“My grandma had very green thumbs, so gardening was something we did a lot together from when I was a little girl,” she tells FMT, recalling weekends spent hauling sacks of fertiliser and potted plants back and forth.
It comes as no surprise that Shangkari cites her grandmother’s influence as one of the factors that led to the creation of Mighty Pots and Plants, her online nursery with a focus on education.
“At Mighty Pots we have lots of different types of plants on offer, from indoor and outdoor plants to flowers and vegetables. We also sell herbs, DIY kits and fertilisers.”
The plants are sourced overseas from locations such as Australia and China, as well as locally from all over the country – and it doesn’t get more local than Shangkari’s own garden.
“I grow a lot of the herbs, as well as some vegetables like bok choy, spinach and cucumber,” she says proudly.
Shangkari came up with the idea during the first movement control order early last year. A final-year education student, she found herself jobless as the country was plunged into lockdown.
“I wanted to try something new. I’ve always loved plants – I’m constantly planting seeds from fruits or vegetables I’ve eaten,” she laughs.
“I was planting chillies when my friends started telling me I should try and monetise my knack for gardening.”
But money was not Shangkari’s main concern – the teacher-in-training was determined to incorporate a didactic element to her business.
“I wanted it to be educational. I want all new plant parents to know about their plant and how to keep it healthy,” she says.
“The current system in most nurseries is that people go looking for plants and ask the gardener basic care instructions and what type of plant it is.
“Then they go home and forget, and when their plants don’t flourish, they blame themselves. But I think it’s all just a lack of education.
“That’s why I try to teach people, so they can believe in themselves.”
Shangkari has a tech-savvy solution to the problem – her plants come with a QR code that details their care so owners can refresh their memory whenever they need to.
Mighty Pots prides itself on being eco-friendly and uses almost no plastic packaging.
“We use biodegradable pots that can be placed right into the soil. After a while they will decompose naturally. We also offer ceramic pots that can be reused,” she says.
Shangkari educates her “Plantastics” – the name for the online community she’s created – on the benefits of natural fertilisers like rice water, coffee grounds and eggshells.
“Most people use chemical-based products for their plants. I don’t think this is the way forward, especially when nature has got it all for us.
“Our food waste can be reused as fertiliser, providing as much, if not more, nutritional value as chemical ones.”
Shangkari has plans to grow her business and hopes to eventually set up a small physical store in Kuala Lumpur.
“I’m also aiming to do some agricultural courses, as well as more research into sustainable practices such as vertical farming,” she shares.
“Educating people on the benefits of these methods and how waste can be reused is the way forward.”
She hopes that the knowledge she imparts will be practised for the future of the planet.
““Most people are scared of starting their gardening journey because they don’t know enough about their plants to care for them,” she says.
Her advice to budding botanists is to start small and grow their confidence with easily maintained indoor plants like a snake or money plant.
They can then move on to more challenging selections once that seed of confidence has been planted.
And although she passed away before witnessing Mighty Pots and Plants in full bloom, Shangkari hopes her grandma is watching from above with pride as she continues the green-thumbed legacy she left behind.
To kickstart your gardening adventure or add to your existing plant family, visit Mighty Pots’ Facebook and Instagram profiles.