Monday, 22 April 2013

My plant Diary


Betel
Local Name: Paan


Plant which I have chosen as a part of my project is Betel.
The Betel (Piper betle) is the leaf of a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and kava. It is valued both as a mild stimulant and for its medicinal properties. Betel leaf is mostly consumed in Asia and elsewhere in the world by some Asian emigrants, as betel quid or paan, with or without tobacco, in an addictive psycho-stimulating and euphoria-inducing formulation with adverse health effects.

 Here are some benefits of betel leaves that are good for health
   ·         Helps relieve coughing.
   ·         Eliminating bad breath.
   ·         Prevent damage to the teeth.
   ·         Treating a nosebleed.
   ·         Cure bronchitis.
   ·         Accelerating penyambuhan burns.
   ·         Treat ulcers.
   ·         Relieves itching and red eyes due to irritation.
   ·         Stopping the bleeding gums.
   ·         Treat thrush.
   ·         Treating acne and eliminate acne

There also some Bollywood songs are composed on Paan; some of them are:

  o   Khaike Paan Banaras wala from the movie Don
  o   Paan khaye saiyya hamaro from the movie Teesari Kasam



 My plant story:
We have Betel plant at my home town it is a 1 year old plant. I have taken a small part of it to grow it up with me in Pune as a part of project. When I brought it; that time it was having only one leaf and the length of overall plant it was 15-20 cm.
First 2 weeks: I plant that creeper into a pot after 3 days (from the day when I bought it from my home; I kept it in a polythene bag with black soil and some amount of water in it.). I used red soil for my plant. 2 days after planting Betel creeper, 



it was looks like this creeper is going to die. Because there is no leaf is left with the creeper. Up to next two weeks I was dying to save my small Betel creeper; up to second week this creeper became part of my life. I use to sit near my plant for nearly half an hour, once I tried to talk with my plant but I found myself like crazy but then I stopped it and I put my plant with other plants which I have at our flat. For first one week I was watering my plant for two times but after some suggestions I started watering my plant once in day (Because, my plant was very small like that time).   
Once I have cut a just small tip of betel creeper (because it got dried) and a throw that small part but then after suddenly a got a beautiful smell of my hand then I came to know that my Betel creeper have a beautiful and strong flavor of Betel. And this gives identity to my plant that it is a good quality plant. 



 Week 3: finally I have seen some green color thing in the pot in which betel has been planted. It was a Sunday and literally I have taken 1 hour to take it perfect picture. My flat-mates was telling me that Vishakha it’s not your baby it just a plant, but how can they know my feelings for me it was a happiest moment. Finally I capture perfect picture of my plant.
For next 2 week it was growing alone but then another leaf has come out. The first leaf was not in its perfect shape but the new one was in perfect shape of a leaf.

Week 5: I went back to my home town for one week in those days Payal and Aditi was taking care of my plant and when I came back first I went to saw my plant and there were 3 leafs my plant was having.
Week 7: First leaf of my plant is got dried and now only two leafs are remain. But after two days a new leaf has came out now again my betel creeper have 3 leafs. My friend called my plant as “Teen Patti” because it always has 3 leafs all time.



 21st April: out of that three leafs now again 2 are remaining but on 22nd of April a new leaf is started coming out.
Length of my betel leafs is maximum 5 cm. It is not growing above that length. I don’t know why this is happening; because the plant which we have at my home town is having good length.
I think; my betel creeper has planted in small pot and that’s why it is not growing fast as compared with the creeper at my home which is planted on open land.