...Climate Change, Shrinking Habitat
Then: It is known that some mothers’ mothers planted Patchouli saplings in the sunshine near their laterite wells to draw water from for their growing plants. Patchouli plants grow better with regular watering when the laterite soil around them is moist; not caking and dry.
When the winds of the North East monsoon blew bringing the rains with them, the plants would give forth their white blossoms competing in brilliance with the soft, off-white mundu and neriyathu drapes worn by these grandmothers.
Patchouli was extensively grown in several regions of the Western ghats in area receiving good sunlight. In the Malayalam language, Patchouli is known as ‘patcha ella’; in Tamil as ‘patcha ellai’ which translates to ‘green leaves’ in English. Patchouli derives its name from these two languages.
Now: These days it is difficult to grow Patchouli in direct sunlight. The leaves get scorched and the plants just dry up and have to be discarded.
Growing patchouli under the shade of trees helps. Some plants start to flower when the winds of the North East monsoon blow.
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| Patchouli planted in the shade in Thiruvananthapuram flowering |
.......after a few months seem more relaxed when they spend time under flowering patchouli.
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| One of the kittens- seven months old |
