Noida: Amid the vast expanse of grey shrouding the city because of pollution, here is a splash of colour. With the dip in temperature, flowers like petunias, pansies and dahlias are now blooming in nurseries. Nursery owners said the demand for such flowers spikes every winter when residents redo their balcony or terrace gardens. With the air quality deteriorating, also in demand are peace lilies, Aglaonema, Syngonium, Monstera, Sansevieria, Philodendron, areca palm, snake plants and rubber, known to generate oxygen and clean the air around them.Nursery owners said with the demand, the prices have also risen. Flowering plants of Rs 30 will cost double that in the coming weeks, said Noida-based nursery owner Rajkumar Verma, adding that his earnings increase every winter. Verma, who owns an eight-bigha nursery in Sector 125, said, Every day, 100 customers come to buy flower plants. During winter, the best flowers to grow are petunia, cockscomb, antirrhinum, cineraria, zinnia, calendula, chrysanthemum and marigold. Flower plants need soil up to five inches deep. So, all you need to do is take an earthen pot of six-eight inches, dig a hole in the soil and bury the seed about two inches deep. Noida-based Vineet Tomar said, I have air-purifying plants in every room. The AQI has been bad, and we cant use an air purifier round-the-clock. The plants give us mental peace. Besides, every winter, we buy colourful flower plants and redecorate our balconies. While people have different choices, many prefer petunias as they grow quickly and come in different colours. Sanju Yadav, who owns a nursery in Sector 135, said, One of the most popular annual flowering plants, they are quick-growing and known for beautiful blooms in pink, purple, red, white and yellow. You can sow petunia seeds when the temperature is low. The plants grow between six inches to four feet and are perfect for hanging baskets and planters.We also published the following articles recentlyIs your car air-purifier lying to you? Busting myths about air-purifiersCar air purifiers are popular in Delhi NCR due to rising pollution levels. However, there are myths surrounding their effectiveness. While they reduce pollutants, they cannot eliminate all harmful substances, especially in heavily polluted areas. They are affordable and easy to maintain with replaceable filters. The time it takes to improve air quality depends on the devices technology and the severity of pollution. Additionally, not all purifiers can remove all bad smells, such as petrol or diesel fumes.Almost extinct, Himalayan plant with med value blooms againThe research wing of the Uttarakhand Forest Department has successfully saved the critically endangered Himalayan Gentian plant from extinction. The plant, known for its medicinal properties, has a rich history in traditional medicine and is valued for treating various ailments. Efforts focused on sustainable preservation and propagation of the plant, resulting in the conservation of over 600 specimens across forest department centers. The plants habitat is threatened by quarrying and road widening, and its root and rhizome are heavily exploited. The conservation efforts aim to protect the species from further decline.Mumbai Air Pollution: MPCB issues notices to four concrete mixing plants for polluting airThe Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has issued notices to four ready mix concrete (RMC) plants in Mumbai for violating clean air rules. The notices have been issued under the Air Pollution and Control of Prevention Act, 1981. The MPCB has asked the plants to explain violations such as ignoring pollution norms, not installing dust collectors, and running the plant only during daytime. Two RMC plants have already received closure notices. The MPCB is conducting a survey of RMC plants in the city to address air pollution concerns.

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