Known to many through her instagram page, as ‘Tia’s Cottage Store’, Washilemla Jamir of Longmisa village, a resident of Aongza ward, started her floral gardening as a hobby in 2020 during the lockdown. And what began as leisure soon turned into a thriving business such that today, she has nurtured a home-based nursery.
Speaking to Mokokchung Times, she said that most of her live plants are brought in from nurseries based in Pune, Imphal and even Thailand, which has been the most challenging task.
“It is difficult importing from other countries as the courier charges are quite high and the shipping takes a lot of time,” she said.
Talking about her business outreach, she said she has been successfully exporting her plants across Nagaland, although extra care is needed while delivering to other districts. Of all the plants, heat-sensitive plants are usually the ones she takes extra care of, by usually dispatching them in baskets made of vegetables and corrugated boxes.
“Indoor plants and annual plants, specifically fiddle plants, Philodendron and variagated plants like Monstera are quite a buyer’s favorite, although customers’ taste does change, depending on seasons and weathers,” she said regarding the different demands made by her customers.
Tending a home-based nursery, according to her, might look like an easy task for some, but it is not so. “Starting your own nursery requires doing plenty of tasks because everything needs to be executed in time, while ensuring quality and timely propagation of plants,” she explained.
On asking what her store has for Valentine’s Day, she said she has decided to go the ‘traditional way’ by making natural, fresh, ‘Red Roses’ accessible. It will be available for sale in the form of bouquets, gift hampers or curated as per the customer’s preference.
You can place your orders through her Instagram: @tias_cottage_store