Living in apartments in Delhi, Poonam Arora never had the chance to explore her love for flowers and gardening.

Her family’s decision to move to Dehradun, away from the pollution and fast-paced life of the city, came as a welcome opportunity for her.

“I have been able to plant so many colourful flowers, and I see how good they all make me feel,” Poonam shares.

Making gardening her full-time occupation, she had more than 300 varieties of plants in her home garden at the time of the interview.

If you take a look at Poonam’s home from the outside, it appears draped in gorgeous flowers. However, Poonam didn’t know anything about gardening when she started. “With time, I started showing an interest not just in the plants but also in understanding the soil type, weather conditions needed for each plant, and making my own compost,” she says.

Currently, she grows bonsai, petunias, poppies and zinnias in her garden. Poonam also takes great pride in making a lot of the planters herself. “I watch a lot of DIY videos on YouTube and learn from there,” she says.

Additionally, she shares her DIY projects and learnings with over one lakh YouTube subscribers eager for her thrifty tricks.

“Now, my husband and children also help me in gardening. They have also started taking an interest in it,” she adds.