Photo: Canva
Sowing is best done around mid-October, since seeds take roughly 90 to 100 days to flower. As we near the end of the year towards November, the mornings feel particularly different. There is a slight chill in the air, and the subtle smell of flowers fills the atmosphere. It is the season for kickstarting many beautiful flowers as the sun is softer, and the days begin to feel calmer. For many of us, this time gives us the opportunity to slow down and spend a little longer by the window with a cup of tea. So if you have been waiting for a sign to start sowing flowering plants that give bright blooms in the grey season, you are in the right place. Marigold is one of the most common winter flowers in India, and it forgives missed watering. These flowers prefer full sun, and suits a bright balcony well. Pansies are butterfly-like flowers that are best suited to grow in cooler temperatures, so November suits them well. They are a great pick for shaded balconies and window boxes, and their colours look richer on foggy winter days. Plant them in pots with good drainage, and keep the soil lightly moist without letting it get soggy. Since they are low-growing, pansies suit the front of a pot arrangement best, with taller plants. Snapdragons add tall spikes of colour that make a container garden feel layered. Their flowers come in shades such as blue, mauve-purple and pink, and they are popular as winter cut flowers. They grow well in pots with good drainage and need roughly four to six hours of sun each day.