While many businesses have struggled during the pandemic, regional plant sellers have managed to thrive.
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GrowMaster Grampians owner Russell Phillips said things had looked grim for nurseries when lockdown restrictions were enforced.
"With the initial reports we thought we had to close down," he said.
"But the nursery industry pushed that we're an essential business for health reasons and for an activity for people that they can do at home."
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Once nurseries were permitted to open GrowMaster Grampians began to prosper.
Mr Phillips said since then trade has remained strong.
"People are still out in their gardens because they can't go anywhere, so we're still busier than what you'd normally expect."
Westway Nursery & Garden Centre manager Kylie Bretherton said the Stawell-based business had also enjoyed a significant increase in sales.
"Since March we've had a huge uptake," she said
"In April there were even more sales, and then by June our turnover was about double what it normally would be."
Westway Nursery & Garden Centre sales have constantly stayed above average since.
Ms Bretherton said the increase in plant sales had benefits beyond supporting various businesses.
"Being out in the garden is so good for your health and wellbeing, especially at a time when everybody is stressed, there's nothing better than being out in nature," she said.
"I think getting out into the environment is really good for mental health, and hopefully people will continue to do it."
Vaughan's Australian Plants Pomonal owner Phillip Vaughan agreed gardening had provided people with an outlet during lockdown.
"There's no doubt interest has surged in plants during the COVID period, mainly because people were locked down and stuck in their own homes."
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Despite the rise in business, the pandemic has caused various challenges for plant sellers.
Mr Vaughan said the restrictions on large gatherings had been problematic.
"We usually make most of our money in big plant events which were all cancelled."
The increase in plant sales along with the tightening of travel restrictions also made it difficult for nurseries to meet demand.
Mr Phillips said finding enough supplies has been an ongoing struggle during the pandemic.
"Because everyone became busier, stock became short," he said.
"A lot of places sold their spring plants in autumn, so for spring we were a bit shy on plants initially."
Ms Bretherton said she faced similar challenges.
"When we first went into lockdowns everyone started planting their own veggie gardens," she said.
"There was a high turnover in seedlings, and the ensuing issue was that we couldn't get seedlings from our suppliers.
"All the other supplies have also had issues with being out of stock."
Mr Phillips said indoor plants have also been in high demand.
"The younger market is right into the indoor plants," he said.
"Especially people with kids at home, they don't have to go outside to look after them.
"Back in the 80s and 90s indoor plants were big, then they disappeared and now they're back in again."
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