CHENNAI: What do you do if you love plants but live in a small apartment and travel a lot? We caught hold of actor Puvisha who grew up among vegetable patches and flower beds under the watchful eyes of her father who loved gardening.
Now, living alone in the shadows of concrete walls, she may not have the liberty of creating her own garden but it does not stop her from having a bunch of potted plants in her balcony.
Hibiscus, thulasi, carnations, tulips and some money plants. “I travel a lot for shoots and other events so I carefully chose the kind of plants that I am certain I can care for. These don’t require everyday grooming, something I can’t give.
“Plants are like children. Every step of their growth has to be watched and helped along. If you can’t find the time, don’t take up the responsibility,” she says.
Learning from father
Growing up with her father, Puvisha’s leisure time was mostly spent by watering plants, sowing seeds and sprinkling fertilizers. They had chillies, brinjals, beans and a variety of carnations too.
“He would always tell us that it is important for every home to have some greenery. I remember my first plants - aloevera and thulasi. Mom was the happiest, she loves aloevera,” smiles Puvisha.
It can’t be easy to keep her passion for gardening alive in an apartment. “Sometimes I’m out of station for days or weeks and I’m unable to take care of them, so I hire a maid to do it. Also, Chennai’s heat is crazy! If you keep your potted plants outside, they’ll die. I keep them in the hall and just two hours a day they are taken out to bathe under the sun.”
She may not be able to give all her time to the plants but when she does, she dotes on them. We can learn a thing or two.