FEATURE

HYDERABAD IN A NUTSHELL

We have asked few of our Hyderabadi’s to tell us why Hyderabad is not Hyderabad without…..??

The Beautiful Sunrise & Sunset at Charminar. The infamous Hyderabadi Biryani. We make sure people all over India get a taste of this yummy dish & our Slang the first thing to learn is (BAIGAN KE BAATA NAKKO KARRO) Translating to “Don’t talk nonsense”. POOJA VANGANI, Fashion Designer Owner of “Threads & Petals”

Hyderabad is not only famous for its biryani, but also for its unpredictable traffic at any time anywhere around the city.

AFREEN BAIG,

Food blogger

Hyderabad is not just a city or a physical location, Hyderabad is its people. Hyderabad is the warmth of its residents and the hospitality they carry in their hearts. SABISTA KHAN, Entrepreneur

There are several factors that make this city unparalleled like it’s authentic biryani, the Irani chai and of course the very famous Charminar! What contributes more to its uniqueness would be the old city charm. You enter Charminar/ laad bazar and hear shopkeepers calling out to you saying “Aaiye Baji aaiye new collection ekdum latest!” You know there’s nothing like this elsewhere! DR. KISHWER SAMEEN, Doctor (Dentist)

Lukhmi at Hyderabadi Weddings SAKINA KHAN,

Siri Grading Specialist - Apple

Old City during festive season, Irani chai and Irani cafes & people flocking Ram ki Bandi for dosas at 4:00 AM in the morning. ALAMDAR ALI MIRZA, Business Development Manager with OYO Rooms

Hyderabad is not Hyderabad without the beauty of the Nizam’s creation and the elegance of the traditional Hyderabadi Nizami jewellery. The Nizam’s creation such as Chowmahalla Palace. The Jewels of the Nizam of Hyderabad state are among the largest and most expensive collection of jewels in present-day India. KAUNAIN ALI, Student

Biryani! Cannot find Hyderabadi Biryani anywhere else in the world RAJURI AKANKSHA,

Mixed Media Artist

One iconic event, & a thousand memories. If you’re a Hyderabadi then Numaish needs no introduction. Every New Year’s we were prepared for the best two months of the year. Not only the locals, but people who knew Numaish flocked and travelled from all over the country to taste the spirit of this trade fair here in Hyderabad. This is the magic of our prestigious Numaish. I hope postpandemic we get to experience this spectacular carnival real soon. ASIYAH ,

Geometry Artist & Founder - Moonchild

Hyderabadi Slang! I have it too, if you are born here, no matter what accent you have this is our soil language. PRIYANKA BIRLA WADHWA,

ORR (Outer Ring Road) A quick long night drive for Hyderabadis & the Dakhni lingo is what makes one a Hyderabadi. Kaiku, nakko, unlogaan, apanlogaan, miyaan, kiraak, aakhri over, yaaro to a name a few, are part of our everyday. AMENA RASTI BAGHBAN, Entertainment and Lifestyle journalist

Biryani & Irani Chai they are the soul of the city KAPIL MK,

Businessman

Hyderabad is known for a lot of things. But mainly, Biryani, Shervani, Mehendi, hospitality & the exquisite pearls it has to offer from the Nizami era. All these traditions have been passed down from the Nizams since decades! EMAAN SAJID, Home

Chef

Idly and Dosa are outstanding in our city which is irresistible SALONI GUPTA, Student

FEATURE |

Happiness Blooms In The Garden

Spending a longer time at home in this pandemic we all tend to look for new hobbies or activities that help us stay occupied. Recently, gardening has picked up pace in being people’s favourite. From growing vibrant flowers to fresh veggies for your kitchen, people have been exploring the plethora of gardening. As easy as this new hobby sounds, nurturing and taking care of our little friends can be a relatively tricky task. Understanding the needs and ways to grow them is essential to have a healthy gardening experience. Tulip discovers some understandable ways to get going with gardening.

Things required

1. Firstly to get started, gather containers. You can either buy pots from your nearby plant supply store or re-use the delivery containers or old crockery for the same.

2. Secondly, our very basic element, soil. It is essential to make sure your soil is clean without any contaminants. Healthy soil results in a better crop. An alternative to soil is cocopeat. It is a natural fibre made out of coconut husk. It is also referred to as coco soil.

