Going green: Passion for growing flowers in tyres

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 1

While dealing in tyres Bikramjit Singh Madhok always used to have qualms about discarding the old tyres as these only add to solid waste and spoil the environment. But his idea of putting them to better use three years ago gave way to what has now become a passion for him. He uses old tyres as pots for planting beautiful flowers.

His penchant has resulted into an impressive multihued flowers lined outside his tyre store, which makes a splendid spectacle. Tyres used as pots have also been cut and designed to look floral in different arrangements, sizes and are placed at varied height.

Madhok is elated while showing the variety of flowers. “I have more than 25 different varieties of flowers, including poppy, petunia varieties, carnation, pansy, daisy, dahlia, snow, imported rose and hybrids,” he beams while giving details.

“Now flowers grow round the year in different pots all made from old discarded tyres. I have all varieties and keep tabs on information about flowers. I always look forward to the next season so that more varieties of flowers can be planted,” he added.

Thanks to the appreciation for planters, Madhok has also been giving away some of these tyre planters, including one at a school. He also wants to place one at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Sarabha Nagar.

Seeing flowers after reaching the store in the morning makes his day. “I feel contentment while looking and taking care of these flowers. I should have been in touch with nature and flowers much earlier. This has made my life blissful,” he adds.

“Though this passion started late in life, now my kids are enthusiastic about plants, flowers and nature. It’s another gift for me,” says 43-year-old Madhok.