It always begins with hope.
You bring home a healthy money plant or a flowering hibiscus, carefully pick the perfect corner on your balcony, water it every day, and picture your home slowly turning into a green retreat. But a few weeks later, the leaves begin turning yellow. The stems droop, new growth stops, and before you know it, another empty pot is staring back at you.
For many first-time gardeners, this cycle repeats itself so frequently that they begin believing they don’t have a ‘green thumb’.
But 25-year-old entrepreneur Avichal Ojha, founder of Noida-based ‘TheGreenWealth’, says that’s one of the biggest myths about gardening.
“I hear people tell me all the time, ‘Please plant it yourself because our plants never survive.’ But I do not believe in the idea of having a black thumb. People are not bad at gardening. They just don’t know how plants communicate and what small things make a big difference,” he tells The Better India.
Growing up in Surahi village in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, plants were always a part of his life. But it was while pursuing a BSc in agriculture in Noida that he realised his knowledge could help people build a lasting connection with nature.
During his college days, he began selling small table plants to professors and, more importantly, showing them how to care for them. Those early conversations about keeping plants alive planted the seed for what would later become his startup.
As he started interacting with families living in apartment complexes, one sight became impossible to ignore. Balconies were dotted with empty pots, reminders of plants that had once been lovingly bought but had failed to survive. Most people were not giving up because they didn’t enjoy gardening. They probably didn’t know what had gone wrong.
That inspired him to establish his company in 2022, with a mission of helping urban residents become confident plant parents through practical, easy-to-follow guidance.
“Gardening is a combination of science and art. Science helps us understand what plants need, while art teaches us patience, observation, and care. Once people stop treating plants like decoration and start understanding them as living beings, everything changes,” he explains.
It is not your fault
Most beginners believe growing plants is easy. Water them every day, give them some sunlight, and they will flourish. According to the entrepreneur, that’s where the first mistake begins.
During Avichal’s college days, he began selling small table plants to professors and, more importantly, showing them how to care for them.
Plants growing in the ground have a natural ecosystem supporting them. Their roots can spread freely, the soil holds moisture differently, and nature does much of the balancing act. Balcony plants, however, depend entirely on the environment we create for them.
“Growing a plant in the ground and growing one in a pot are completely different. In a pot, every small decision, from the soil mix to watering frequency and sunlight, directly affects the plant’s health,” he says.
High-rise balconies add another layer of complexity. One balcony may receive harsh afternoon sunlight while another, in the same building, gets barely any direct light. Strong winds, reflected heat from walls, and changing seasons all influence how a plant grows.
“A plant may look healthy in a nursery but struggle after coming into a different home environment if its needs aren’t understood,” he adds.
Instead of trying harder, he encourages people to start observing better.
Stop watering on autopilot
When a plant starts to look unhealthy, most people instinctively reach for the watering can.
Ironically, that’s usually what makes things worse.
“Many people believe that if they keep watering a plant, it will stay healthy. But plants don’t survive only because of water. They survive because of the right balance of water, air, sunlight, and nutrients. Overwatering is generally more harmful than underwatering because it reduces oxygen around the roots and causes root rot,” he explains.
Rather than following a daily routine, Avichal suggests letting the plant decide when it needs water.
Water smarter
Feel the soil first
Before watering, insert your finger about one to two inches into the soil. If it still feels damp, wait. Water only when the top layer begins to dry. This simple habit prevents one of the most common reasons balcony plants die.
Adapt to the seasons
Summer, monsoon, and winter all affect how quickly soil loses moisture. During monsoon, watering should be reduced because humidity already keeps the soil moist. In summer, plants may need more frequent checks as pots dry out quickly.
Read your plant’s signals
Yellow leaves, soft stems, soggy soil, and a bad smell usually indicate overwatering. Dry leaves, drooping stems and cracked soil point towards underwatering. Learning these signs helps you respond before serious damage occurs.
Plants growing in the ground have a natural ecosystem supporting them.
“Plants do not follow a calendar. Their water requirement changes according to the plant variety, season, pot size and weather conditions. A good gardener doesn’t just give water. They understand when and why a plant needs it,” the expert explains.
Choose wisely
Many people unknowingly make their biggest mistake before the plant even enters their home. They buy what looks beautiful instead of what suits their balcony.
“The problem does not start after buying the plant. It starts at the moment of choosing the wrong one,” he says.
Before visiting a nursery, Avichal recommends spending a few days watching your balcony. Notice how many hours of direct sunlight it receives. Observe whether the light is gentle or harsh. Pay attention to strong winds and how conditions change during different seasons.
Only then should you decide which plants to bring home.