3. Next, we require seeds. You don't need to buy seeds from stores. Vegetables at home suffice the need for a beginner level mini garden. Seeds from plants like tomatoes. cucumber, coriander seeds etc can be used. If you're looking for flowering plants, prepotted plants wrapped in black plastic will be available.

4. You will also require plates to place under the plants for the excess water to drain off.

5. It would be handy for you to gather gardening tools for convenient weeding, potting and growth of the plants.

Let’s get started

1. The first thing to do is ensure you have excess water drainage holes for your pots. If you're buying plants from the store, they will have them ready for you but in case you're using containers at home, make sure they have holes at the bottom of the container. You can use the heated nail trick here!

2. Ensure the placement of plates under the plants for the excess water flow.

3. When you're filling the pot with soil make sure the soil isn't packed inside the container. Doing so the roots will find it hard to grow. The soil must be packed loosely for air to pass and roots to spread effortlessly.

4. If you're using seeds, the process of potting is simple. Depending on the size of your container, make tiny sized holes, 2-4 inches deep. You need to ensure that the seed is neither sowed in too deep nor floating up off the surface. If you're using pre-potted plants, make sure you dig in deep enough for the soil brick attached to the roots of the plant to be completely settled in.

5. Next, after potting the plant or seeds, we need to ensure we water the plants adequately. Do not use excess water, ensure the soil gets damp.

6. One of the most important elements of gardening is to ensure you place the pots in an area that receives sufficient sunlight and shade. Shade is equally important for the plant to sustain heat. Balconies, Kitchen utilities, windows etc serve as the perfect place for placing your plants.

Always remember

1. It is important to frequently remove weeds from the pots. The growth of weeds can disrupt the healthy growth of the plant as they take up the nutrients and space away from the plant.

2. Regularly water the plants depending on the plants. Do not water during afternoons. Either in the morning or evenings, we must water, being sure of the weather.

3. Adding manure once a month depending on the size of the plants plays a significant role in the growth of the plant. You can use the chemical growth add ons available at the plant stores or make your organic compost pit. Using organic substances is much preferred compared to chemical manure.

4. Grafting your plants when they excessively grow is essential. Once in 3-4 Months trim the edges of the stem where there is no flowering or fruit for the plant to develop better.

Organic manure suggestions

1. vegetable and fruit waste from our kitchen have unbeatable nutrients which they can contribute to the plants.

2. You can make your compost pit, using layers of soil and vegetable and plant waste. It usually takes 30-40 days for the manure to be ready.

3. Banana peels make a difference to the plants.

4. dried lemon leftovers are a great source of nitrogen.

5. Eggshells help reduce the acidity levels in the soil.

6. Green tea, used coffee beans provide acidic levels for berry plants.

7. wood ash if available also decomposes in the soil and naturally enriches it.

| FEATURE

Plant suggestions Source: www.elitechdrip.com You can start with a lot of basic easy to grow plants, however, you will have to nurture and take care of them. Loving and caring are the fundamentals of gardening.

Rose

You do not have to be a plant lover to know what Rose is. This plant has over 300 species and can form group plants that can be shrubs. Mainly known for its red colour, the rose is found attractive to many couples. Roses can flower throughout the year. Rose soothes skin irritation and is used to reduce skin redness. It also contains antioxidants that are used to heal scars, cuts, and burns.

Bougainvillea

Bougainvillaea is a great tropical plant and makes for great climber plants. Bougainvillaea is an evergreen climber plant and is used as an ornamental in many gardens. Its bright colours can do wonders to any gloomy garden. The plant loves an open-air and hot dry climate. It is also resistant to attacks by cattle and birds, owing to its thick piercing thorns.

Hibiscus Rosa Sinensis

Generally known as a shoe flower by many school children, the hibiscus is a brightly coloured flower with vividly coloured petals. It has great medicinal values, but it most commonly is used as a dissecting flower in schools for learning purposes. The hibiscus is a species with a wide range of variations, each with bright coloured petals and a wide selection of uses. Learn more about Hibiscus

Ixora

Ixora is one of the most common summer plants any garden can have. With over 500 species to its name, Ixora flowers rather freely in the summer months, sometimes also during winter. Its variation is Ixora Coccinea flowers during winter. We’ll cover that in a later section. The plants come mostly coloured in red, yellow, and bright orange. Their growth and maintenance are also quite simple, making them favourites among many gardeners.

