Nurseries preparing for CNY rush

High demand: Workers inspecting kumquat trees before they are sold for Chinese New Year at a nursery in Sungai Buloh.

IPOH: Nursery owners are having their hands full as they prepare their stock of lime or kumquat trees for Chinese New Year.

While sales for the trees are slowly picking up at this time around, nurseries are expecting it to increase significantly after this week.

Hock Loke Siew Nursery & Landscaping owner Low Yoon Chin said like in previous years, customers would start buying two weeks before Chinese New Year.

There are three types of kumquat trees at Low’s nursery here – Sei Kuai Gat (four season lime), Kum Gat (gold lime) and the Long Tum Gat (big lime).

“We also have one more type which is the tangerine tree, imported from China.

“The prices range for all these trees are from RM60 to RM700,” he said.

Low added that the trees were a sign of prosperity and this was why people want them for Chinese New Year.

“Kumquat is popular as the word kum means gold which is something auspicious,” said Low.

In Sungai Buloh, Delima Tani (M) Sdn Bhd sales executive JC Goh agreed.

He explained it was a tradition to place lime and kumquat trees in front of the main door for good luck.

“In Cantonese, we call it dai gat dai lei, which means good luck and prosperity.

“Among other popular plants for Chinese New Year are the chrysanthemum and the kalanchoe flowering plants,” he said.

Goh said customers have not started buying the trees as the celebration is still three weeks away.

He also pointed out prices had increased by between 15% and 20% this year and the cost of each plant depends on the size.