Viji Abi, a passionate gardener from Thrissur, Kerala, grows a wide range 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 day by day routine is caring for her residence backyard and interesting along with her gardening associates worldwide.

Upon getting into her backyard in Thrissur, Kerala, you’ll be welcomed by a vibrant show of blooming flowers. Nonetheless, the standout characteristic of the backyard is her water lily pots containing exotic-coloured lilies. As one in all 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 remodeled into my ardour. I used to be interested in how lily vegetation 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 residence.

Journey to her magic backyard

Raised with an affinity for vegetation and greenery, Viji has been keen on gardening for many of her life. “It should 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 totally different worlds, however for me, gardening was all the time part of who I used to be. When my first youngster was born, my husband and I lived on our personal. So one in all us needed to stop our job to boost the kids. That’s once I determined to go away my job,” she provides.

However after placing down her papers, Viji’s thoughts was not relaxed. “I had all the time needed to create and go away again one thing of my very own on the planet. However, I didn’t have the path,” she says.

In 2008, with the delivery of her new child, the younger mom began to spend so much of time in her backyard. “Tending the newborn 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 whole lot of flowers in her backyard, and she or he even shared its seeds with different individuals. “I went on to Fb and located lots of people all in favour of shopping for totally different vegetation. I additionally discovered many rising water vegetation. I made a decision to attempt my hand at that too,” she shares.

In 2018, Viji purchased her first water plant. “Whereas it bred flowers, I didn’t know how one can shield the plant from dormancy, and I used to be additionally uncertain how one can 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 totally different international locations throughout the oceans have stayed in contact with me ever since. They might provide steering by means of video calls, advising me on whether or not my actions had been proper or mistaken.”

Recalling the early days when she began rising water flowers, she says, “I purchased hardy water lilies, which was a mistake. The sort was not in a position to survive within the climate of Kerala, and all of the vegetation died. However the entire course of motivated me to attempt once more as I used to be now curious and needed to find out how they develop.”

Viji not solely discovered the precise means of rising lilies, she mastered it. Presently, she grows greater than 100 sorts of lilies in her residence backyard. However that was additionally not sufficient for her; she needed to hybridise her personal selection! This, she thought, was a good way to fulfil her dream of contributing one thing artistic 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 in a position to 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 concerning the market demand for lilies. “Initially, I didn’t know that lily vegetation fetch excellent costs out there. Later I began to promote my lilies by means of Fb to individuals the world over,” she says.

Throughout a profitable season, Viji mentions that she will be able to earn as much as Rs 1 lakh per 30 days by promoting lilies. “I used to be sitting at residence taking good care of my youngsters, and I had a supply of earnings — good for a homemaker!” she remarks.

Tips on how to develop lilies at residence?

1. Select the precise selection

“It’s essential to decide on the precise number of water lilies primarily based on the native situations and your particular atmosphere. As an example, in Kerala, tropical varieties are most well-liked, whereas in areas just like the western facet, hardy varieties may thrive,” shares Viji.

“It’s vital to notice that water lilies require a minimal of six hours of direct daylight day by day, which can pose challenges in colder areas,” she provides.

2. Completely happy Pot, Completely happy Plant

The selection of pot relies on the aim of your planting the seeds. “If you wish to bloom them for private functions, then huge pots with a whole lot of area for flowers to develop could be good. The vegetation don’t go dormant simply and bloom for a very long time. Nonetheless, in case you are planting for industrial functions, then smaller pots could be preferrred 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 they usually want daylight. “Be sure they get no less than six hours of daylight every single day. This is among the the explanation why many lily vegetation turn into dormant. Place your pots in a sunny place and see your lilies bloom,” she says.

4. Pure fertilisers can go a great distance

In addition to offering the vegetation with daylight and good soil, Viji recommends feeding them with pure fertilisers. “Vermicompost can do wonders to your lilies. You can too use cow dung to provide extra vitamins to the soil. Whilst you may be tempted to make use of chemical fertilisers, there is no such thing as a want. These regionally sourced, pure elements can go a great distance,” she says.

5. Discover your gardening associates

“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 vegetation, it was an entire 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 would possibly result in lifeless vegetation or they may go dormant. There may be some losses however asking for assistance will all the time come as a aid to you.”

(Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos credit score: Viji)