This Pune Man Grew Flowers in His Small Balcony With Little Sunlight — Here’s How

A 20×10 feet L-shaped balcony. barely one or two hours of sunlight. Lots of patience. And a deep love for plants. That’s all it took for Pune-based Gautam Doshi to transform his apartment into a lush green space.

Gautam always had a soft spot for gardening, but growing up, he didn’t have the space for it. Originally from Maharashtra’s Raigad district, he moved to Pune in 2007 for work. An engineer by training,  the 40-year-old switched to stock trading five years ago — but his love for plants never left him.

“I draw inspiration from my uncle, who lives in Kolhapur. He has a huge garden. Watching him care for it made me want a green space of my own someday.”

When Gautam moved into his Pune apartment, in 2007, he was determined to build his own green space. But there was one big obstacle — his balcony faced north, receiving barely any direct sunlight. 

“It has limited exposure, which makes it unfit for most plants,” he explains. “At first, I struggled to find varieties that would work. But instead of giving up, I focused on choosing the right ones.”

However, this time, he was not going to give up on the dream.

Plants that thrive without direct sunlight

Gautam dove into research and carefully picked flowering and foliage plants that could grow in semi-shade or low-light conditions. This was the first step in turning his bare balcony into a thriving garden. 

Some of the flowering plants that worked for him include:

• Hibiscus
• Begonias
• Hydrangeas
• Pentas
• Tecoma
• Mini Mussaenda
• Bleeding Heart

“These plants do flower in indirect light, although the number of blooms is limited,” he says.

For foliage and greenery, he chose:

• Aglaonema
• Coleus
• Pothos
• Philodendron
• Syngonium

He also recommends dwarf varieties of common flowering plants like Ixora, Rangoon Creeper, and Gardenia for aesthetic appeal. “I also think that Curcuma longa is a perfect pick for balconies with minimal sunlight. It thrives in indirect light and warm conditions,” he shares. 

His mantra? Small space, smart gardening

So, how did he manage to grow so many varieties with barely one or two hours of sunlight a day — and that too only from March to June? Gautam has a secret, but it’s simple: smart, adaptive gardening. 

“What helped me the most was rotating my plants regularly. It allowed me to make the best use of the limited sunlight I got, and kept the plants healthier and more resistant to infestations. Between March and June, I was even able to grow chillies, tomatoes, and a few sun-loving flowering varieties,” he adds. 

Some practical tips that Gautam shares are:

1. Use railing pots to catch more sunlight and save floor space

2. Pick lightweight containers so pots can be easily moved based on light availability

3. Opt for light soil mixes like cocopeat (made from coconut husks), which improve drainage and are easy to manage.

Dealing with pests — naturally

In areas with less sunlight and more shade, pest attacks are common. To manage this, Gautam says he chose the natural way. “Spraying neem oil regularly can help protect plants from pests,” he says. “It should be applied early in the morning or late in the evening, at least two to three times every second day. Diluting it with water before spraying keeps healthy plants safe without harming them.”

Despite the challenges of low light, Gautam has managed to turn his balcony into a thriving green space. “Gardening has not only taught me plant care, but also patience, observation, and how to find beauty in limitations,” he shares.

His advice to fellow plant lovers? Don’t give up. Choose the right plants based on the space and light you have, he suggests.

Edited by Khushi Arora

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