If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind?

Fukien Tree

Carmona microphylla  referred to as Wax Malphigia

Like all previous years, this year too we got few of our house plants (which needed root pruning plus an additional lease of nutritional life with some fresh compost), repotted; sometime in July.

From EverGreen Tree

While we were at it, I also got this teeny-tiny Wax Malphigia a.k.a. Carmona microphylla / Fukien Tree, repotted, for the very first time, ever; in last four/five odd years. However, immediately after repotting, the plant suddenly shed all its leaves, after they turned brown.

Now, I don’t know, what could have possibly gone wrong with its repotting exercise while most other plants seemed to be doing well after their repotting?

Anyways, while I thought I would loose the plant, yet, I kept it under the shade of a Tree, along side other recently repotted plants, checking on it from time to time n silently praying for its recovery.

Wax Malphigia happens to be an EVERGREEN TREE, with dense dark-green shrub like-foliage maintained almost throughout the year. Being a hardy plant, it is quite popular with the Bonsai growers as well, as it readily adapts itself to different styles n shapes.

Hmmm….. I had little hope towards the plant ever recovering, from its distressed n de-foliated state. But to my utter surprise, one fine day, towards the end of August, I noticed these teeny-tiny leaf buds being formed on its branches.

Here’s the Picture of the plant as on 25th Aug, 2009

In the next few days to come… little by little... all its leaves came back.... re-filling the plant's barren n bare crown. It’s been a pleasure to watch it springing back too Life slowly n steadily!

Picture of the plant as on 30th Aug, 2009

It’s these simple n special moments like this, which add a spring n a spark to our mundane everyday life.
.

Picture of the plant as on 18th Sept, 2009.

I just had to share the plant pictures n the details of its recovery, here on my blog under the inspirational head ..... ‘If Winter comes, can spring be far behind?’

Field Planting Exercise

Field Planting exercise can be carried out through out the year.

However, the twin months of July and August are considered to be most suitable for any kinda of transplanting, re-plantating, repotting exercise & for growing n developing a hedge etc.

Because of the monsoonal cloud cover and rains the temperature is comparatively lower, while the humidity in the air and mositure in the soil is a notch higher, during these two months.

With the weather conditions being conducive, the probability of a plant surviving (after a transplant) is much higher than when the same exercise is carried out during any other calendar months.

Here’s a glimpse of one such Field Planting exercise :~

Material Required:
Plant (Crape Mrytle – which bears White / Pink / Lilac flowers)

A Watering Can
Trowel

Five Step Procedure:

1 Choose a plant which needs to be planted .

2. Dig out a Pit, keeping in mind the size of the plant.

3. Use the watering can to fill the pit with water.

4. Get the Plant and place it in the centre of the Pit.

5. Cover the Pit with some loose Mud.

Care:

Check on the plant from time to time for the next few days

& water it in case of a prolonged dry spell.

Happy Planting!