F.For years, mythology has cultivated the tradition of using Rudraksha pearls as rosaries. They are often found in chains among followers and attributed to Lord Shiva by believers. Over the years, various physiological benefits, as well as the development of a new Indo-Western fashion statement, have resulted in these pearls being discovered on a regular basis.
Did you know that when ripe rudraksha seeds are coated on the outside with a lush blue outer fruit? As interesting as they are, where are they from? And can you get it yourself?
Rachana Jain from Delhi, founder of the Indraprastha Horticulture Society (IHS), shares the Rudraksha plant under the scientific name Elaeocarpus ganitrus. Rachana, which usually grows in Himalayan regions, remembers seeing some of them grow on the campus of the famous University of Delhi, but says the plant rarely grows indoors.
In founding IHS, she has spent the past 23 years creating awareness and educating people about free home gardening and organic methods of plant propagation.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to grow the rudraksha plant at home by the air layer method:
Prepare the plant
“Tens to hundreds of seedlings can be made from a single rudraksha plant, which is readily available at local nurseries as well as online these days,” says Rachana. All you have to do is peel off the skin from a 2 inch area on the bark.
However, one thing to keep in mind, says Rachana, is that the handle is “pencil thickness or more”. The ideal cut is made with the help of a sharp knife just a few centimeters below the knot part of the plant. New growth is to arise here. To do this, make two round cuts 2 inches apart. Make a slit in between so that it is easier for you to peel the skin off with your nails.
Now it’s time to make a few scratches on the bark. “If you hurt something, the healing process accelerates. The same concept applies to reproduction, as scratches on the stem stimulate the plant to actively regenerate and increase the plant growth process, ”says Rachana.
Next up is the air layer process, which Rachana suggests using moss balls for. “These should be covered with cinnamon powder or honey and soaked in water for a few hours. Each ball is used to create a layer of air. ”From the gardening lover’s point of view, this is one of the most important aspects of the process to ensure the plant doesn’t dry out.
The next step is to cover the peeled bark below the knot part with the ball of moss. This ball is then covered with a square plastic sheet. You can use jute or plastic string to wrap the leaf and close it tightly around the ball.
Reaping the benefits
Soon new life can grow from the rudraksha stems.
If you leave the plastic cover untouched for a period of three to seven weeks, roots can pop out of the resulting air stratification. This is when it is time to cut the part off the tree and transplant it. The bale of moss wrapped around the bark is fragile and must be handled with care.
After a gentle unpacking, your sapling is ready to be transplanted into a pot. The size of the pot can be determined based on the height of your plant. Usually a pot halfway up the plant is recommended to give it enough room to grow.
Shedding light on choosing the right pot for your transplants, Rachana says, “I recommend that terracotta pots are the best as they are porous and avoid water build-up. Plastic pots are not environmentally friendly and are a more cumbersome option. “
The attention to detail makes all the difference in the process. In the growth phase, the plant needs plenty of food. To do this, Rachana recommends mixing simple garden soil with cow dung or compost. “Coal ash, easily available from a local Ironman, is a great natural source to meet the plant’s nutritional needs,” she says.
Once the rudraksha plant begins to grow, it should be kept in open sunlight as this is the best way to thrive.
Photo source: Facebook
Within a year, the self-grown plant transforms into a full-grown tree that can be harvested for its seeds.
Feature image source: Facebook
Edited by Yoshita Rao
