Affected by rapid changes in interest both in gardening and houseplants, growers are turning their focus to exports and diversifying their activities in a bid to boost revenue. Two years ago, the pandemic lifted the gardening and houseplant market to new heights but interest started to decline in November as people returned to their offices and the ‘new normal’ became, well, normal.
Rattana Wongrattanapong, 44, owner of Don Muang Variegated Plant Nursery, says his business has been affected by the recent changes and he’s switching to the global houseplant market, which has a higher potential for growth.
“During the Covid-induced isolation, people suddenly turned their attention to gardening and indoor plants. The demand for plants rose dramatically and so did the prices. But now the situation has changed and growers and sellers including us are feeling the pinch,” he says.
Prices have been dropping since November, but Rattana is confident that they won’t fall lower than pre-pandemic days. He notes that the rise in popularity of gardening and indoor plants over the past two years can be explained not just by the Covid-19 pandemic but also by changing lifestyles, social media, and celebrity influencers spurring demand and higher prices.
Read the complete article at www.thaipbsworld.com.