Match the plant to the place
For sunny balconies
If your balcony receives more than four to six hours of direct sunlight, flowering plants like hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, and portulaca will survive.
For partially shaded balconies
If sunlight reaches your balcony for only a few hours each day, choose peace lilies, money plants, areca palms, syngoniums or ferns. They are much better suited to filtered light.
For balconies with very little sunlight
Don’t assume gardening is impossible. Snake plants, ZZ plants, aglaonemas, and bamboo palms grow well in naturally bright spaces even without long hours of direct sunlight.
“Most people don’t fail because they lack effort. They fail because nobody told them what to observe. Once you start noticing these small things, plant care becomes easy, and your confidence grows with every new leaf,” he adds.
Many beginners unknowingly use heavy garden soil, decorative pots without drainage holes, or never replenish nutrients after planting.
Fix the foundation
Healthy plants don’t just depend on water and sunlight. They depend on what lies beneath the surface. Many beginners unknowingly use heavy garden soil, decorative pots without drainage holes, or never replenish nutrients after planting.
“If a plant could speak, it wouldn’t just ask for water or light. It would ask for the right setup. Beyond watering and sunlight, the real game is happening inside the pot,” he explains.
Build a healthy home for your plants
Use pots with drainage holes
Water should always have a way to escape. Without drainage, roots remain submerged for too long and begin to rot.
Choose a light potting mix
Ordinary garden soil becomes compact inside pots, preventing air from reaching the roots. A well-draining potting mix allows both moisture and oxygen to reach the plant.
Feed your plants regularly
Unlike plants growing in the ground, potted plants quickly use up the nutrients available to them. Timely nutrition keeps roots healthy and encourages continuous growth.
Repot when growth slows
If your plant has stopped producing new leaves despite receiving proper care, check whether its roots have filled the pot. Moving it into a slightly larger container often gives it room to grow again.
“A plant does not grow because of one correct action. It grows when everything around it is in balance. Once that setup is right, half the gardening effort is already done,” he continues.
Give it another chance
One customer contacted Avichal after almost giving up on her plants. She had already tried changing watering schedules, moving the pots around, and following advice she found online. Nothing worked.
“When we analysed the situation, we realised there wasn’t one problem. There were several small issues together. The watering pattern wasn’t matching the plant’s requirements, the soil wasn’t supporting healthy roots, and the plant’s placement was creating stress,” he explains.
When a plant starts to look unhealthy, most people instinctively reach for the watering can.
Instead of replacing the plants, they made a series of small corrections. He guided her through a few simple changes. They adjusted the watering routine, improved the soil, and moved each plant to a spot that better matched its light requirements. Gradually, the plants began responding. Most importantly, the owner was encouraged to stop making constant changes and just observe.
A few weeks later, healthy green leaves appeared.
“The old damaged leaves didn’t suddenly become healthy again, but the new leaves were stronger and greener. That was the real sign the plant was recovering. Gardening is not about finding quick fixes. It is about understanding why the problem happened in the first place,” he adds.
A simple weekly routine
One of the biggest misconceptions about gardening is that it requires hours of work.
Avichal insists that’s far from the truth.
“Plants do not need your entire day. They need your attention at the right time,” he admits.
He recommends spending just 10 to 15 minutes every week doing an instant health check.
Every week, remember to
- Observe before watering. Spend a few minutes looking at your plants. Yellow leaves, pests, or slow growth often reveal problems early.
- Check the soil. Water only when the top layer has dried, rather than following a fixed schedule.
- Clean the leaves. Remove dead foliage and wipe dust from leaves so they can absorb sunlight better.
- Review the placement. As seasons change, sunlight patterns also change. Move plants if they begin receiving too much or too little light.
- Feed the soil. Healthy soil supports healthy roots, and healthy roots support healthy plants.
“The biggest gardening mistake is thinking plants need a lot of time. They don’t. They need consistency. Just a few minutes of observation every week can keep your green space healthy throughout the year,” he says.
Grow one plant at a time
Avichal believes the real reward of gardening is not having a balcony full of plants. It is watching your first plant survive, grow, and give you the confidence to care for another.
Rather than following a daily routine, Avichal suggests letting the plant decide when it needs water.
“Do not try to become a gardener overnight. Become a plant parent slowly. Start with one plant, learn its language, give it the right environment, and gradually create your own green space. A successful balcony garden is not built by doing more. It is built by understanding better,” he advises.
If you’d like personalised guidance or practical advice on creating a healthy balcony garden, you can connect with him through TheGreenWealth on Instagram at @the_green_wealth. You can also reach him at 9582939259.
All pictures courtesy Avichal Ojha.
