Obscure moon, still night, snow of Queen Sasa, white silk of Long, wild goose of setting sun, light of rising waves... These convoluted words are all the names of succulent plants. In recent days, Chengdu Business Daily reporters have found through investigation and interviews that from 2012 to 2015, after experiencing a period of popularity, the prices of middle and low-end products of succulent plants in China have generally declined significantly.
A common variety that used to have an average price of 8 yuan per pot is now only sold for 2 yuan per pot; A variety called "Chihuahua" used to sell for 30 to 65 yuan per small pot, but now its price is as low as 2 yuan. In the words of a succulent plant seller, "Now for 100 yuan, you can buy a window sill succulent plant."
At present, the output value of the Chengdu succulent plant market cannot be calculated, but Li Pan, Vice President of the succulent plant branch of the Sichuan Flower Association and a senior figure in the Chengdu succulent plant market, said that the era of excessive profits for succulent plants has come to an end, and the market has entered a stable development stage, and will meet market demand with more "affordable" prices.
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Yesterday evening, on the balcony of an apartment in Chengdu, a woman born in the 1980s was playing with succulent plants. Three years ago, she started raising succulent plants. "I just thought they were cute and couldn't help but buy them," Ms. Dai said. Over the past three years, she has purchased dozens of pots of succulent plants. These varieties not only have a pleasing appearance, but also can change colors in different seasons and lighting environments. Therefore, raising succulent plants has become an important hobby for her.
Ms. Dai has many friends who grow succulent plants, ranging from a few dozen pots to hundreds of pots. Paired with creative flower pots, succulent plants have become a favorite among many urban women's social circles.
Why do we need to raise it? Ms. Dai told Chengdu Business Daily reporters that the pace of life in big cities is fast, and there is a lot of pressure from all parties. Raising succulent plants has become a way to relieve stress. "Nurturing is not only a taste of life, but also an attitude towards life," said Ms. Dai.
According to a market survey by a succulent plant internet platform, 60% of consumers of succulent plants are women; In terms of age distribution, 72% of consumers are between the ages of 18 and 30. An industry insider told Chengdu Business Daily reporters that succulent plants were truly well-known around 2013, and they attributed the popularity of succulent plants to the popularity of Korean dramas. The frequent appearance of cute succulent plants in the drama quickly made them the new favorite of urban white-collar workers.
The Chengdu Business Daily reporter learned that the succulent plants currently sold in the Chengdu market mainly come from Kunming, Shanghai, Xichang, and local Chengdu. Among them, Xichang has a significant market share due to its low planting cost and obvious geographical advantages. In recent years, many Chengdu bosses have shifted to Xichang, planting succulent plants on a large scale, and then reselling to seize the Chengdu market. At present, Xichang has become the largest succulent plant planting base in the province.
As succulent plants become popular, many "meat enthusiasts" are turning their interests into careers. Chengdu young man Yao Ming is a succulent enthusiast who used to work in Chengdu and now grows succulent plants on a large scale in Xichang.
Around 2013, the succulent plant market became popular, and Yao Ming decided to expand the planting scale of succulent plants