The Charm of Ornamental Plants and Efforts to Popularize It

Adding a touch of nature to your home can be as easy as buying potted ornamental plants. From cacti to flowers to foliage, plants can add a touch of freshness to urban homes especially ones with no space for a garden. 

Indoor ornamental plants serve as wonders for the senses with their beauty, and for some, interesting scents. Its presence can boost concentration and productivity by up to 15 percent, it also helps reduce stress levels and improve moods. Seeing the green of foliage and colorful flowers can help people relax and increase their level of positivity, not only that, plants with broad leaves help regulate humidity making the room feel more comfortable and perfect for urban homes. It’s no wonder that interest in ornamental plants increases during the year where most people work from home. 

The global market value for ornamental plants reaches US$22,329 billion, a higher value than coffee and tea. Indonesia, famously known for its tropical agricultural richness, has a large potential to supply the demand for ornamental plants domestically or worldwide. From rare moon orchids or Palaenopsis amabilis to the famous “janda bolong” or Monstera andansonii Indonesia has many types and kinds of ornamental plants. Despite this, Indonesia has only filled the world market niche by 0,1 percent.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that Indonesia has a potential export market for ornamental plants because of its biodiversity, and along with Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo encourages more local ornamental plants business and floriculture farmer to export their product to other countries. The demand for ornamental plants comes from all over the world from South Korea to Germany, to the United States of America. 

“Currently, international market preferences are starting to change towards tropical plants. This condition certainly provides opportunities for domestic entrepreneurs because the potential for the development of tropical ornamental plants in Indonesia is very high,” said Syahrul Yasin Limpo as reported from Republika.com.

Support for Ornamental Plants Export from BNI in the form of KUR 

To strengthen ornamental plants’ products to the export market, PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) provides financial support in the form of a microcredit program, Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In line with what the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture said about Indonesia’s potential to export ornamental plants, BNI hopes that the KUR given to the floriculture farmer can develop and increase the potential of Indonesia floriculture.

“This step is a new breakthrough from banking to encourage increased added-value and competitiveness of SMEs in the global market for ornamental plant farmers so that it will help accelerate the national economic recovery,” said Director of Institutional Relations BNI, Sis Apik Wijayanto as reported from Suara.com

The allocation of KUR to the floriculture farmers is done in cooperation with CV Minaqu as one of the ornamental plant exporter companies. KUR is given to the 100 floriculture farmers fostered by CV Minaqu during the releasing exports of floriculture and vegetable seeds from 25 exporting companies to 28 countries, attended by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture.

BNI also helps in building a floriculture agricultural ecosystem by providing assistance and establishing networks for SMEs and corporations. The assistant and empowerment of the floriculture farmers are done so that they can become hubs in the existing ecosystem. The realization of KUR in the agricultural sector that had distributed during 2021 up to the month of April amounted to Rp 2,7 trillion and has 67 thousand recipients throughout Indonesia as Bambang Setyatmojo, The Head of the BNI Small Business and Program Division reported. 

Exported Ornamental Plants

With high demands from all over the world for ornamental plants, especially the tropical kinds, Indonesia is at an advantage with its agricultural richness. Here are some of the exported Indonesian ornamental plants as reported from Media Indonesia

Scindapsus

Scindapsus or commonly known as “sirih gading” is a member of the Araceae family. Native to Southeast Asia, this plant is known for its heart-shaped matte leaves, splashed with spots of iridescent gray and fast-growing trailing vines. It has a high interest as an ornamental houseplant for its reputation as being the easiest houseplant to keep alive. It is adaptable to low lights and needs watering every 1-2 weeks. A suitable option for urban homes.

Syngonium

Syngonium, distinctly known for its arrowhead-shaped leaves, is another member of the Araceae family. The plants have varieties ranging from the Syngonium Pink Splash that as the name indicated has a splash of pink on its dark green leaves to the Syngonium Mojito with its dark and light green speck all around the leaves. Syngonium needs medium to bright light and tolerates low light but not direct sun. Popular for its colors, Syngonium is perfect to brighten up corners of the room.

Homalomena

This tropical to subtropical native plant can be found in humid climes of Indonesia such as Java, Kalimantan, and Sumatra. Homalomena has shades of deep greens, reds, burgundies, and copper tones on its foliage and stems. Its shiny leaves appeared to waxen and in the shape of heart or semi-heart. Keeping with its tropical to subtropical nature, Homalomena needs a slightly warm temperature and moist soil to thrive.

Alocasia

Alocasia has many kinds and unique names. The Alocasia Black Velvet has velvet-like leaves as the name suggested, Alocasia Cuprea or better known as “keladi tengkorak” has a slight silver tinge to its leaves, and Alocasia Reginae better known as “keladi sintang” with its thick arrowhead-shaped leaves. Alocasia has many other types with its distinction that surely brighten up urban homes.