Sunday, September 21, 2003		Garden Life

Variegated foliage a wonder of nature
Satish Narula

A rare variety of monstera that has variegated leaves

NATURE has its own inimitable manner to express its beauty. At times, it is expressed through unusual colour development in the foliage of plants. It may also manifest itself in the variegation, size or peculiar shape and structure of the leaves or fruit. As if to show its magic, nature may create strange features in otherwise simple and common plants.

See the accompanying picture. Anyone who has even the remotest love for plants knows about the ordinary monstera. But nature has created another specimen out of it, as if to give it a unique look. The new specimen has excellent foliage with sparkling white variegation. However, further propagation from this plant may result in a plant that is all green, which means that it will come back to its original self. But then this is something that does not always happen.

Such variations in plants may occur primarily due to the plant’s need of growing in a particular condition. Almost all the ornamental indoor plants have been found to be growing wild in the open. But under conditions where there may be stresses—like light constraint, less of moisture, rainforest conditions or even at the places where light does not even reach the ground level due to heavy vegetation overhead—the plants modify themselves to survive. And that becomes the gardener's delight.

Such plants not only enhance our homes and gardens but also become a source of education for one and all. While growing in natural surroundings, they do not need external help and nature takes care of them. But growing them in artificial habitats also makes it necessary to provide matching conditions. You may notice a change in the foliage size or variegation, depending on the location.

A keen observer can easily discern the water, light or shade requirements of the plants. Most of the plants need good light conditions, else they show leggy growth. However, those worried about the shady corners should display monstera, aspidistra, sensiviera, ferns etc. Their colour development and variegation comes with light exposure but direct sun rays should not be allowed to touch the foliage of such plants. They will get burnt. The light should be available to the plants indirectly or it should be filtered. Any light coming through the windowpanes should be avoided. The plants that have been sprayed with water should also not be exposed to the sun directly. The drops deposited on the leaf act as magnifying glasses and you may end up having yellow burn spots on the foliage.