Pune: The monsoon is yet again giving plant swaps a push, with gardening enthusiasts using the rainy season to exchange cuttings, saplings and seeds.From apartment society groups and neighbourhood WhatsApp communities to informal meetups among balcony gardeners, residents are swapping plants not just to add greenery to their homes, but also to discover new varieties without spending much. “Monsoon is the best time to do exchanges. I have many plants which overgrow in the season and cuttings can easily be propagated. I have exchanged at least four plants this season,” said Sheetal Jhaveri, a resident of Pashan.The season’s cooler temperatures and abundant moisture also make it easier for many plants to take root, which encouraged first-time gardeners to join the trend.“At our plant swap events, people bring cuttings from their own gardens, unique varieties of stems, saplings and even seeds, so there is always variety. We also do a giveaway from the farm. Anyone who likes a particular variety of ornamental plant, money plant, monstera, herbs or even lotus bulbs are welcome to take it home. We simply get a fresh cutting from the farm or share a lotus bulb with them. The plant swap has evolved into a holistic Sunday morning experience for plant lovers to come together, exchange plants and knowledge, and discover something new for their own gardens,” said Rutuja Achalare, who runs Ecoville – The Farm.Shalini Gaikwad, a resident of Hadapsar also participates in a community plant swap several times during the monsoon. “We have a WhatsApp group of gardening enthusiasts, and we meet at Empress Garden on a pre-decided weekend. Everyone shares a wish list and that’s how the exchange happens.” Gardening tips, new propagation methods, latest gardening techniques are shared during these plant swaps.Some residents and plant enthusiasts also run free plant giveaways. “Usually every monsoon, I re-pot plants, trim creepers, and redo flower beds in my garden, and my sister’s terrace. There are always over 500 cuttings, bulbs and saplings that need rehoming. This time, I ran a giveaway from my Instagram page, and it was so wonderful to see my plants find new homes,” said Sagar Dave, a plant enthusiast based in Shivajinagar.Devanshi Thakkar, a home gardener in Fatima Nagar, said, “I have been able to expand my balcony garden without spending too much, because of plant swaps. I usually take extra cuttings or saplings and come back with something completely new. The monsoon makes it easier to grow them.”
