A little green in the concrete jungle

Residing in a congested city like Dhaka, with a growing population of over ten million, it is nearly impossible to find green around us. So, here is a guide if you have always wanted a little garden of your own, but did not know where to start. 

If you live in a place where there is no direct sunlight, and you really want to grow some plants – be it on your balcony, dining room or living room, there are plenty of plants that do not require too much light to thrive. 

If you are lucky enough to receive a lot of sunlight throughout the day, plants such as false aralia, podocarpus, or even cacti are suitable. With moderate light, you can opt for dumb canes, prayer plants, Boston ferns or piggyback plants. And if the availability of sunlight in your free space is even lower, you can choose from arrowhead plants, snake plants, peace lilies or rabbit foot ferns.

There are number of nurseries around Dhaka city, from where you can collect these saplings. If you reside closer to Dhanmondi, there is one situated near Road #7, and another by the Kalabagan field. The staff at the nursery can assist you further so that you can get the right amount of soil, pesticides and fertilisers that will be needed to keep your plants healthy.

If Dhanmondi is inconvenient for you, Mohakhali has a few small nurseries you can look into but BRAC Kanon, near Gulshan 1 is where you will find the largest range of plants. Another haven for the amateur horticulturist can be found close to the Banani graveyard, and near Banani Bridge. There are big nurseries located in Baridhara Park Road and Gulshan 2 Society Park. 

After buying the plants comes the responsibility of keeping them healthy, alive and growing. For this you will need nutrient enriched soil, which you can purchase from most of the nurseries at Tk200-300 per sack. You may also need pesticides, which are available between Tk 200-250, which last for almost six months or more, depending on the number of plants you have at home. Other fertilisers are also available at BRAC Kanon, priced at Tk100-200, which is needed almost every three to four months. 

One other point you should always bear in mind is to keep plants healthy and hydrated, and the only way to do this is to water them regularly. 

Gardening has been considered a good pastime, therapeutic even. You will be amazed how much that little space of green will bring to your urban existence. 

By Mahee Azreen
Photo: LS Archive