Q. Can you suggest any ornamental/decorative plants that can be grown in a house with no sunlight? I live in Hyderabad.

A. As long as there is a reasonable amount of natural light, muted as it may be, there are quite a few possibilities to choose from with the following all being worth a try: Anthurium with its beautiful, waxy, lily-like spathes in shades of white, pink, cream and red; Pothos — money plant; Caladium with their seasonal, heart shaped, delicately hued leaves; Coleus; a wide variety of ferns including Maidenhair and Asparagus ferns and Sanseveria — Mother-in-Law’s-tongue. Some cacti and succulents may also be happy in the growing conditions you describe.

Q. I enjoyed your column on tukh-malanga (Sweet basil) which I found in a back issue of this magazine on the internet. It was very informative but left me more than a little confused. I found another article which referred to tukh-malanga as Chia seed not basil. Could you please clarify my confusion?

A. I too have seen Chia seed referred to as tukh-malanga but this is incorrect. The botanical name of sweet basil is Basilicum ocimum whilst that of Chia seeds is Salvia hispanica, a completely different family of plants with origins in Central America. As Chia is relatively new to Pakistan, it appears that people have given it an incorrect name in Urdu and this is the cause of the confusion. You are not alone in this!

Store herbs correctly and extend their shelf life from a few days to a few weeks

Flourishing money plant

Q. Can you please guide me how to measure the Ph value of soil? Is there any kit or chemical available in the market for this purpose?

A. The acidity or alkalinity of soil tends to vary in different parts of the garden and between top soil and sub-soil so samples should be tested from different places and at different levels. You will be delighted to know that there are a number of relatively low-cost, soil-testing kits to be found in garden supply shops now. Do not, however, let yourself be talked into buying a soil testing meter as these are rarely, if ever, accurate. The Ph value of intensely worked soil, especially soil to which lots of organic material and organic compost/manure has been added and which is regularly topped up with the same, tends to become more acidic over a few years. Re-balancing it with the appropriate quantity of organic lime or, even better, seaweed meal, is highly recommended once every five to six years but never add either of these organic materials at the same time as adding organic compost / manure or immediately before or after spreading mulch. It is preferable to re-balance at least six weeks before or after applying any of the other aforementioned soil conditioners / feeds.

Q. I would like to know the health benefits and difference between the water of two coconuts: a fresh green one which is a bit expensive and the other from dry brown coconut. The price of water from a brown coconut is just Rs20 whereas the other one, depending on the size, ranges from Rs60 to Rs120.

A. There is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, no difference in the quality and contents of the coconut water of fresh or dry coconuts. The increased cost factor for green coconut water could very well be as a result of labour costs. Men/children have to physically climb the trees to pick green coconuts, while the dead brown ones fall to the ground on their own. Brown coconuts also tend to contain less water than their green counterparts. Coconut water is very high in essential nutrients such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and sodium and is reputed to have many and varied health benefits.

Anthurium

Q. How can we preserve fresh coriander leaves, mint leaves, parsley, cilantro, etc. for at least a week to 10 days?

A. Dip them in cold water, this as soon as possible after they are picked, then wrap them in a damp cloth and place in the fridge. Do not place the damp cloth in a plastic bag or other such container as this hastens the herbs demise. If you find that they still do not retain their freshness for the desired period of time, simply wash and freeze them and use them directly from the freezer for cooked, not raw like salads, dishes. Frozen herbs, as with dried ones, are often stronger in flavour than fresh ones so you may need to use a little less.

Q. Is it possible to grow pears and peaches in Karachi? If so, please give a brief description of any special care.

A. Sorry but pears are not, by all reports, suitable for cultivation in Karachi. I have heard — but not personally seen — of peaches being grown in the Malir district but, from what I am told, they have a tendency to mildew and rot in periods of high humidity before they are fully ripe. You could, it’s entirely your decision, give peaches a try but be prepared for disappointment. If you do try, ensure that, as much as is possible, the trees have good air circulation as this helps to prevent mildew, disease and rot from taking its seasonal toll.

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer will not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, January 25th, 2015

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