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Viji Abi, a passionate gardener from Thrissur, Kerala, grows quite a lot of water lilies, incomes over Rs 1 lakh month-to-month. Studying from the Worldwide Waterlily and Water Gardening Society, she created a hybrid selection.
After ending her family chores, what Viji Abi eagerly anticipates in her each day routine is caring for her house backyard and fascinating along with her gardening pals worldwide.
Upon getting into her backyard in Thrissur, Kerala, you’ll be welcomed by a vibrant show of blooming flowers. Nonetheless, the standout function of the backyard is her water lily pots containing exotic-coloured lilies. As one among India’s few water lily hybridisers, Viji’s backyard proudly showcases a hybrid selection she cultivated known as Nymphaea Sree.
“Gardening began as a leisure exercise however reworked into my ardour. I used to be interested by how lily crops are grown and which selection survives. Now, I earn greater than Rs 1 lakh a month by promoting lilies throughout a very good season,” she says.
Viji shares the secrets and techniques behind her wholesome and inexperienced backyard, and the way you can also develop water lilies at house.
Journey to her magic backyard
Raised with an affinity for crops and greenery, Viji has been keen on gardening for many of her life. “It will need to have been many years since I’ve been tending to a backyard. It’s my favorite factor to do,” she says.
Earlier than turning into a full-time gardener, she was an accountant. “It feels like two completely different worlds, however for me, gardening was at all times part of who I used to be. When my first little one was born, my husband and I lived on our personal. So one among us needed to stop our job to boost the kids. That’s after I determined to depart my job,” she provides.
However after placing down her papers, Viji’s thoughts was not comfortable. “I had at all times needed to create and depart again one thing of my very own on this planet. However, I didn’t have the path,” she says.
In 2008, with the start of her new child, the younger mom began to spend so much of time in her backyard. “Tending the child and the backyard gave me solace,” she says.
Viji’s gardening journey began with rising bougainvillaeas, orchids and roses. She provides that she had a variety of flowers in her backyard, and he or she even shared its seeds with different individuals. “I went on to Fb and located lots of people fascinated about shopping for completely different crops. I additionally discovered many rising water crops. I made a decision to strive my hand at that too,” she shares.
In 2018, Viji purchased her first water plant. “Whereas it bred flowers, I didn’t know find out how to defend the plant from dormancy, and I used to be additionally uncertain find out how to re-pot them,” she says. So she turned to the web and joined varied social media teams of planters and gardeners.
As a member of the Worldwide Waterlily and Water Gardening Society, she says, “It felt as if I had found my individuals. Members of Fb teams from completely different international locations throughout the oceans have stayed in contact with me ever since. They’d supply steerage via video calls, advising me on whether or not my actions had been proper or incorrect.”
Recalling the early days when she began rising water flowers, she says, “I purchased hardy water lilies, which was a mistake. The type was not capable of survive within the climate of Kerala, and all of the crops died. However the entire course of motivated me to strive once more as I used to be now curious and needed to find out how they develop.”
Viji not solely discovered the precise manner of rising lilies, she mastered it. Presently, she grows greater than 100 forms of lilies in her house backyard. However that was additionally not sufficient for her; she needed to hybridise her personal selection! This, she thought, was an effective way to fulfil her dream of contributing one thing inventive to the world.
“With the assistance of the Worldwide Waterlily and Water Gardening Society and my fellow water lily planters on Fb, I used to be capable of hybridise my very own selection. It’s vibrant orange in color and has the right variety of petals. Nymphaea Sree meets the standards of the consultants, and therefore the popularity,” she says.
Viji additionally learnt in regards to the market demand for lilies. “Initially, I didn’t know that lily crops fetch superb costs out there. Later I began to promote my lilies via Fb to individuals internationally,” she says.
Throughout a profitable season, Viji mentions that she will earn as much as Rs 1 lakh monthly by promoting lilies. “I used to be sitting at house caring for my youngsters, and I had a supply of earnings — excellent for a homemaker!” she remarks.
How one can develop lilies at house?
1. Select the precise selection
“It’s essential to decide on the precise number of water lilies primarily based on the native circumstances and your particular setting. As an example, in Kerala, tropical varieties are most well-liked, whereas in areas just like the western facet, hardy varieties may also thrive,” shares Viji.
“It’s necessary to notice that water lilies require a minimal of six hours of direct daylight each day, which can pose challenges in colder areas,” she provides.
2. Completely happy Pot, Completely happy Plant
The selection of pot is dependent upon the aim of your planting the seeds. “If you wish to bloom them for private functions, then huge pots with a variety of house for flowers to develop could be excellent. The crops don’t go dormant simply and bloom for a very long time. Nonetheless, if you’re planting for business functions, then smaller pots could be ultimate for you as they’re simpler to promote,” she advises.
Lilies can bloom in pots as small as 6 inches and as massive as 18 inches.
3. They love the solar!
Viji says that lilies love daylight and so they want daylight. “Be sure they get at the very least six hours of daylight on daily basis. This is among the the reason why many lily crops grow to be dormant. Place your pots in a sunny place and see your lilies bloom,” she says.
4. Pure fertilisers can go a good distance
Moreover offering the crops with daylight and good soil, Viji recommends feeding them with pure fertilisers. “Vermicompost can do wonders on your lilies. It’s also possible to use cow dung to offer extra vitamins to the soil. When you is likely to be tempted to make use of chemical fertilisers, there is no such thing as a want. These domestically sourced, pure substances can go a good distance,” she says.
5. Discover your gardening pals
“This recommendation is for all the brand new gardeners,” she says. “Don’t hesitate to attach with individuals and ask for assist. The primary time I attempted my hand at rising water crops, it was a whole catastrophe. If I had not gone to Fb teams and requested for assist, I might not be right here.”
She provides, “There’s a probability that your first try may result in useless crops or they could go dormant. There is likely to be some losses however asking for assistance will at all times come as a reduction to you.”
(Edited by Pranita Bhat; All footage credit score: Viji)
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