Suniel Shetty turned barren land into his Rs 20 crore Khandala dream home by planting 400 trees. Actor shares simple gardening hacks for beginners

Actor Suniel Shetty is an avid gardener who often shares gardening hacks and tips on social media as part of his Sunday ritual. The actor puts his heart into everything he does, both on screen and in his personal life, and his love for plants is no different. From planting trees to caring for them, Suniel has spent years turning his passion for greenery into something much bigger.

From barren land to a green Khandala retreat

Suniel Shetty once opened the doors to his serene Khandala farmhouse, which he built with his wife Mana nearly two decades ago. Surrounded by greenery and earthy textures, the property is more than just a luxurious getaway. It shows the actor's connection with his family and nature.

Located on a hilltop around two hours from Mumbai, the property is reportedly now valued at Rs 20 crore. However, its biggest story is not its price. It is about how Suniel and his family transformed a rocky piece of land into a lush green retreat over several years.

When the actor first saw the plot, there was hardly any greenery. The land was largely barren, with rocks, a few plants and cactus scattered around. Instead of seeing the lack of greenery as a drawback, Suniel saw an opportunity to create something for his family.

During a conversation with Bharti Singh on her YouTube channel, the actor recalled how the property gave him a space where he could spend time with his children, Athiya and Ahan. Farming and planting trees became part of their time together.

Over the years, the family planted more than 400 trees on the property. The trees were not simply brought in as fully grown plants by a landscaping team. Suniel and his family were personally involved in creating the green surroundings, making the farmhouse a long-term family project.

A home designed around nature

The connection with nature is also visible in the way the Khandala home was designed. The interiors feature plenty of wood and earthy textures, while large windows and open spaces allow the surrounding greenery to remain visible from inside.

One courtyard has an open ceiling, allowing a tree to grow through the centre of the house. Suniel also retained some of the large rocks that were originally part of the land and incorporated them into the home's interiors.

Another unusual feature of the property is a natural stream running through the land. Instead of removing it or changing its course, Suniel built the house around it. A bridge connects different sections of the property and makes the stream part of the overall landscape.

Suniel Shetty's simple gardening hack for beginners

Suniel's interest in gardening continues to show up on his social media. In one of his recent posts, he shared a simple tip for people whose plants seem to have stopped growing.

His advice revolves around repotting. If a plant has outgrown its existing pot, moving it into a bigger space with fresh soil can give its roots more room to develop. Suniel used the idea as a comparison to life, suggesting that just as people sometimes need to leave their comfort zones, plants can also need a new environment to thrive.

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For beginners, he also shared his preferred soil combination for repotting. His suggested mix consists of 50% old soil, 30% coco peat and 20% manure.

The tip is particularly useful for those who are new to gardening because repotting can sound more complicated than it actually is. Checking whether a plant has become too large for its pot and refreshing its growing medium can be a simple place to start.

Suniel's approach also shows that gardening does not always have to involve complicated techniques. His Khandala property is proof of what patience and consistent effort can create. What began as a rocky, almost empty plot eventually became a green family retreat with more than 400 trees.