Growing a garden takes years of dedication, and there’s no substitute for hard work. But there’s also a world of innovative hacks to spice things up. From clever watering techniques to fun propagation methods, here are some quick-fix tricks that will transform your plant care routine and make it more enjoyable.

Flowers in a vase

Whether you pick flowers from your terrace or buy them from a florist, you always want them to stay fresh for a few more days. Here’s how to extend the life of your cut flowers:

l Slant cut: Before placing flowers in the vase, trim the stems at an angle with a knife or scissors. This increases the surface area for water absorption and keeps them fresh for longer.

lCold water: Use cold water in the vase, as warm water causes them to wilt faster.

l Nourish your blooms: Add a DIY mixture of sugar and vinegar to the water to act as nutrients for the flowers.

l Trim regularly: Re-cut the bottom of the stems every few days to ensure continued water uptake.

l Choose the right spot: Avoid placing your flowers in direct sunlight or near heat sources.

l Remove foliage: Cut away any leaves that would get submerged in the water, as they can decay and shorten the flowers’ lifespan.

l Clean vase: Wash the vase with hot, soapy water before each use to remove bacteria.

Visual delight

l Hidden helpers: Even the prettiest blooms won’t look nice if the stalks droop lifelessly to a side. Use cellotape to create a grid across the top of your vase. This will help keep the stems in place and create a fuller arrangement.

l Elevate your blooms: If your vase is too tall for the flowers, insert straws into the stems from below to give them a height boost.

l Fruity freshness: Add slices of lemon or lime to the vase for a hint of fragrance. This also provides antibacterial properties.

l Layer the look: Don’t settle for just cut flowers. Add variety with berries or small branches for an unusual look.

l Smaller vase inside: Want to brighten up your house on a budget? Buy only a few flowers and place them in a small vase, then placing this inside a taller, larger vase. The inner vase will take up most of the space, so you won’t need as many flowers or water to fill the space. And the play of two vases will have visitors looking at it intrigued.

l Quick bloom: Are the flowers you plucked too tightly closed, but you want them to open up in time for the party tonight? Hold the flower stem upside down and spin it gently. This technique works especially well for Roses, making them appear fuller and more open.

Succulent in a bottle

Here’s a creative way to propagate succulents from leaf cuttings that also allows you to recycle plastic bottles:

Start by taking a plastic bottle and punching holes all over it. Insert succulent leaves into these holes, ensuring that part of each leaf remains exposed to the air.

Fill the bottle with water and secure the cap. This creates a humid environment that encourages root and baby leaf growth.

Before long, you’ll notice new baby leaves sprouting from the cuttings. Once they’ve developed, pot them in the soil and watch them flourish into new plants.

Holiday homework

Going for a holiday and worried about your plants? Here’s a hack that will sustain them for a few days:

Cut strips from cotton fabric or old T-shirts.

Braid three strips together and tie knots at both ends.

Insert one end into the plant’s soil and the other into a jar of water. This system will use the capillary action, that you learnt about in high school science, to keep the soil moist.

This ’n’ that

l Ice cubes: Mix uncooked rice with water and pour the liquid into an ice tray. Release the cubes in your potted plants — the starch in the rice nourishes the soil.

l Eggshell water: Don’t drain out the water you boil eggs in. Let it cool and pour this water into the soil. The calcium in it is good for plants. Crushed eggshells can also improve soil drainage and provide calcium.

l Natural fertiliser: Use coffee grounds (the used coffee beans that remain in the pot after brewing) as a natural fertiliser. This is rich in nitrogen. Human hair also contains nitrogen, so any strands entangled in your comb should go into the pot and not the bin.

l Shoo, fly: If flies have been hovering around your plants, mix a few drops of liquid dish washer with a litre of water. Spray the solution around the plants, focusing on areas where flies tend to gather. The soap disrupts the insect’s surface tension, causing it to suffocate. However, use the solution sparingly and avoid spraying directly on the leaves. It’s advisable to test the solution on a small area of the plant first to ensure it doesn’t cause any damage.