How did you become a plant vendor?
It was my older brother’s idea. He used to sell flowers, but he switched to selling plants as business was better. He then asked me to join him. Before that, I worked as a maid for ten years. I quit after I got married. I went back to my hometown in Srisaket to raise my children for six years before returning to Bangkok to work with him.

Do you grow these plants?
No. My brother buys them from farms and shops in Bang Yai and Bang Bua Thong in Nonthaburi. My products range from B20-B30 for vegetables to B200-B300 for flowering or beautiful plants. I generally earn about B400-B800 a day. I set off from where I rent a house in Klong Toey at 7:30am and finish up about 3pm. I go out every day except when I return home to see my two kids in Srisaket. I feel too guilty to let the plants just sit on the cart without finding a home for them.

Who are your customers?
Pretty much anyone on the street. I generally stroll around Silom, Phrakanong, Kluaynamthai or Chidlom. I find that it’s much better to sell my plants in these busy areas than in the villages where there are lots of houses. House owners always complain that my plants are too expensive, without seeing the convenience that I offer. They prefer to go to cheaper plant shops.

What are you most popular plants?
My ixora (jungle geranium) are always the first to go. Smaller plants tend to be most popular among those who live in condos. I rotate my plants by season. There are also some plants with auspicious names that people believe will bring them good luck, too. I even have some at home—“Thung Ngern Thung Thong” (money and golden bag) and “Pa Ram Ruay” (bring wealth). They don’t need much sunlight.

Do you have any weird customers?
Not really, but I do have some funny ones who tease me by asking me things like, “Do you have any weed?” Some also ask for ton ngew (a spiky tree that sinners in hell are forced to climb, according to Buddhist belief). I just laugh at them.

It must be really hard pushing your big cart on the streets.
I don’t really have any problems with the condition of the roads. I can push it anywhere, no problem. But I do encounter problems with the tessakij (Bangkok Metropolitan officers) sometimes. They occasionally expel me from the street even though I am a mobile vendor, not a stationary one. One time a tessakij came and told me that I should move my cart from the street and then grabbed one of my plants and walked away. I was stunned.

What’s your dream?
I don’t want to do anything else. I love this job. I also don’t have much money to start something else. But if I do earn more money, I would like to open a plant shop. I love plants!