Growing Empress of India Plant | How to Grow Nasturtium in India

If you love vivid blooms then Growing Empress of India Plant is a must in the garden! Let’s have a look at How to Grow Nasturtium easily!

If you want a plant that trails or climbs beautifully in your garden fence, then growing nasturtium is the best bet! It looks stunning with its deep green foliage and red-pink-yellow flowers. Let’s have a look at the details about Growing Empress of India Plant!

Botanical name: Tropaeolum majus ‘Empress of India’

Here’s all you need to know about growing Belle of India Jasmine 

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Growing Empress of India Plant 

Growing Empress of India Plant is easy with both seeds and cuttings. To save time and effort, plant it using cuttings in summers.

• Take 4-6 inches long cutting from a healthy nasturtium plant using sanitized scissors.
• Plant it in a pot with a well-draining growing medium. You can also plant it directly in your garden.
• Water well, and make sure it gets plenty of bright but indirect sunlight.
• The cutting will show new growth in 3-5 weeks.

You also have an option to buy a well-grown plant from a nearby nursery.

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Requirements for Growing Empress of India Plant

Location / Sunlight

If you want the plant to be full of flowers, then expose it to sunlight for a minimum of 3-5 hours every day. It can also grow in shade but it won’t bloom that much.

Soil

It is quite a robust plant and typical soil from the Indian lands will serve it just fine. For best growth, however, use loose and well-draining soil, rich in organic matter. Avoid using too compact and clayey soil.

Water

Empress of India plant can happily survive weekly watering but can be watered more frequently if planted in a  sunny spot. Avoid watering the plant daily and do it only when the topsoil feels a little dry to the touch.

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Taking Care of Empress of India

Fertilizer

If you have amended the growing medium with organic matter or cow dung manure at the time of planting, then the plant will take care of its own without feeding.

If you want to boost the growth and flowers, use an organic and balanced liquid fertilizer, once in 2 months.

Deadheading

Remove dead flowers along with dead and decayed parts of the plant from time to time. This will encourage new growth while keeping the plant looking neat and beautiful.

Pests & Diseases

These plants are prone to aphid infestation. Get rid of them using diluted vinegar or essential oils like lavender and peppermint.

To keep most of the potential diseases at bay, avoid overwatering and wetting the foliage. Also, ensure it gets proper air circulation.

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Can You Eat Empress of India Plant?

Both the flowers and leaves of this plant are edible. You can add them to salads and curries to render a peppery taste to them. Harvest using scissors. Avoid taking too much of the growth at a time.

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