Indoor gardening - Part VI

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Soil: The soil that should be used must not exert pressure on the building. The acceptable soil for roof gardening is soil rite or peat moss. But since it is a costly material you can blend it with garden earth and manure.

Water: Regularly water your plants that you grow on the rooftops. Remember that the soil dries out quickly on the roof. So, the irrigation system for these plants must be planned very well. Think about how will you water your plants. Is there an external tap that can be used or will you carry water in buckets?

Drainage: Drainage is the most important element in roof gardening. Improper drainage will not only rot the plant roots but also cause water to seep into your roof. Hence proper drainage system is essential for roof garden construction.

The key to proper drainage is construction of good drains. You can build good drains on your own. For this, you will need burnt bricks, approx. 2" - 4". Burnt bricks are the best because normal ones turn into mud and collapse the drainage system. Corrugated sheets are also another option. Now, lay these burnt bricks uniformly on the roof. On top of the bricks lay a net lawn. This will prevent the soil from accumulating in between bricks. Border the roof with pipes or outlets for water to flow out. If you have a large roof construct similar drains at several places.

Finally, put the mixture of the soil prepared beforehand to the pot according to a level you choose. Then sow the selected plants.

Arrangement: These plants in the pots can be arranged in many ways. Arranging plants in a particular pattern or theme will make your rooftop garden look organised and beautiful. Without a proper design your garden might look cluttered.

Also take care to provide proper exits for your roof while arranging the plants. The plant arrangement should not hamper your movements on the roof.