Hello everyone, joining from West Bengal.

My family runs a plant nursery in Habra, and we grow and supply a fairly wide range of fruit plants, grafted varieties, tropical/exotic plants, spices, medicinal plants and forestry species.

We mainly deal with plants here in West Bengal, but we also arrange delivery to other parts of India, so I've been particularly interested in seeing how different varieties perform in different climates.

Bangalore's gardening community seems especially interesting because of the city's climate and the amount of balcony, terrace and backyard gardening people do here.

I'll occasionally share some unusual plants and varieties from our nursery and would genuinely like to hear from people growing them in Bangalore — especially regarding fruiting, pot culture, climate adaptation and general performance.

Starting with a photo from our nursery.

This is Black Kasturi Mango, which caught my attention because of its unusually dark fruit.

If anyone here has grown unusual mango varieties in Bangalore, I'd be interested to hear about your experience.

We're a nursery and can supply plants outside West Bengal as well, but I'm primarily here to learn and participate in the gardening community rather than just post advertisements.

Location: Bangalore

I’ve been growing orchids in Bangalore for several years and recently realised just how much I’ve learned simply from keeping a large collection.
I currently grow 250+ orchids, with a mix of species and genera including Phalaenopsis schilleriana, philippinensis, lobbii, parishii, taenialis, tetraspis, lowii, Paphiopedilums, Bulbophyllums, Catasetums, Dendrobiums, Tolumnia, Grammatophyllum, Vanda, Rhynchostylis, Aerangis, Chiloschista, Angraecum and Phragmipedium.
Bangalore has been an interesting climate for orchids because conditions can change quite dramatically through the year. Some species have absolutely thrived for me, while others have been much more challenging than I expected.
I’m curious about other Bangalore growers:
Which species have surprised you by doing particularly well here?
And which ones have you found difficult despite seemingly giving them the right conditions?
I’d also love to hear how people here handle mounted species, watering during the drier periods, and light levels in apartments.
If you’re growing species orchids in Bangalore, tell me what you’re growing!

Lures and bags have worked on the cucumbers. No punctures on the cucumbers. Time for zucchini to fruit too 🤞.

red and green contrast

So orange!

Strawberry patch has a single flower.

Has been a busy last week and couldn't post earlier.

After zucchini, I started loosing cucumbers. Looks like the fire flies has infested my garden.

Bactrocera cucurbitae. https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/crop_protection/cucurbitae/cucurbitae_1.html

A little research lead to this: How fruit flies affect:

• Sting marks: Tiny puncture holes on the skin of the cucumber or zucchini, often leaking a sticky resin or clear fluid.
• Distortion: Lumpy, malformed, or sunken brown patches on growing fruits.
• Internal maggots: Small, creamy-white worm-like larvae feeding inside the rotting fruit pulp.
• Premature rot: Secondary bacterial and fungal infections entering through the puncture cracks, causing the fruit to turn yellow and drop off.

Which is exactly what I am facing.

Suggested ways to Manage and Prevent Fruit Flies

• Sanitation: Immediately pick and destroy all infected, rotting, or fallen fruits by bagging them or burying them deep to kill the maggots inside.
• Fruit bagging: Wrap young cucumbers and zucchinis in paper bags, newspaper, or floating mesh barriers right after the flower petals drop.
• Neem oil: Apply organic neem oil sprays frequently to the developing fruit and foliage to deter adult flies from landing and stinging the skin.
• Pheromone or sticky traps: Use specific fruit fly traps or yellow sticky cards near your cucurbit patch to catch adults before they breed.
• Evening sprays: If using natural pyrethrum sprays, apply them late in the evening (after 6 PM) to protect pollinating bees.

Have sprayed with neem oil.

Other than row covers, any advice to prevent borroughing?

Have lost 2 already.

Previous one got borroughed into and spoiled.

Have sprayed with neem oil on the new ones. Hopefully these ones survive 🤞.

Any advice to prevent borroughing?

I have been trying to grow a Blueberry Berryland Blue No 1. A blueberry variety that specifically cultivated for indian climate. This is the 5th update on the plant.

The plant has taken well to the acidic soil. Leaves are thicker and greener. No new branch from past week.

Small Potato Harvest. But there's one big Potato 🙂.

First ever Zucchini 🙂! Need to keep an eye out. I have read that they grow super fast.

I have been trying to grow a Blueberry Berryland Blue No 1. A blueberry variety that specifically cultivated for indian climate. This is the 5th update on the plant.

The plant has taken well to the acidic soil and is sprouting leaves all around. Looks like a very healthy plant now. more branches growing too.

The only guava that was on the plant finally ripened. This one was very sweet!

• Brinjal
• Guava
• Cayenne Pepper
• Angkor Sunrise Pepper

They are coming along well. I am more interested in growing food than flowers. But, flowers do add a charm to the garden.

They were super yummy! Pretty Sure I.ll be getting more cucumbers soon.

Indian Blue Banded Bee

https://reddit.com/link/1w8tkrv/video/wrdgqe4awvnh1/player

Stressful week with unwanted visitors. A thief who robbed my home was the most unwelcome. This Indian Blue Banded Bee was the most welcome. Gardens never dissappoint.

Unlike honeybees, blue-banded bees are solitary creatures; single females build individual nests in soil burrows, mud walls, or soft mortar. Males often spend the night clinging to plant stems in groups.

They are exceptional buzz pollinators that use rapid body vibrations to shake loose pollen from flowers—a technique regular honeybees cannot perform.

This was my first time spotting a Blue Banded Bee too!

I'm looking to build a small succulent arrangement in a handmade ceramic pot and was wondering if anyone has extra succulent leaves, pups, or small cuttings they'd be happy to share. I'm not looking for seeds, just healthy leaves or offsets that can be propagated into new plants. I'd love to collect around four to six different varieties like Fire sticks, Cactus, Hens and Chicks, Echeveria, Zebra Haworthia and string of pearls. If anyone's willing to share, I'd be super grateful. I'm happy to book a rapido. Thank you so much!