Homemaker Transforms Passion For Flowers Into Thriving Enterprise In Coastal Karnataka

Mangaluru: A homemaker from Padnuru village near Mura in Puttur taluk of Karnataka’s Mangaluru has transformed her passion for cultivating aquatic flowering plants into a thriving enterprise.

At a time when most nurseries focus on ornamental plants grown in soil, Pushpagiri Nursery stands out for its exclusive cultivation of water-based plants such as lotus and water lilies. The initiative is led by Pushpalatha, whose effort has now become a model of small-scale success.

Spread across around one-and-a-half acres, the nursery has over 5,000 pots featuring a wide range of lotus and water lily varieties. What began as a hobby nearly six years ago has steadily grown into the main source of income for her family. Pushpalatha recalls that she developed interest in flowers after she saw lotuses blooming in water at different places.

Inspired by the beauty of the flowers, she decided to experiment with cultivating them on a larger scale. What started at a small level gradually expanded into a large nursery with thousands of plants. Pushpalatha’s nursery has several varieties of lotus, including tropical, semi-tropical, hardy, bowl lotus and micro bowl lotus.

Water lilies are also cultivated in multiple colours and forms. Different propagation techniques are used to expand the nursery. While some plants generate new growth through their leaves, others reproduce from roots or tubers.

One of the key highlights of Pushpagiri Nursery is its growing demand across the country. Plants from the nursery are supplied to cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Kanpur, along with several regions in both northern and southern India. In recent times, online sales have further boosted the reach of the business, helping it grow from a local venture into a national-level enterprise.