Sowing months
Mar–Jun
Sunlight
Five hours of sun
Water
Grown in standing water
Mature size
Floating; tub 40 cm deep
First harvest
Flowers from month three
Family
Nymphaeaceae
Where it grows
ground, terrace
Good for
beauty, biodiversity
Sow in
monsoon, summer
Care
Add two small fish or change a third of the water weekly to stop mosquitoes.
A cement tub of still water on a terrace becomes a dragonfly and frog habitat in one season.
Growing it
Add two small fish or change a third of the water weekly to stop mosquitoes.
What it is for
The national flower of the state of West Bengal region-wide; brings dragonflies, which eat mosquitoes.