Bring home a spot of sunshine, courtesy the Lily Pond Store

“My fascination with these beauties began around 35 years ago,” says Indira. “I would pick up a few of these plants during road trips to Mysore or Chennai, my home town, when we’d stop by ponds or other water bodies along the way.”

Indira’s husband travels fairly a lot and he would carry again variants present in Indonesia, Thailand and different locations. “Friends and family would bring them too. Initially, I grew these plants on the terrace of our home, killing many of them in the process,” Indira says with a giggle.

“I began to grow them at home in small pots, by trial and error. Initially, I was not successful and I realise today, I was doing everything I shouldn’t do. At the time, there was no internet access to educate myself on the needs of different varieties and hybrids.”

Indira provides that when she started her assortment, she had no concept aquatic vegetation have been half of a huge kingdom of which water lilies and lotuses have been solely a small portion.

Eventually, her assortment on her terrace elevated by means of propagation. “Soon, I was giving them away as gifts to acquaintances and since I had a lot of time on my hands, my daughter suggested I begin a water lily business.”

At the Lily Pond Store, Bengaluru
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

This time spherical, Indira was armed with an iPad and did a lot of analysis earlier than venturing into this challenge. Not eager on the concept of a nursery, she set about creating a technique by which she may courier a plant to succeed in prospects.

“Luckily, I hit upon all correct things, despite the lack of experience. I used to make holes in the parcel so the plant would not wilt. I also realised bare root plants were sturdier and stood a better chance of being transported.”

A plant from the Lily Pond Store contains detailed directions on how you can “pot” your plant. “Step-by-step instructions are sent along with the plant. They are easy to follow, plant and maintain. If they are followed without deviation, 100% success is guaranteed.”

That was about 11 years in the past, and what started as a small initiative has changed into a cottage trade of kinds, says Indira, including that many of her common prospects have additionally begun cultivating and propagating these vegetation.

According to Indira, a water backyard needn’t be a pipe dream for house dwellers. “Space is not required, you can even grow them in a container on your balcony. The most important ingredient is four to five hours of direct sunlight. A sun-hit area of two feet by two feet is more than enough for them to bloom and grow.”

At the Lily Pond Store, Bengaluru
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Once her assortment crossed greater than 300 varieties, Indira may now not preserve them at home, therefore the want for a nursery. Online, the Lily Pond Store has250varieties of water lilies and 85 lotus varieties with costs starting from ₹450-5000 for the naked root plant alone, whereas the nursery has round 60 varieties of lilies and 35-40 lotuses on any given day.

The retailer presents the choice to establishing for purchasers primarily based in Bengaluru. One can even make a video name and choose a plant which will likely be despatched to them. .

Despite the years, Indira continues to be amazed by the marvellous shades and shapes of these vegetation. “There are more than 3000-4000 registered hybrids in this genus alone, which means I have seen only 2% of this microcosm. It’s a big world out there and so much to learn; I will not be able to collect all of them in this lifetime.”

The Lily Pond Store in on the Sarjapura-Attibele Road, S Medihalli. Log on to www.lilypondstore.in for particulars

At the Lily Pond Store, Bengaluru
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement