Plants that can handle a Lahore summer

If you have spent a June in Lahore, you already know. Summer here runs from April to June, and in June the average high regularly goes above 40°C. Then the monsoon arrives, and July is the wettest month of the year. A plant on your balcony has to get through both.

The good news is that plenty of plants can. Here are the ones we like.

For a sunny balcony or terrace

Bougainvillea and jasmine. Climbers like these love a hot wall or railing, and once they grow they give you some shade too. Passion flower and allamanda are good options as well.

Lantana. A tough one. In Lahore it flowers almost all year except the winter months. Give it a big pot so the roots have room.

Portulaca and zinnia. Bright summer flowers that are happy in full sun.

Champa (plumeria). It keeps flowering in the heat, but it likes plenty of water and feed. Harsh midday sun in June can still burn the leaves, so a little afternoon shade helps.

Check the soil, not the calendar.

For inside the house

Snake plant. If you want one plant that forgives you, this is it. Let the soil dry most of the way down before you water again. It grows best in bright, indirect light but copes with less. Yellow leaves usually mean the roots stayed wet for too long.

Small habits that make a big difference

Give them shade in the worst weeks. Green shade net or a chik over the balcony takes the edge off the strongest sun. Fix it firmly so the wind cannot pull it loose, and leave space for air to move.

Check the soil, not the calendar. Push a finger into the soil before you water. Water when it feels dry, not just because it is Tuesday.

Make sure every pot drains. Use pots with drainage holes and empty any water sitting in the saucer. This matters even more once the monsoon starts, because roots that sit in water start to rot.

Use the right sand. If you add sand to help the soil drain, use river sand and mix in compost. Never use sea sand, because the salt in it harms plants.

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