Indeed, nurseries say customers are now snapping up pots of plants that have auspicious-sounding names or colours that symbolise good luck and fortune.

For example, the guzmania is a favourite because its name in Hokkein, wang lai hua, means prosperity.

Prices have stayed the same compared to last year, despite higher costs for shipping the plants in from China, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Read the full story in Life! in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.