Plants help wealth ‘grow’
Ornamental plants are selling like hot cakes in the run-up to the Chinese New Year.
JOHOR BARU: Ornamental plants with red bows and stringed gold embellishments are selling like hot cakes here in the run up to the Chinese New Year.
Nursery owner Lim Ang Lay, 58, said customers had been snapping up these decorative plants since early last month to put more cheer to the festive celebration.
“We wanted to add a special touch to these popular festive plants, so we decorated them with little red bows and stringed gold pieces with words conveying good luck and wealth,” he said at his nursery in Jalan Masai Lama here.
He added that many customers also sought golden lime trees, bamboo shoots and other flowering plants decorated with Chinese New Year-themed embellishments.
Amid all types of Chinese New Year decorative elements, snake-themed motifs were missing.
“Many customers do not like snakes and, therefore, we have tried not to include any snake designs despite it being the Year of the Snake,” he said.
A much sought-after item is the pachira money tree, which is usually related to feng shui and grows beautifully indoors with lots of water and even in indirect sunlight.
“It is a popular buy, which we have also decorated with mini red bows, gold hangings and crackers with prosperous symbols,” he said, adding that many people liked the tropical plant with its braided trunk because it is said to bring wealth.
Lim said a pachira tree costs between RM438 and RM498, depending on its size and the embellishments it is decorated with.
“Many customers are intrigued by the miniature gold embellishments and the largest purchase was from one customer who carted away a whole lorry full of plants,” he said.