DELHI UP IN PLANTS AGAINST POLLUTION
Delhiites are opting for live plants to use as Christmas trees and combat the smog
The Capital’s pollution levels are clearly beyond alarming, but it doesn’t mean we can’t fight it. More and more Delhiites are foregoing artificial plants in favour of live coniferous ones, making plants like Araucaria, Thuja and Juniper hot garden buys in nurseries across the city.
“There is a high demand for Araucaria, which is often mistaken for pine. The price for a 5ft plant would be just ₹1,000, and bigger sizes are available, too. We keep getting customers also because of the increasing pollution, and having a plant at home helps,” says says V Batra of Masjid Nursery, Pandara Road.
Araucaria also makes a great Christmas tree, can hold the weight of the decorations, and thus, has the highest sale among the three, whereas juniper is preferred more by people looking for an outdoor plant. “Araucaria is generally available in just one variety here, but other variants can be ordered, too. It looks the most like pine, and many fool customers using that trick. Junipers are good for light decorations. People look for pros, and this is a complete win. You get a Christmas tree that you don’t need to throw away, and it also helps counter the effect of the smog,” says Jagdish, from Sunder Nursery.
These plants also make for unique gifting ideas that are pertinent to the times, and many are increasingly opting for pollution-combating plants such as dracaena, ficus, bamboo, and Boston fern as presents.
The advantages of these plants include the facts that they can easily be kept anywhere, as they don’t take up too much space, and have air purifying qualities.
“I wanted to do something different this year, and seeing the new trend of gifting plants I decided to become a part of it. It is something that will actually help with all the pollution there is in the city. It’s a great feeling, knowing that you contributed,” says Nikhil Rustagi, an entrepreneur
“We’ll be gifting bamboo plants to family and friends, as it is considered lucky, and is good against pollution. They’re gorgeous plants, so they can be used as part of your décor, too,” says Anju Singh, a homemaker, adding, “Pollution is a major problem in the city and there is no better time to start a change than Christmas. My office friends also exchanged small potted plants and cacti varieties this Christmas.”
BEING AFFORDABLE AND PERFECT FOR SMALL SPACES, LIVE HOUSE PLANTS LIKE ARAUCARIA, THUJA, AND JUNIPER, ARE HOT FAVOURITES IN NURSERIES ACROSS THE CAPITAL