Ornamental Horticulture

3. WINDOW GARDENING

WINDOW GARDENING

Window gardening’ or ‘window-box gardening’ is making of garden in the window sill or any other attachment to it.






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Merits:
Novel method of gardening
An ideal place for growing a wide range of house plants
Ideally suitable for congested cities and flat dwellers
Containers for window gardening:
Containers made of following materials are suitable :
Wood, fibre glass, iron, plastic, etc.,
Painted with water proof paint to protect from rotting
A box of 75cm length, 30cm width and 20cm depth is ideal.
Provision for drainage holes is essential.
Media for window garden:
Three parts of garden soil, 1 part of cow dung manure, 1/4 part of sand (or) soil mixture containing 3 parts of loam soil,1 part leaf mould, 1 part river sand and 1 part compost mixture.
Soil mixture can be changed when it becomes exhaustive.
Planting in a window box:


• Put some broken bricks or earthen pot pieces and fibrous materials on the bottom of the box at the depth of 1.3 cm to prevent soil being washed out of the drainage hole.
• Fill the box with soil mixture keeping 1.5 cm space up to the rim.
• Plants should be spaced about 10 cm apart
• Moss can be added to the top for moisture retention.

Suitable plants:


• Plants for window garden should be selected depending on:
• Weather conditions
• Growth habit (spread and height of the plants)
• Availability of sunlight.
• Colour of flowers and foliage
• The situation and time of flowering


Sun-loving plants: Alyssum, Geranium, Petunia, dusty miller, Cosmos, snapdragon, Dahlia, Nasturtium, succulents
Shade-loving plants: Ferns, begonias, Impatiens, ivy, Caladium, violas, mint, Philodendron, Spathiphyllum
Creepers: Tradescantia, Hedera helix, Juniperus prostate, morning glory
Perennials: Lantana sellowiana, Verbena, Russelia juncea


Plants for ‘window herb garden’



Lemon grass	Marjoram
Ginger	Mint
Basil	Oregano
Dill	Parsley
Thyme	Rosemary
Parsley	Sage