Thrissur: Aloor native Smitha planned something new when her husband Jebin Joseph rented a house in Kodakara for peacefully writing scripts for channels and stage programmes. Thus she started 'Kokedama', a Japanese ornamental plant growing method.
Now their house is full of local and foreign varieties of ornamental plants. The couple proved that Kokedama can offer good financial gains apart from decorating the house.
Smitha and Jebin rented the house near Santhi hospital in Kodakara in March considering the convenience to travel to Ernakulam. But Jebin could not continue writing as the COVID lockdown was imposed by then and TV shows and stage programmes were stopped. Smitha, who is a teacher at a private college, also could not go to work.
Smitha thought of expanding Kokedama indoor ornamental plant farming, which she was already doing as a hobby. She started trying Kokedama with the help of some YouTube videos. Along with the support of some old college friends, Smitha started the venture and it really took off.
Kokedama
Known as the Bonsai of the poor, Kokedama is a method of growing ornamental indoor plants. A mixture of coconut husk and soil is wrapped with thread and covered in mosses and weeds. The plants are grown in this ball. New trends are experimented in this gardening method and is gaining popularity.