TREATING NATURE, WITH NATURE

Having being forced to spend more time at home during this pandemic, many Malaysians have started taking up gardening and honing their green thumbs. This is not just a recent trend, as the local home gardening and horticulture scene has been steadily blooming over the past few years. Whether it is aesthetic plants or edible greens, more Malaysians have been adding a touch of greenery to their living spaces...

Owing to this growing interest, Singaporean-based Plantonic has launched its revolutionary household product in Malaysia for the benefit of aspiring and veteran home gardeners across the country. Plantonic is the world’s first 4-in-1 organic fertiliser of its kind, and is designed to be all-natural and non-toxic. Aside from acting as a fertiliser and soil revitaliser, the plant-based product also serves as a natural pest repellent, prevents fungal infections, and boosts plant immunity...

Staying true to its slogan: “Treat Nature With Nature”, Plantonic uses only plant-based ingredients which aid plant nourishment, avoiding the use of toxic chemicals found in standard fertiliser products. This makes it safe for edible greens, as well as indoor use around children and pets. 

Plantonic’s CEO and founder, Eric Tan said he was inspired to create the product after speaking to farmers in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China and Romania. Through his observations and discussions with these farmers, he learnt that many of them had their own secret formulas for keeping crops healthy, passed down from generation to generation. 

“I decided to combine this knowledge from farmers with Ayurvedic principles to develop Plantonic, to create a product that avoids the use of harmful chemicals. These natural ingredients have been used for centuries by people all over the world to promote healing — and I believe in treating plants and greens as living things, which should be nurtured by the healing force of nature itself,” Tan added.

The product’s key ingredients include:

• Shilajit: A substance formed from the decomposition of plants that is commonly found in the Himalayan mountains, shilajit is often used in Ayurvedic medicine and contains natural antibacterial properties

• Seaweed: Rich in nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, and nitrogen, seaweed has been shown to stimulate plant growth

• Ginseng Root: A common feature in traditional medicine, ginseng root also helps to boost plants’ immune systems

• Fruit peel: Consisting of vital soil-revitalising nutrients such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and sodium, fruit peels act as an effective natural fertiliser

• Seed extract: With its antimicrobial compounds, this extract helps plants fend off infections

• Tea leaves: The tannic acid found in tea leaves helps to improve soil quality

Packaged in a handy spray bottle, Plantonic is also a convenient way of ensuring plants receive all the necessary nutrients to grow well. With a healthy spritz once a week for smaller houseplants, and twice a week for larger ones, the product gives users a hassle-free method of tending to their home gardens. The packaging of the product further allows for space-saving storage – a boon to apartment dwellers who have minimal storage space in their homes.

To mark its arrival in Malaysia, Plantonic is contributing Plantonic bottles to Tropical Spice Garden (TSG) in Penang. “TSG, is a unique and important hallmark of the local horticulture movement. TSG’s sustainable practices echo Plantonic’s own commitment to nature, so we are more than happy to support them,” said Tan of the contribution. 

Located at Teluk Bahang, TSG is a lush eight-acre secondary jungle housing over 500 varieties of flora and fauna. The garden is one of Penang’s first eco-tourism spots, and acts as a living museum of biodiversity for local and international visitors. 

Award-winning Malaysian landscape designer Inch Lim, the man who designed TSG, commended the contribution. Speaking at Plantonic’s recent media launch, Lim added, “I’m more than happy to welcome Plantonic to Malaysia. With the company’s natural and eco-conscious approach to cultivating plants, I believe that they’ll be a great addition to the Malaysian horticulture scene.”

Another guest speaker at the virtual launch, model and sustainability advocate Melissa Tan highlighted the importance of making green choices accessible to a wider audience. She added, “Chemical fertilisers cause a lot of environmental harm and degrade the soil. We have to remove them from the equation and return to natural solutions.”

Also present at the launch was plant-based lifestyle advocate and performer Davina Goh, who shared her thoughts. “As a Healing Diets Diploma student, it is important to me that all the products I use are non-toxic, especially in my greens and other fresh produce. I think the fact that it is so easy to use makes it a great product for those who are new to gardening like me,” she said. 

Within the next 1 to 2 years, Plantonic is looking to expand its presence in Europe, Thailand, Indonesia, China, and USA. Plantonic will be available in Hong Kong later in September 2021.

Plantonic is currently available in Malaysia on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee (www.shopee.com.my/plantonic.os) and Lazada (www.lazada.com.my/shop/plantonic). Avid home gardening enthusiasts should also keep a look for the brand’s upcoming 9.9. promotions on these platforms.

For more details, visit www.plantonic.sg.