Marigold
are among the very popular flowers commonly found in
India and other countries. They can be easily
cultivated, are widely adaptable to varying soils and
climatic conditions and have a good flowering
duration. They are very much used in making garlands.
Make excellent beds and pot decorations.
The
colours range from lemon, yellow, bright yellow,
golden to orange and there is also an almost white
variety.
The
African Marigold grow tall (up to 90 cm), have
beautiful dark green foliage and large sized double
globular flowers which may be as large as 15 cm
across. The French Marigold, which are mostly dwarf
size, have their home in Mexico and South America.
The French Marigold are early-flowering double blooms,
2.5 to 5 cm across, and cover almost the entire plant.
The colours may be yellow, orange, golden yellow,
mahogany, rusty red, tangerine or a combination of
these colours. The height of the plant varies from 15
cm to 45 cm.
The
Marigolds are very hardy, love sun, well-drained soil
and can grow in almost all seasons, except in very
cold weather as they are susceptible to frost and
very hot weather when germination is poor. African
Marigold should be grown in a well prepared soil with
liberal applications of cow dung manure, whereas
French Marigold don't need heavy manuring.
The
Marigold plants are generally free from insects and
diseases. The foliage, which has a characteristic
odour, can be used as an insecticide. The crushed
leaves are also applied on small cuts and can be
quite effective if applied instantly. The juice of
the flowers is occasionally used as purifier of blood
and as a remedy in bleeding piles.
The
spiritual significance given by the Mother to the
Marigold flower is "Plasticity". About
Plasticity the Mother says:
"When
you come to the Divine, you must abandon all
mental conceptions; but, instead of doing that,
you throw your conceptions upon the Divine and
want the Divine to obey them. The only true
attitude for a Yogi is to be plastic and ready to
obey the Divine command whatever it may be..."
- The
Mother
