ATGLife Mates: Featuring Chanchal Bhardwaj

You can follow her on Instagram at gardenglory.ig.

How did you start gardening?

My love for gardening actually came from my roots. My mother’s family is from Haryana, and I grew up admiring my Nana ji working as a farmer, so I think the interest was always there.

But living in a flat, I never really tried growing vegetables. In 2020, when my son started having health issues, I became more conscious about the food we eat. I realised that even with limited space, I could grow fresh greens at home.

So I started with simple leafy vegetables like palak, dhaniya and methi in pots—and that small beginning slowly turned into my love for gardening.

What are some of your favourite plants to grow in the garden?

I love all kinds of plants that can grow well in the Punjab climate. But I mostly prefer local and budget-friendly plants. Since I’m a seasonal gardener, my garden keeps changing with every season.

My favourite season is winter. That’s when my garden feels the most alive—with seasonal flowers, vegetables, herbs and beautiful foliage all together.

What are some of the plants that you have not had as much success with?

I’ve never had much success with tropical plants that need humidity, shade or indirect light because I don’t really have those conditions. About 90% of my balcony is open and it’s east-facing, so I get around 7–8 hours of sunlight.I’m slowly adding more shade-loving plants and helping them adjust to my space, but I still struggle with plants like paan, ZZ, Monstera and Rubber Plant.

Are there any new plants on your wish list?

Yes! There are quite a few plants on my wishlist. For foliage, I want to try ZZ, Caladium and Peace Lily, along with some new herbs.

For fruits, I’d love to grow Dragon Fruit. And for vegetables, I want to experiment with different varieties of tomatoes and beans.

What would you like to say to our new gardeners?

I’d like to say - Don’t wait for the perfect space or the perfect time to start gardening. Start with whatever you have—even a small balcony and just one pot.

You will make mistakes, you will lose plants, but you’ll also learn, grow and enjoy every little success. Just start small and keep growing.

Any gardening hack you want to share?

My biggest gardening hack for new gardeners is: don’t overwater your plants!

Before watering, simply check the top layer of the soil with your finger. If it still feels moist, wait a little longer.And most importantly, start small. One plant can teach you a lot about gardening.

Any particular Instagram account you follow for inspiration?

I don’t really follow any particular account. I feel the gardening community is such a beautiful space where we all learn something from each other. Every gardener has a different experience, and I always find something new to learn from someone.