Ranchi Nurseries Bloom: Your Guide to Winter Flowers & Seasonal Plants

Ranchi: Nurseries across the city are abuzz with winter flowers and a wide range of seasonal plants drawing decent footfall of gardening enthusiasts.Flowers such as pansies, petunias, dahlias, snapdragons and sweet peas are well-suited to winter conditions while marigolds remain popular due to their bright yellow and orange hues.Bulbs and flowering shrubs such as crocus, snowdrops, hellebores, winter jasmine and camellias are among the options highlighted by the nurseries. Early bloomers like crocuses and snowdrops open first, hellebores offer long-lasting flowers, and winter jasmine and camellias bloom between December and March.Harsh Yadav, owner of Jharkhand nursery, said, "Pansies and violas add vibrant colour during cooler months, calendulas thrive in chilly weather, snapdragons provide height and texture, Petunias are known for abundant flowering, and sweet peas add fragrance along with delicate blooms."The Jharkhand Biodiversity Board described this period as ideal for sowing winter-blooming flowers, noting that plants sown now continue to flower from December through March. The JBB stated that winter flowers require four to five hours of direct sunlight daily, adequate but controlled watering, and balanced nutrition. Potted plants can be placed on rooftops or terraces for better sunlight exposure.The principal chief conservator of forests and executive director, wasteland board, Sanjeev Kumar said, "Organic mulching using dry leaves, straw or coconut husk helps retain soil moisture, while regular pruning, removal of weeds and light loosening of topsoil support healthy growth."For sustainable gardening, JBB has recommended the use of organic fertilisers and natural pest control methods. A natural solution prepared by soaking 50 grams each of mustard seeds and lemon balm in two litres of water overnight can be sprayed to enhance flowering. For pest management, a mixture of 5 ml cow urine per litre of water is suggested as an effective organic spray.