Tips for Winter gardening in Bengaluru

Winters have started here in Bengaluru. The mornings are little foggy and chilly. However, the day turns bright and you do not crave for sun in the cozy weather. This is the best part about living in Bengaluru. The evenings again are cold enough to snug in the quilt. This way you do not really miss the coziness of northern winters in this part of the country. I love winters and all the things associated with this season. In north India, we celebrate this time with great food and long conversations at night with the family sitting in front of coal-heated angeethis.

In Bengaluru, this is a beautiful weather for roses, dahlias and geraniums. We have rented this house with a nice garden. I have kept a gardener for the general upkeep of the garden or grass to be more precise. The weather is so nice throughout the year so I try to bring in flowers according to the season. I love a garden with flowers of different colors.

Good weather generally is a boon for bugs also which hamper the developmental cycle of some plants. Due to cold, aphids grow in large number on rose bushes as well as hibiscus plants. If left unattended, these bugs can go deep into the roots and kill your plant. You can see white moss like things on leaves and buds. These bugs during their initial infestation are very difficult to spot. So if your rose is not blooming even if you have fertilized it, there are high chances of it being attacked by bugs. So what do you do now ? You go to the shop and ask for a spray or go online and shop for an insecticidal spray! Seriously ? No!!!!
Everything is available inside our kitchen. You just have to look for it.
Natural remedies are good not only for your environment but also for your pocket. Here is an all natural insecticide for treating bugs of all kinds :
Take a spray bottle of approximately one litre. Put few drops of neem oil, soapy water and some vinegar. Mix everything well in a litre of water and spray  from time to time on the affected parts of plants. Below images are a proof of how effective this remedy was for my roses, hibiscus and Christmas plant. The last tip : Be regular in spraying this solution. Happy gardening ! Enjoy :) 

The blooming Christmas Plant.