Tropical plants and flora hot business in Bali

Tropical plants and flora hot business in Bali

Tri Vivi Suryani, Contributor, Denpasar

Green leaves and colorful flowers are inseparable from the
lives of most Balinese Hindus. For every religious occasion, they
create intricate flower designs arranged with fresh coconut
leaves as part of their banten (offerings) to God, ancestors'
spirits and deities -- who they believe are protectors of the
Universe.

Just visit a Balinese family and you will find beautiful
frangipani (plumeria), locally known as jepun jawa -- plants with
diverse colors: white, yellow, orange, red and pink. It is a
must-have plant for each household.

Heliconia, adenium desert roses, and bougainvillea are
commonly found in the gardens and yards of the locals. Water
lilies and lotus are placed in the ponds of each Balinese house.

Formerly "home" plants, a number of them, such as adenium,
lotus, water lilies and heliconia have become hot commodities in
Bali.

Thomas, owner of the Melly Flower shop in Tanjungbungkak in
Denpasar, said that among the favorites were adenium. Originating
from African desserts, the flowers have many species and colors.
The most common color is a combination of white and pink.

"We are growing new species of adenium with more varied colors
from purple, yellow to blue," said Thomas.

In the past, he sold a vase of adenium for only Rp 60,000.
"Now, it costs between Rp 600,000 and Rp 1 million," Thomas said.

In his shop, Thomas offers various tropical plants and flowers
such as heliconia, orchids and other indoor and outdoor plants
such as Anthurium and bromelia.

"The tropical plant business is very promising. Our clients
are offices, hotels and restaurants which need various indoor
plants as decorations," he said.

During peak seasons, his customers also include foreign
visitors who look for unique tropical plants like orchids, palm
trees, heliconia, foliages and frangipani trees.

Flower shops and nurseries are now mushrooming in Bali.
Dozens of nurseries in the Renon and Sanur areas in Denpasar are
selling hundreds of exotic tropical plants and animals.

They also sell a range of terracotta and limestone pottery and
other garden accessories including garden lamps and statues.

Junaidi, owner of Bonsai Indah Nursery, agreed the beautiful
exotic plants had attracted foreign buyers.

"Foreigners visiting my nursery pick up some of the most
beautiful bonsai," said Junaidi. Bonsai are dwarf plants usually
banyan trees, palms and bamboo.

His foreign customers mostly come from Japan, Germany and
Australia. "They like banyan bonsai, which is very aesthetic and
unique," Junaidi explained.

Junaidi said he has a vast collection of bonsai plants. "I go
as far as Nusa Penida Island, East and Central Java to expand my
collection," he added.

The prices for bonsai trees range from Rp 200,000 to Rp 25
million per plant.

"Business would be sluggish if I rely only on selling bonsai
trees, so I diversify the plants," Junaidi said.

He also offers a large variety of roses, orchids,
chrysanthemums, lotus and water lilies.

Junaidi sees bright prospects for the horticulture business.
"A lot of hotels, restaurants, offices and other public
facilities prefer to rent indoor and outdoor plants from local
nurseries rather than growing their own."

If they rent the plants, they can easily change their
landscape gardens or interiors by placing different ornamental
plantations every two weeks.

"It is the simplest way for the owners of the properties to
create a new atmosphere without having to worry about maintenance
of their gardens and interior spaces," he maintained.

The growing number of hotels, resorts and office buildings in
Denpasar and other parts of Bali is raising hopes for fledging
flower businesses in the future.