Why Choose Chandni (Tabernaemontana) for Your Home?

• Beautiful Flowers Year-Round: Delicate, star-shaped white blooms that add elegance and fragrance.
• Low Maintenance: Hardy plant, ideal for beginners, and resistant to common pests.
• Air Purifier: Helps purify the air, creating a healthier and calming environment.
• Cultural Significance: Used in religious rituals, offering spiritual value.
• Adaptability: Grows well in pots or soil, perfect for small or urban spaces.
• Attracts Pollinators: Fragrant flowers draw bees and butterflies, promoting biodiversity.
• Medicinal Benefits: Known in Ayurveda for skin and healing properties.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Adds beauty with its glossy leaves and white flowers.

How to Grow Chandni

Step-by-Step Process (Recommended for Home Gardeners):

• Planting Location: Choose a sunny spot with partial to full sunlight. Prefers warm, humid climates. Soil should be well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0).
• Soil Preparation: Mix garden soil, compost, and sand (2:1:1 ratio). Add organic matter like cow dung manure and crushed eggshells for better growth.
• Planting Process: Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball. Place the plant, ensuring the root collar is at soil level. Backfill, press gently, and water thoroughly.
• Watering: Water deeply once or twice a week, ensuring the top 2-3 inches dry out between sessions. Increase watering in summer, avoiding waterlogging. A simple home trick is to use a watermatic stake in the pot for easy, automated watering.
• Home Practices: Add crushed banana or onion peels every 15-20 days for better flowering. Use cooled rice water weekly and spray diluted buttermilk (1:5) for healthy growth.

Common Problems, Pests, & Diseases

Urban Farmer’s Solutions for a Healthy plant:

1. Aphids and Whiteflies: These pests feed on the sap of Chandni , causing leaf yellowing. Spray neem oil 2 ml/20 drops or Mix 1 protec tab in 1 liter of water once a week for effective control.
2. Leaf Spot: Leaf spot can form in humid conditions, showing up as a white-Brown spots on leaves. Improve air circulation by spacing the plants or pruning regularly. Spray organic fungicide Tricho Shield 5 gm or half spoon per liter of water. Repeat the spray 7 days after the first spray for the best results.
3. Root Rot: Caused by overwatering or poor drainage. Ensure proper soil drainage and use a perlite or sand mix for potted plants to promote airflow in the soil. To prevent or cure, mix 5 gm or half spoon of organic fungicide Tricho Shield per liter of water and drench 50 ml of the solution near the plant's stem. Repeat it 7 days after the first drenching for the best results.

Best Practices for Growing Chandni

Urban Farmer’s Expert Tips for Chandni:

1. Pruning: Regularly prune to maintain shape, remove dead leaves, and spent flowers. This promotes new growth and improves air circulation, reducing fungal risks. Use clean, sharp pruning shears to prevent disease transmission.
2. Mulching: Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch (dried leaves, straw, or wood chips) around the base to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. It also enriches the soil as it decomposes.
3. Fertilization: Feed with a balanced NPK fertilizer 19:19:19 at 25 gm per plant every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. Alternatively, use compost tea or diluted fish emulsion monthly.
4. Sunlight Exposure: Ensure 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal blooming. In indoor settings, place the plant near a south-facing window.
5. Pest Control: Inspect for pests like aphids and mealybugs. Spray with a dish soap-water mixture (2-3 drops) for natural pest control.

Recommended Products for Chandni Care

Urban Farmer’s Trusted Products for Chandni Care:

1. Fertilizers:
   • Balanced Fertilizer: Add one Flora TAB or Bion (Amino Acid) 2 ml or 20 drops in a liter of water and spray on foliage every 20 days at the time of flower initiation. It helps in boosting flowering in plants.
   • Slow-Release Fertilizer: Insert one Bloom stick fully into the soil, 2-3 inches away from the plant stem. Repeat it after 60 days. A single application of one stick provides your plants with a steady supply of nutrients for up to 2 months.
2. Pesticides:
   • Neem Oil: Neem oil is a natural pesticide that controls aphids, spider mites, and other common pests. Spray neem oil 2 ml or 20 drops per liter water every 20 days or as needed to prevent infestations. It’s safe for use on lavender and won’t harm beneficial insects like bees.
   • Tricho Shield: Mix 5 gm or half spoon of Tricho Shield (Trichoderma viride) in 1 liter of water and spray or drench it every 20 days to prevent and control fungal diseases like root rot and leaf spot. Tricho Shield is an organic fungicide that promotes plant health without harming the environment.
3. Growth Promoters:
   • Seaweed Extract: Spray Scuba seaweed extract 2 ml or 20 drops per liter water for spray. It is a natural growth promoter that helps improve lavender’s root development and overall vigor. Use it as a foliar spray or mix it with water for soil application once a month.
4. Soil Conditioners:
   • Cocopeat: Improves soil aeration and retains moisture, making it ideal for Chandni plants in pots. Mix cocopeat with soil in a 1:1 ratio for enhanced root development and drainage.

By following these detailed guidelines and incorporating the trusted products recommended by Urban Farmer, you can cultivate healthy and vibrant Chandni plants in your home or terrace garden.