Will you buy plastic flowers for your loved ones? Certainly not! That will be insincerity. As a matter of fact, the sincerity behind the gift is impossible to be substituted with unfading synthetic flowers or others.

Similarly, in order to create a green environment in the office, plastic ornamental plants have been placed instead of living plants.

Physical and mental healing

Besides the uncomfortable feel of being fooled, these artificial plants do not absorb carbon dioxide released by us, or transform it into oxygen to liven up our living enviornment.

Good quality ornamental plants possess the function of absorbing computer radiation. For example, Snake Plants have shown outstanding performance in this respect. Several pots of regular Evergreen are also producing the same effect as Snake Plants by just soaking them in water or letting them grow on a moist base. Through this way, Evergreen will increase the humidity of the dry atmosphere brought about by air-conditioners so that the occupants inside the room will not suffer from dry throats.

Such effects that come along with living plants can never be taken over by synthetic plants.

Moreover, those believing in fengshui believe that Pachira macrocarpa (commonly known as Prosperity Tree) will bring a thriving business if several of them are placed at the entrance.

In a similar way, plastic flowers are unable to offer this added value of boosting the spiritual sustenance of the occupants.

Be it offices, residences, shopping malls, government offices, schools, festive celebrations or conferences rooms, green plants are bound to cheer things up.

As a consequence, supplying ornamental plants, along with the services of designing, selling and renting plants are now available in the market.

A hit during the 80s

Plant rental services in Penang could be traced back to the 80s at a time when the electronic industry provided a strong impetus to the local economy.

Flowers and plants for beautification purposes were in good demand with multinational corporations, and fresh flowers and plants were essential in perking up the thriving business environments.

Prevailing landscaping trends

Business-minded horticulturalists have grasped the opportunity of a prosperous economy and saw themselves walk out of their flower gardens into prosperous industrial parks, shopping malls, hotels and conference rooms to vie for public attention.

This sort of business was a hit during the 80s as it spearheaded the development of local horticultural industry and people began to emphasise landscaping. Landscaping has since become a prevailing trend among the public as beautification was needed both indoors and outdoors.

Introduction of plants abroad

Where there is demand, there is supply. Local Cycads no longer satisfy the increasingly demanding buyers, and horticulturalists begin importing Broad-leaved Lady Palm and other ornamental plants which are easy to grow, unique in style, and brilliant in appearance.

People offering plant rental services provide their plants in the best ever conditions to their customers, and would replace them with new ones if the customers get bored with the plants or the plants have failed to meet their required conditions.

The replaced plants will then be sent back to the garden for a short recovery period before they are put on service again.

Majority of plant renters are operating on monthly rental basis while rentals for functions and conference rooms are charged on daily basis.

Countless new species

You don't have to plant flowers even though you are a connoisseur of flowering shrubs. A commercialised society stresses cooperation and sharing of responsibility. Professional horticulturalists can take care of the planting part.

Such a mode of operation has contributed to the rapid development of horticultural industry along with the introduction of countless new species, creating new trends and tastes at different times.

There was a time when Yellow Pear Flowers were of tremendous demand and various species of Yellow Pear Flowers were put in the market. The same with Evergreen and Cycadaceae.

Following the subsequent economic downturn, plant rental businesses have been badly affected. Competition among business owners has toughened and new fengshui plants and auspicious trees have to be introduced as part of their strategies to stay afloat, as these trees can fulfill the psychological needs of people during the downturn.

Producing large amount of popular species

60-year-old Mustafa is a Malay horticulturalist with the Agricultural Department at Relau, Penang. He has planted more than a hundred of the most popular plant species, majority of which non-flowering ornamental shrubs, in the department's garden.

Due to the overwhelming demand in the market, Mustafa has bred a large number of popular plant species to supply the market.

Be it for wholesale, retail or rental, only flawless plants are accepted by customers. As a result, it is necessary to wait for the plants to grow to their tiptop conditions before they are marketed.

Plant rental has provided Mustafa a fixed income every month. Although the income is not big, he can easily weather the economic downturn with the additional income he makes from plant rental.

Plants for large scale carnivals and occasions fetch better prices, but competition is also stiffer. (Translated by LIM LIY EE/Sin Chew Daily)