The northeast monsoon usually reaches Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in October and brings most of our year's rain between October and December. For gardeners in Puducherry, Cuddalore, Villupuram and Chennai, this is both good news and a test. Plants in the ground enjoy the rain, but plants in pots can quickly suffer from waterlogged roots, fungal spots and broken stems in strong winds. A little preparation in late September and early October makes a big difference.
1. Check every pot for drainage
Standing water is the biggest monsoon killer of potted plants. Lift each pot and look underneath: drainage holes should be open, not blocked by soil, roots or the floor. If a pot has no holes, or water sits on top of the soil for hours after watering, repot before the heavy rain starts. Raising pots slightly on bricks or pot feet lets excess water run away freely.
If you are replacing cracked or undersized pots, sturdy UV-stabilised plastic works well in the rain because it does not soften or crumble. Our grower pots and the 12 inch heavy duty grower pot are made at our own unit in Perambai with drainage holes built in.
2. Refresh the potting mix
Old soil that has turned hard and compact holds water in some places and stays dry in others. Before the rains, loosen the top few inches of soil and mix in fresh material. A mix of red soil with cocopeat and some compost drains better than heavy garden soil alone. You can use our red soil and cocopeat or any well-draining mix you trust.
3. Move succulents, cactus and adenium under cover
Cactus, succulents and adenium store water in their stems and roots, so weeks of continuous rain can cause rot. Shift them to a covered balcony, a sunshade ledge or under a sheet roof where they still get bright light but stay out of direct rain. Water them very little during the monsoon – often the humidity alone is enough. Our cactus & succulents collection includes easy varieties, and our earlier guide on caring for succulents in Pondicherry's humidity has more tips.
4. Cut back on watering and fertiliser
Most gardeners keep watering on the same schedule out of habit. During rainy weeks, check the soil with your finger first and water only when the top inch feels dry. Hold back on heavy fertiliser feeding when the sky is overcast for days, since plants grow more slowly and nutrients can wash out of pots anyway. Resume normal feeding once the sun returns.
5. Stake and shelter tall plants
Cyclonic winds are common along the Coromandel coast in November. Tie young fruit plants, banana suckers and tall flowering plants to a bamboo stake with soft cloth or twine. Group lighter pots together against a wall, and move hanging baskets down to the floor if a strong wind or cyclone warning is announced.
6. Keep an eye on leaves and pests
Humid, still weather encourages fungal spots, mould on the soil surface, snails and slugs. Remove yellow or spotted leaves early, keep space between pots for air to move, and clear fallen leaves from the top of the soil. Check the undersides of leaves every few days.
7. Use the rain for a kitchen garden
The cooler, cloudier weeks after the monsoon arrives are a good time to start leafy greens. Many families in Tamil Nadu sow keerai such as arai keerai, siru keerai and palak in pots or grow bags during this season. Sow in containers you can move under shelter during very heavy downpours, so seeds and small seedlings are not washed away. Browse our keerai seeds and vegetable seeds to plan your monsoon kitchen garden.
A quick monsoon checklist
- Clear and check drainage holes; raise pots off the floor
- Repot plants in waterlogged or compacted soil
- Move cactus, succulents and adenium under cover
- Water only when the topsoil is dry
- Stake tall plants and secure hanging pots before storms
- Sow keerai and leafy greens in movable pots
Need pots, soil or new plants before the rains arrive? Dream Nursery ships from Perambai, Puducherry, with delivery across India. Visit dreamnursery.in to shop, or call in at the nursery if you are nearby.