Lantana

Lantana is a broad-leaved vibrant flower that, although looks like a vine, is categorized as a shrub. They come in a wide variety of colours, including but not limited to yellow, orange, white, red, and purple. These colours can be mixed to create a bicoloured effect that can only stand to beautify the garden as a whole. A gentle warning: These plants do not smell as good as they look, but make for excellent foliage. They even prefer warm climates, with well-drained soils, and very little fertilizer.

Adenium is more popularly known by local botanists and gardeners as the desert rose. Mostly used as Bonsai plants, these plants have bright and eye-sparkling colours and shades of red, which few flowers can compare to. One thing to note about these plants is that adenium is prone to attacks from worms, and so a good practice would be to apply a fungicide to the plants after cutting the stems. Learn more about Adenium.

Crape Jasmine

Jasmine is also called a pinwheel flower. This is an evergreen shrub native to India and is now widespread all over Southeast Asia. Its family name is Apocynaceae. This flower is used in all ayurvedic products. These plants are used as antioxidants, analgesics, and anti-tumour. Grape Jasmine can also be crushed and used as an eye drop.

Stores in Hyderabad for Gardening supplies

Hyderguda has several stores lined up with a wide range of pots and gardening tools to choose from. some of the store suggestions are:

1. The gardening store- Hyderguda Ph: 09177611700

2. Myro farms- Hyderguda Ph: 09052622287

3. Paudhe se yaari - Film Nagar Ph: 09705733222

4. Peace lily - Madhapur Ph: 08106245555

5. Plant bubble - Madhapur Ph: 6300659109

Websites to shop from: 1. www.nurserylive.com 2. www.theaffordableorganicstores.com 3. www.setgreen.com

“Gardening makes me feel fresh and lively. It is a time where I can spend time with myself. Every plant is special to me, they give me a reason to spend my time with them.” Archana Bang, Businesswoman & Homemaker

“Gardening for me personally is a way to get away from all the daily hassles and stress. It’s very therapeutic to plant a seed, eventually see it grow into a beautiful plant. It’s important to devote some amount of time, patience and love to our nature. Gardening helps me cope with the stress besides we can grow our own fresh and tasty vegetables. You don’t have to be a professional at the beginning itself, you can slowly learn by spending some quality time in your garden, you can explore nature, connect with the soil. The satisfaction and amount of happiness you receive when you see your mini jungle is indescribable and for me, gardening is the best hobby one can have.” Usha Nair, Homemaker

“I grew up watching my mom's garden plants and how she cared for them. Eventually, I grew up loving gardening and being around nature even more. For me it is therapeutic. I always spend some time on my balcony around the plants, it's my escape and sanctuary. During summers I would go to my hometown where my grandfather would love to take us to the farms and teach us about the various things related to gardening. Nothing is more satisfying than gardening and watching plants grow”. Komal Jain, Social Media Manager

“I grew up in an agricultural family. Most of my childhood was spent amidst the fields. Later on in life, we moved to the city but my love for plants and nature made me miss the village lifestyle. That is when my interest in gardening grew. I used to make my very own kitchen garden in my backyard and teach my kids how to nurture and take proper care of the plants. Now I have four beautiful granddaughters who love gardening as much as I do. Recently, I’ve moved back to my hometown and harvested around 22 acres of crops. My love for plants and nature can never find an end and that's what makes me go every day”. Radhika Reddy, Homemaker

“I love gardening, it is like therapy to me. When I come home after work, I make sure to spend 10-15 mins with my plants. They give me peace and the feeling of fresh air is a moment of happiness for me. Admiring the beautiful plants and flowers makes me feel like I'm on top of the world”. Sunitha Reddy, Staff Member (Nasr school)

“Gardening is healthy, beautiful and rewarding. It gives so much happiness and inspiration. It teaches us so many things about nature, sustainability, community, as well as love. It's the miracle of life. A teeny tiny seed grows into something large and beautiful. By getting my hands dirty, I make my brain happy. It boosts my mood and makes me happy by allowing me to nurture life”. Vinki Soni, Homemaker

“Gardening is many things for me: beautiful, meditative, healthy, exciting, rewarding and creative. I used to watch my grandmother plant different varieties of fruits, herbs and vegetables. She loved planting roses as well. I would love spending time and helping her with gardening, these memories of her are really close to my heart. I plan to start gardening again and grow all varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables”. Abdallah Yafai, Engineer