ORCHIDS GETTING TRENDY DURING CNY

By Voon Miaw Ping

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Come Chinese New Year, one of the
essential items found in a Chinese home centres on the living blooms.

It is customary for the Chinese to decorate their homes with bright-coloured plants, a tradition which symbolises rebirth, growth, happiness, good fortune and prosperity, among others.

Flowers and plants that are traditionally linked to the Chinese New Year include chrysanthemums, kamquats (kinkans), azalea, lily, anthurium and ornamental pineapple plants and pomelo.

A visit by Bernama to several nurseries in Sungai Buloh near here -- an area noted for its wide variety of plants and flowers -- indicated a growing demand for orchids as decoration plant among the Chinese during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

For orchid lovers, the plant also represents love, luxury, beauty, strength and refinement, virility and long life.

According to one of the florists here, Lim Chui Boon, orchids had become a more popular choice over the past few years as they could last longer and were easier to maintain.

She has about 100 species of orchids at her nursery but one of the
best-sellers, she noted, was the purplish-white 'sakura dendobrium orchid'.

Since early January, she had imported about 500 pots of the species.

Lim said that species of orchid imported from Taiwan was also popular due to its resemblance of the plum blossoms, which normally bloomed in Spring and was associated with the new year.

“Over the past few years, there has been a rise in the orchid's popularity as a decorative plant during the festive season. Many also opt for orchids because they feel flowers like 'kekwa' and 'kamquats' are rather old-fashioned, although still very much in demand," she added.

Concurring with Lim, another florist, identified only as Wuan, said many customers preferred potted plants as they could also be used all-year-round and were cost effective, as compared to arranged flowers.

She reported brisk business at her nursery and expected sales to further pick up in the next two days as shoppers did last-minute shopping.

Meanwhile, a shopper, Annie Lim, said she preferred to use 'kekwa' as decorations in her home, as it was a must for her family during the
celebrations.

“Normally, I buy a few potted 'kekwa' for the Chinese New Year. I prefer to use live flowers as they bring warmth and coziness to the home as compared to the fake ones.

"Besides, kekwa's bright colours are auspicious for the Chinese," she added.

The Chinese usher in the Year of the Rabbit on Feb 3.