Nurseries see demand for indoor plants during MCO

The snake plant much in demand during the MCO.

JOHOR BARU: Business for plant nursery owners has boomed, with many customers buying indoor plants during the movement control order (MCO).

Johor Nursery Industry Association acting president Darren Tan said since the MCO was imposed on March 18, the plants were selling like hot cakes.

“Maybe because they had to spend a lot of time at home, people wanted to have more greenery or indoor plants around them, ” he said.

“The sansevieria plant or better known as the snake plant was one of the most sought after indoor plants during the MCO.

“People like it because it is easy to maintain and often blends well with any kind of home decor, ” he said, adding that other plants now in demand included the cactus.

“Generally, all the customers are buying low maintenance plants and those that do not require much sunlight or water, ” he said.

Tan, who owns a nursery in Muar, said the increase in demand has helped nursery owners survive the economic effects of the MCO.

“Before the pandemic, the majority of customers were developers from China who would buy large supplies of outdoor plants for their local housing projects.

“That revenue source stopped because of MCO. Luckily, locals began showing more interest in plants and we could sustain our business, ” said Tan.

“During the initial period of the MCO, when we had to remain closed, we started selling our plants online and found we could reach a bigger market and generate more sales.

“I have been selling plants for years but this is my first online venture, ” he said.

He added that he sold about 20,000 pots of indoor plants during the MCO.