There are in fact, many qualities that one must possess when it comes to caring for another life, no matter animal, plant or human. Nurturing. Attentiveness. Responsibility. These are three of the many qualities involved, and let’s just say I won’t really use these adjectives to best describe myself.
With that said, when I was tasked to grow and care for a plant by my boss (who is probably reading this), I was pleasantly surprised, and promptly rejected.
Long story short, boss won. I had to grow a plant.
It was a great challenge opportunity for me to see if it’s really that easy to grow a plant.
My Journey Towards Gardening
Being an amateur at gardening, with no prior knowledge of how and what to do, I decided to opt for one of the beginner gardening starter kits that I found online.
Super fuss-free and easy, I went online and purchased a basil growing kit by Paris Garden from Hyggerium.com. (not sponsored ah)
Preparation
After three days upon ordering, the package arrived carrying an aesthetic metal bucket containing three items, one soil pellet, one packet of basil seeds, and an instruction manual.
Being a newbie in the gardening scene, I treated the instruction manual with the utmost reverence and followed each guiding step meticulously, to prevent any mishaps from occurring.
Firstly, following the manual, I took out the soil pellet and placed it in a bowl, which was then filled with warm water. In a matter of seconds, the rehydrated pellet grew more than two times the size it once was right in front of my eyes.
I then loosened the soil by running a fork through it, allowing it to absorb more of the water.
To aid with drainage, the manual specifies placing marbles or pebbles on the base of the pot. However, having no children living in my household, I lacked these essential materials, but with my immense luck, I managed to find a “Connect Four” game in my house, which contained a ton of small plastic pellets, ideal for drainage.
Utilising those small pellets, I filled the base of the bucket and covered it with two-thirds of the loosened soil. After that, I planted, in total, 10 seeds on top of the soil, spacing them evenly, and burry them with the remaining soil.
Hoping The Seed Germinates
Being fragile organisms, Seeds are sensitive to both overwatering, which can dislodge seedlings, and underwatering, which can also damage them. Therefore, to ensure germination, I topped the bucket with a layer of plastic wrap, as it holds in the moisture the plant requires within the bucket, preventing the water from evaporating and escaping into the atmosphere. Therefore, optimising the seed’s living conditions for germination.
All I had to do now was wait.
After approximately eight full days, I noticed two little seedlings popping their heads out, yearning for food and nutrition. Without any hesitation, I removed the plastic wrap and allowed the seedling to glance and bathe in the full glory of the sun.
Day after day, I watered it and exposed it to the sun for at least 8 hours a day and before I knew it, more leaves have sprouted and it was well on its way to becoming a full-fledged adult plant.
Here Comes The Problem
Just when I thought everything was going well, I noticed something odd. The leaves on the basil plant were droopy and limp!
I panickily started to google on the cause and realised it was attributed to the insufficient amount of water provided.
I had failed to see the signs.
The cracked and dry soil.
In hopes to “revive” my plant, I watered it with a generous amount of water. Lucky for me, basil plants are drought tolerant and hence, it managed to return to a healthy state after a significant amount of rehydration.
Today, two months have passed since that unfortunate incident, I have been providing the plant with ample amounts of water and sufficient sunlight, enabling the basil plant to grow stronger than ever.
Is Gardening Easy?
Throughout the entire process of gardening, from planting the seeds to caring for the plant, I found it rather exhilarating. This is accredited to the everlasting presence of uncertainty, such as, whether it was going to germinate, grow or wither.
Before, I used to think gardening was a chore, a demanding activity that required a ton of attention and time.
That sentence, to an extent, is true. However, it really depends on what kind of plant or vegetable you’re growing.
In the case of growing herbs, it was rather simple to care for. All I had to do is put it out and water it during the day and retrieve it back indoors at night.
This was a rather fulfilling experience, and now I have potentially fresh basil to top-off my pizzas and pasta dishes.
If you’re thinking of where or how to start gardening, I highly recommend starting from herbs. These growing kits are also available at Spectrum Store, an official retailer of the brand.
All in all, whether you have a green thumb or not, I truly encourage everyone who has a tinge of interest in gardening to give it a shot and let the satisfaction of “motherhood” roll in.
Have you tried gardening? Let us know how it went!
*Follow MiddleClass.sg on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram for more food, travel and trending stories!