Female College Student Starts Business with 'Animal' Potted Plants

 October 20, 2014

An entrepreneurial female college student has recently found success in the business world by developing potted plants that grow in the shape of various animals. She has already sold 200 potted plants.

Inspired by a similar potted plant she saw a year ago, He Lingkai developed potted plants that grow without soil, making them clean and easy to take care of. Having already sold 200 potted plants, He has decided to establish a team to expand production to keep up with the growing demand.

Hailing from Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province, He currently studies flora at Wenzhou Vocational College of Science and Technology in the Province's Wenzhou.

Since her first year at college, He has been active in the college's entrepreneurship programs in potted plants. Occasionally, she made creative potted plants.

When she saw an animal-like potted plant that her teacher brought home from South Korea, He was fascinated with the idea of developing similar potted plants that grow in water.

"I got the feeling that women would like these plants, and so far my instinct has proven to be right," said He.

Supported by her teacher, He began working on the idea in her studio.

Her passion soon became confusion over how to make the plants grow into the shape of animals and how to make sure the plants are able to survive with only water.

He began looking through related material every day.

"I use sphagna as a basic material and aluminium wire as the backbone," said He, explaining how she made the potted plants.

A potted plant by He can survive for over a year if it is watered every day.

After dealing with the technical problems, He started to consider the shapes she would like her plants to grow in to. When going out, she watched everything, such as dogs, cats and rabbits, for inspiration.

Last year, He brought her potted plants to an expo in Yiwu, a wholesale capital in Zhejiang, and attracted attention. An agriculture enterprise owner wanted to order more than 100, however, He declined because she was unable to produce that many in a short time.

"Traditional potted plants that grow in soil are not easy to take care of and the soil tends to breed insects. He's products solved these problems and feature adorable shapes," said one of He's teachers.

When He's potted plants won an award for excellence at a national creative contest, she applied for two patents for her product.

He's potted plants are sold at prices from 50-150 yuan (U.S. $8-24). Over the past year, she has made over 20,000 yuan (U.S. $3,266).

"It takes at least a couple of hours to make a potted plant, and an afternoon to make a complex one. I cannot handle all the orders now so I need more hands," said He.

Because she needs to take classes, He makes three or four potted plants each week. She has already set out to recruit partners among her fellow students to establish a team.

Currently, He is preparing for an entrepreneurship contest for university students on October 28.

(Source: 66wz.com/Translated and edited by Women of China)

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