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 fascinating together with her gardening buddies worldwide.

Upon coming into her backyard in Thrissur, Kerala, you’ll be welcomed by a vibrant show of blooming flowers. Nevertheless, the standout characteristic of the backyard is her water lily pots containing exotic-coloured lilies. As one in every of 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 superb 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 crops and greenery, Viji has been keen on gardening for many of her life. “It will need to have been a long time since I’ve been tending to a backyard. It’s my favorite factor to do,” she says.

Earlier than changing into a full-time gardener, she was an accountant. “It appears like two totally different worlds, however for me, gardening was all the time part of who I used to be. When my first little one was born, my husband and I lived on our personal. So one in every of us needed to give up our job to boost the youngsters. That’s once I determined to go away my job,” she provides.

However after placing down her papers, Viji’s thoughts was not comfy. “I had all the time wished to create and go away again one thing of my very own on the earth. However, I didn’t have the route,” 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 infant 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 she or he even shared its seeds with different folks. “I went on to Fb and located lots of people occupied with shopping for totally 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 shield the plant from dormancy, and I used to be additionally not sure find out how to re-pot them,” she says. So she turned to the web and joined numerous 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 folks. Members of Fb teams from totally different international locations throughout the oceans have stayed in contact with me ever since. They’d provide steering by means of 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 sort was not in a position to 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 wished to find out how they develop.”

Viji not solely discovered the appropriate approach of rising lilies, she mastered it. Presently, she grows greater than 100 styles of lilies in her residence backyard. However that was additionally not sufficient for her; she wished 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 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 factors of the specialists, 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 excellent costs out there. Later I began to promote my lilies by means of Fb to folks the world over,” she says.

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

The way to develop lilies at residence?

1. Select the appropriate selection

“It’s essential to decide on the appropriate number of water lilies based mostly on the native situations and your particular atmosphere. As an illustration, in Kerala, tropical varieties are most well-liked, whereas in areas just like the western aspect, hardy varieties also can thrive,” shares Viji.

“It’s essential 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. Glad Pot, Glad 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 large pots with a variety of house for flowers to develop can be good. The crops don’t go dormant simply and bloom for a very long time. Nevertheless, in case you are planting for business functions, then smaller pots can be ideally suited for you as they’re simpler to promote,” she advises.

Lilies can bloom in pots as small as 6 inches and as giant as 18 inches.

3. They love the solar!

Viji says that lilies love daylight and so they want daylight. “Ensure that they get a minimum of six hours of daylight on daily basis. This is among the the explanation why many lily crops develop into dormant. Place your pots in a sunny place and see your lilies bloom,” she says.

4. Pure fertilisers can go a great distance

Moreover offering the crops with daylight and good soil, Viji recommends feeding them with pure fertilisers. “Vermicompost can do wonders to your lilies. You can even use cow dung to offer extra vitamins to the soil. When you may be tempted to make use of chemical fertilisers, there isn’t a want. These domestically sourced, pure substances can go a great distance,” she says.

5. Discover your gardening buddies

“This recommendation is for all the brand new gardeners,” she says. “Don’t hesitate to attach with folks and ask for assist. The primary time I attempted my hand at rising water crops, 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 likelihood that your first try would possibly result in useless crops 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)