How this homemaker set up a profitable orchid nursery business; earns Rs4 lakh monthly

When Sabira Mohammed Moosa returned to Palakkad in Kerala after living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for seven years, she found it difficult to keep herself busy. Her husband and three children would leave for work and school respectively, and Sabira had much free time. She decided to immerse herself in gardening on her terrace. 

Sabira began her gardening journey with potted flowers like jasmine and anthurium in 1998. “I began collecting flower plants from all over India. I would get them through courier and visit nurseries to collect saplings and seeds,” she says.

As her garden flourished, she ventured into orchid plantation. "I started collecting saplings from Krishi Bhavan, Palakkad and other places,” she tells 30Stades. Soon her terrace garden was full of orchids, which come in many colours and blossom forms.

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In 2006, Sabira's orchid cultivation gained significant recognition when she received the Kerala State Government's Udyana Sresta Puraskar for her exceptional work in gardening. Nominated by her local Krishi Bhavan, the award brought her garden widespread attention, attracting visitors from across the state.

"This was a major turning point in my life," Sabira says. "I started selling saplings to interested visitors and even couriered them to other districts in Kerala."

Her husband, Mohammed Moosa, encouraged her to import orchids from Thailand to add variety to her collection. Thailand, the world's largest exporter of Orchids, is home to around 1,300 species of this flower. In 2022, its orchid exports were valued at 74.9 million dollars. 

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From terrace to nursery number 1

As the space on the terrace filled, Sabira shifted to a bigger place and set up her first nursery over an acre of land. “I started importing orchid plants from Thailand and later from China, Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries,” she says. Sabira has also set up a second nursery on two acres in Kozhinjampara of Palakkad district and named her business Pearl Orchids.

Today, Sabira grows over 600 varieties of orchids, including Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, Vandas, Oncidiums, Paphiopedilums, Bulbophyllum, and Phalaenopsis at her two nurseries.

Orchids can be grown by seeds, tissue culture and vegetative propagation. However, it is best to use tissue culture plants from good breeders for commercial orchid farming. 

“We import the plants from selected breeders to assure the best quality. We have a quarantine facility to accommodate 50,000 plants to monitor their growth before selling to customers,” the woman entrepreneur explains.

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The global market size for orchids is projected to increase from 751.9 million dollars in 2023 to 1,176.62 million dollars by 2032, as per Zion Market Research. The increasing use of orchids in medicines and the rising popularity for ornamental purposes are driving the growth in orchid demand.

The orchids and some other ornamental plants are sold across India by courier. 

“Every month, we sell 5,000 to 7,000 plants, resulting in revenues between Rs4 lakh and Rs 5lakh,” she says. 

Pearl Orchids imports orchid seedlings at around Rs50 each and sells them at Rs80 to Rs100 depending on the variety. The mature plants sell for Rs250 to Rs350 per piece depending on their size and age.

Hobby collectors, gardeners, farmers, wholesale nurseries and some special retailers form the bulk of the buyers of Pearl Orchids.

How orchid farming is done

At Sabira's nurseries, orchids are grown in greenhouses because they provide ideal conditions for healthy growth, and help maintain temperature and humidity levels.

The flowers are not cultivated in soil but in a media of charcoal and coconut husk chips. 

Coconut husk chips work well for orchid cultivation due to excellent moisture retention properties. It allows for good airflow around the roots along with the moisture.

“Charcoal acts as a natural filter to remove impurities from water and helps create air pockets, which improves drainage and aeration. It also has anti-bacterial properties,” Sabira says.

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“We procure the potting mix and treat it with hydrochloric acid after which it is washed with water for seven days and then dried in the sun. The whole process takes around eight to nine days,” she says.

The untreated mix costs Rs100 per kg while the pre-treated mix costs Rs150 per kg. “Using the mix allows for better root growth and healthier orchids. Moreover, it is light-weight, making transportation easier,” Sabira explains. She uses NPK and some fungicides to ensure healthy plants. Now her youngest son Sibin, an engineer, is also helping her in the business.

Sabira advises flower lovers to start with a small garden, develop a keen interest and then expand to a business. "It's best to take small steps at a time and make strong foundations before growing a nursery business," she says.

(Rashmi Pratap is a Mumbai-based journalist specialising in business, financial and socio-economic reporting)

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