Many gardening beginners start with the hope of bringing home a healthy plant, such as a money tree or a flowering hibiscus, and diligently setting up a green corner on their balcony. However, after a few weeks, leaves may begin to yellow, stems may wilt, and new growth may cease, leading to disappointment.
This cycle often repeats, making many believe they lack a 'green thumb.' However, 25-year-old entrepreneur Avichal Ojha, founder of 'TheGreenWealth' from Noida, argues that this is a common myth. He notes that people are not bad at gardening; they simply lack understanding of how plants communicate and how small details matter greatly.
Growing up in Surahi village, part of the Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh state, Avichal was always close to plants. During his undergraduate studies in agriculture in Noida, he realized his knowledge could help people establish a strong connection with nature. In his student years, he began selling small desk plants to professors and teaching them how to care for them, which marked the beginning of his startup.
Interacting with families in residential complexes showed him many empty pots on balconies—a reminder of dead plants. He realized that most people do not abandon gardening due to lack of interest, but because they do not know what went wrong. This inspired him to found his company in 2022 with the goal of helping urban residents become confident 'plant parents' through practical and simple recommendations.
He explains that gardening combines science and art: science helps understand plant needs, while art teaches patience, observation, and care. When people stop viewing plants as mere decoration and start understanding them as living beings, everything changes.
It's Not Your Fault
Many beginners consider growing plants an easy task: just watering them daily and providing sunlight. However, according to the entrepreneur, this is where the first mistake lies. Plants growing in soil have a natural ecosystem supporting them, where roots spread freely, and the soil retains moisture differently, performing much of nature's balancing act.
Balcony plants, on the other hand, are entirely dependent on the man-made environment. Avichal emphasizes that growing in soil and growing in a pot are completely different processes. In a pot, every small decision, from soil composition to watering frequency and lighting, directly affects the plant's health.
High-rise balconies add another layer of complexity: one balcony might receive harsh midday sun, while another in the same building might barely be illuminated by direct light. Strong wind, reflected heat from walls, and seasonal changes affect plant growth. He adds that a plant might look healthy in a nursery but struggle in a new home environment if its needs are not understood. Instead of trying harder, he urges people to improve their observational skills.
Stop Watering on Autopilot
When a plant starts looking unhealthy, most people instinctively grab a watering can. However, paradoxically, this often makes the situation worse. Many assume that constant watering will keep the plant healthy, but plants survive not only on water. They need the right balance of water, air, sunlight, and nutrients. Overwatering is usually more harmful than underwatering, as it reduces oxygen around the roots and causes root rot. Instead of following a daily routine, Avichal advises letting the plant decide when it needs water.
Water Smarter
Feel the Soil First
Before watering, insert your finger into the soil to a depth of one to two inches. If the soil remains moist, wait. Only water when the top layer begins to dry out. This simple habit prevents one of the most common causes of balcony plant death.
Adapt to Seasons
Summer, monsoon season, and winter affect the rate of soil moisture loss differently. During monsoons, watering should be reduced because high humidity already maintains soil moisture. In summer, plants may require more frequent checks as pots dry out quickly.
Read Your Plant's Signals
Yellow leaves, soft stems, wet soil, and unpleasant odors usually indicate overwatering. Dry leaves, drooping stems, and cracked soil signal lack of water. Studying these signs helps react before serious damage occurs. The expert concludes: 'Plants do not follow a calendar. Their water needs change depending on the plant variety, season, pot size, and weather conditions. A good gardener doesn't just water; they understand when and why the plant needs it.'
Choose Wisely
Many people make their biggest mistake without realizing it, even before the plant enters their home. They buy what looks beautiful instead of choosing what suits their balcony. He argues that the problem starts not after the purchase, but at the moment of choosing the wrong plant.
Before visiting a nursery, Avichal recommends spending a few days observing their balcony. It is necessary to note how many hours of direct sunlight it receives, assess whether the light is soft or harsh, and pay attention to strong winds and changing conditions across seasons. Only then should a decision be made about which plants to acquire.
