Soweto businesswoman harnesses plant power
FROM the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions imposed on a nation, a business was born for Sowetan-based Nkhensani Rikhotso.
Stuck inside her home trying to stay safe from Covid-19, Rikhotso began delving into self-healing and spirituality, and brought plants into her home to create a safe, serene and calm space.
Now, after becoming an indoor plant specialist, she advises people on how to turn their own spaces into lush, leafy indoor sanctuaries.
Rikhotso says her journey began with just one small aloe, which she killed by over watering. A mistake she would learn from with her next plant, and the next.
Before she knew it, her home was exploding with 200 varieties of plants – from ferns to succulents, palms and ficuses. Having limited interactions with friends and family during lockdown, she says her day-today life began to centre on nurturing the living, breathing additions to her home, and she found great healing, inspiration and joy in the process.
As she learned to care for each plant in its own unique way, she began sharing her lessons with others.
As a multi-faceted creative with a background in digital design and marketing, Rikhotso took to making “plant content” on social media and soon gathered a loyal and interested following for her plant care and styling tips. Eventually, this led to her starting an indoor plant consultancy, and plant shop, Her Merakai, sharing her skills with businesses and individuals.
Around the same time her budding love of plants manifested, Rikhotso’s own healing journey evolved, and she qualified as a reiki healer, offering in-person and distance reiki healing, which she feels is a natural complement to her plant business.
“I believe my deepest purpose in this life is to help others find their own healing, whether through reiki healing, or creating a safe and mindful space with plants,” Rikhotso said.
She was recently approached by Mr Price Home to take part in their Women’s Month Collab Collection.
The collection is intended to shine a light on the many hard-working, passionate and talented women creators who contribute to South Africa’s economy and creative industry.
The brand recognised Rikhotso as a multi-faceted and driven yet intuitive businesswoman, and tasked her with creating a range of designs inspired by her unusual business and life.
The entrepreneur with green fingers says: “I feel it’s deeply grounded in everything that is my passion, love, my soul and my work.
“The thing that inspired this range was the women I have in my life and the women that raised me,” she says.
Rikhotso’s homeware range, including cushions, planters, stationary, tableware and more, became available at Mr Price Home stores nationwide from Woman’s Day, August 9.