Melbourne, Nov 24 A Kiwi woman has revealed in court that she plays Bach to her cannabis plants to help them grow.

Zarah Murphy, 29, a mother-of-four, grew 20 dope plants in a specially decorated secret den that was decked out with pretty pictures of shiny plants and a stereo playing "nice classical music".

According to Taranaki Daily News, Murphy from the North Island town of New Plymouth told the court through her lawyer that the photographs and soothing sounds were designed to help "nurture" her crop.

"She must be smoking a hell of a lot," the Courier Mail quoted Judge Allan Roberts as commenting on the unusual set-up.

But he appeared to take pity on the single mother, who suffers posttraumatic stress disorder, saying it was not his job to lecture Murphy about her responsibilities as a mother.

She was sentenced to 250 hours' community work for her crimes. (ANI)