms, objects, colours and so on. As an interior decorator, your aim is to make the house interiors appealing and attractive to their residents. As a matter of course, the guiding principles of MahaVaastu can help in achieving highly professional results in a short time with maximum efficiency. The basic building blocks of Vaastu are the five elements and the 16 Vaastu zones (cardinal directions and their subdivisions). The ba sic Elements or Panch Tattva are Space, Air, Earth, Water and Fire. North, north-east and north north-east are some of the Vaastu zones: this subdivision scheme applies to all cardinal directions.

Discerning the elements

Each element is directly associated with a particular direction, shape, colour and symbol. These combinations can be in a positive or negative cyclestate, depending on what has been placed with what and where, and give rise to emotions and shape the quality of life. Vastu principles are simple, logical and easy to follow. From this, it follows that in any house, as per Vastu, the function of rooms, the nature of objects, and type of color scheme and shape, decides where these will be most suitable.

You can also look at power and other symbols that can be used to lift the room energy. These are easily available at MahaVaastu. The East zone benefits from a smiling, benevolent sun; the West, from a picture of a temple; the North-East, with a smiling, meditative Buddha; in North you can keep blue or green vase with fresh flowers.Vaastu symbols like, Garuda, Kamadhenu, eagle, lion and the Ashoka Pillar are just a few power symbols that can generate powerful results.Likewise, you can select which symbols will help in which rooms.

To be successful, ingrain the basics of Vaastu. Understand the relationship between the elements and Vaastu zones, and you will have learnt the basics of interior design, decoration and placement. As an interior designer of your home, you possess the ability to change the energy of a residence positively. MahaVaastu has documented over 12,000 cases where each treatment worked.

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How to space the SIPs?

                                      How to space the SIPs?

                                                     

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is a tool to achieve financial goals through long-term investment planning. It is a better alternative, particularly for those who lack market knowledge. SIPs help save a fixed sum at regular intervals and inculcate financial discipline without getting into the business of timing the market.

Some fund houses also call them 'Sleep In Peace', 'Small Is Powerful'...

SIP in mutual funds is based on two most strong fundamentals - rupee cost averaging and power of compounding - thus helping you ride over market volatility and ultimately generate investment returns.

It gives more units when the markets are down and less when they are up. On that score, is it wise to apportion the sum in to smaller chunks and distribute it at various points through the periodic option, instead of at one-go at the beginning? After all, the markets are volatile over the course of a month or a quarter as much as over a year.

Box47360 How to space the investment? There are weekly, monthly and quarterly payment options. While some fund houses offer 'daily' SIPs, we also have the option of 'yearly' SIPs, at the other end. So, how to opt? Which one provides better returns?

Box47361 Why avoid yearly option? In the yearly option, a person will be able to invest once a year on a given date. Can a 'yearly' choice be construed an SIP? It is, nevertheless, possible that an annual SIP for over 12-15 years may provide the cost averaging benefit, the option depending on the cash flow and risk appetite.

But in the yearly mode, there is a chance of missing the payment date. We know that payment of annual insurance premium may be popular, also it has the lowest lapse rate and premium cost also works lesser. But the same logic is not applicable for annual SIPs.

Box47362 Daily SIP might be just overdoing it If I choose a daily SIP for years, given that there are about 250 trading days, the number of entries in my bank account will make monitoring pretty cumbersome and operationally challenging, as most of us are monthly-salaried class. Some studies have shown that the annualised returns from the daily SIPs and monthly SIPs are almost the same.

Box47363 Quarterly for non-regular income segments: A quarterly SIP option will give a shorter account statement, but the idea of the investible income lying idle for two months is not relished. Getting 'rid' of this money as soon as possible is best way to ensure financial peace.

Box47364 Monthly SIP as ideal option: In monthly SIP, the investor is aware that a certain sum of money will be deducted from his bank account on a particular day and so he ensures that there is money in the account. If an investor has a lump sum, he can take the weekly or monthly SIP route.

The more staggered the SIP, the better the returns, as more regular investment helps catch market volatility better, as you invest during lows and highs. True, it merits reason. However, for monthly-salaried, it is convenient if the frequency is monthly, as it matches with the monthly cash flow.

Importantly, you should know whether you will be able to commit the fixed amount on the specified date. Choose the scheme wisely and relax to reap benefits.

When you target a longer period, say 12-15 years, the frequency may not really matter, whether you opt daily, weekly, or monthly.

Be it a good or bad market condition, stick to your SIP, this will fetch you the best returns over the long-term.

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