Match the Plant to the Place
If your balcony receives more than four to six hours of direct sunlight, flowering plants such as hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, and portulaca will thrive.
If your balcony receives only a few hours of sunlight per day, choose peace lilies, money trees, areca palms, syngoniums, or ferns, as they are better adapted to diffused light.
Even if there is very little sunlight on the balcony, don't think gardening is impossible. Sansevierias, ZZ plants, aglaonemas, and bamboo palms grow well in naturally bright spots even without long hours of direct sun. He concludes this thought: 'Most people fail not due to lack of effort. They fail because no one told them what to observe. Once you start noticing these small things, plant care becomes easy, and your confidence grows with every new leaf.'
Fix the Foundation
Healthy plants depend not only on water and sunlight; they depend on what is beneath the surface. Many beginners unknowingly use heavy garden soil, decorative pots without drainage holes, or never replenish nutrients after planting. He explains: 'If the plant could talk, it wouldn't just ask for water or light. It would ask for the right setup. Beyond watering and sunlight, the real game happens inside the pot.'
Create a Healthy Environment for Your Plants
Use Pots with Drainage Holes
Water must always have a way to drain. Without drainage, roots remain submerged too long and begin to rot.
Choose a Light Soil Mix
Regular garden soil compacts inside pots, preventing air from reaching the roots. A well-draining soil mix provides access to both moisture and oxygen for the plant.
Fertilize Regularly
Unlike plants growing in the ground, potted plants quickly deplete the nutrients available to them. Timely feeding supports root health and promotes continuous growth.
Repot When Growth Slows Down
If your plant stops producing new leaves despite proper care, check if its roots have filled the pot. Moving it to a slightly larger container often allows it to grow again. He continues: 'A plant doesn't grow because of one correct action. It grows when everything around it is in balance. Once this setup is correct, half the gardening effort is done.'
Give It Another Chance
One client approached Avichal after almost giving up on her plants. She had tried changing watering schedules, moving pots, and following internet advice, but nothing helped. Upon analyzing the situation, it turned out the problem was not one factor, but a combination of several small issues: the watering schedule did not meet the plant's requirements, the soil did not support healthy roots, and the plant's placement caused stress. Instead of replacing the plants, they made a series of small adjustments. He helped her change the watering schedule, improve the soil, and move each plant to a location matching its light needs. Gradually, the plants started responding. Most importantly, the owner was advised to stop making constant changes and simply observe. After a few weeks, healthy green leaves appeared. 'The old damaged leaves didn't suddenly become healthy, but the new leaves were stronger and greener. That was a true sign of plant recovery. Gardening is not about finding quick fixes. It is about understanding why the problem arose in the first place.'
Simple Weekly Routine
One of the biggest misconceptions in gardening is the idea that it requires hours of work. Avichal insists that this is far from true. He acknowledges that plants do not require all day, but rather attention at the right time. He recommends spending only 10–15 minutes each week for a quick check-up. Weekly, one should:
Observe before watering. Spend a few minutes inspecting the plants. Yellow leaves, pests, or slow growth often signal problems at an early stage.
Check the soil. Water only after the top layer has dried, not by following a fixed schedule.
Clean the leaves. Remove dead foliage and wipe dust off the leaves so they can absorb sunlight better.
Check the placement. Since seasons change, light patterns change too. Move plants if they start receiving too much or too little light.
Feed the soil. Healthy soil supports healthy roots, and healthy roots support healthy plants.
The expert concludes: 'The biggest mistake in gardening is thinking that plants require a lot of time. They do not. They require consistency. Just a few minutes of observation each week can keep your green space healthy throughout the year.'
Grow One Plant at a Time
Avichal believes that the true reward of gardening is not having a balcony full of plants, but watching how your first plant survives, grows, and gives you confidence to care for the next. He advises: 'Don't try to become a gardener overnight. Become a 'plant parent' gradually. Start with one plant, learn its language, provide it with the right environment, and gradually create your own green corner. A successful balcony garden is built not by increasing effort, but by better understanding.'