Bottle Gardening 101: Master the Art of Growing Curry Leaves In A Bottle

With our series, Into The Bloom, we have been bringing you gardening guides, and sharing tips on cultivating herbs, vegetables, and fruits right in your home garden. In a parallel series, we've been taking you through tips to grow these same foods using bottles, ensuring we bring gardening enthusiasts creative and space-saving solutions too.

This time, we'll take you through a detailed guide to growing curry leaves in a bottle. Curry leaves are a staple ingredient in our kitchen, adding flavour and aroma to our everyday cooking. Pluck fresh curry leaves from these gardening bottles in your kitchen with this quick guide.

How To Grow Curry Leaves In A Bottle?

• Get a transparent bottle with a wide mouth to plant curry leaves. You can use a glass or plastic container. 
• Clean the bottle well. 
• Make drainage holes at the bottom. This will prevent waterlogging.
• In a bowl, mix potting soil and compost. 
• Fill the bottle with the soil. Make sure you leave some space on the top to plant curry leaf cuttings.

• Get curry leaf cuttings from a healthy curry leaf plant. The cutting should be at least 4-6 inches of stem with healthy leaves.
• With a stick, make holes in the soil of the bottle. 
• Insert the curry leaf cuttings into the holes. 
• The cuttings should be 2-3 inches deep buried in the soil. 

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• Pat the soil gently and cover the cuttings.
• Immediately water the soil.
• Keep the bottle under indirect sunlight since curry leaves don't grow well under direct sunlight.
• Every few weeks, fertilise the plant with regular, balanced fertiliser. 
• In a few weeks, you will see the plant growing. (how to grow garlic in a water bottle)
• Harvest when needed for culinary or other purposes. While harvesting, ensure you don't harvest more than one-third of the plant.

Tips To Grow Curry Leaves In A Bottle Quickly

• Regularly check the plant for any pests and diseases such as mildew, aphids, or spider mites. If you see any signs, address the issues right away. Consult a gardening expert if required. 
• Avoid over watering the plant or the roots can rot or have moisture-related issues. 

• Trim the top growth of the plant occasionally to promote healthier growth. 
• The plant should get ample sunlight, indirect in the case of curry leaves for at least six to eight hours every day.

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Homemade Fertilisers For Quick Plant Growth

Ramesh, a gardener at a local nursery in Janakpuri shared some quick fertlisers that can be prepared at home using regular ingredients:

• In a pan, add 1 litre of water and two teaspoons of any tea leaf powder. Bring to a boil and once cool, pour it into the soil as and when watering is required. 
• In a bowl, add peels of different fruits and vegetables like bananas, oranges, and onions. After seven to eight hours, remove the peels and store the water. Pour this water into the plant twice a week. (homemade fertiliser for quick flower growth)

We hope you enjoy your gardening experience. For more such stories, stay tuned!