With cold fronts hampering the growth of plants and with the recent huge demand, we are seeing an increase of price in flowers. Consumers who are planning to deck out their homes for the New Year's celebration will have to pay 10 to 20 percent more this year.

Even under the cold water, the flower market is full of customers shopping for some flowers to decorate their homes for the Chinese New Year.

The demand for pot plants has increased and florists have offered pot plants, which represent good luck and prosperity, such as red radish, lucky bamboo pots, pineapple flowers and phalaenopsis with price ranges set between 200 and 300 NT Dollars.

Due to the cold fronts, the amount of fresh flowers has decreased greatly, sending the price of fresh flowers higher than last year.

The price of five lilies has increased by around 20%, from 180 to 450 NT dollars last year to 200 to 500 NT dollars this year.

The price for a bunch of chrysanthemum is around 100 to 200 NT dollars while it takes 200 to 500 NT dollars for twenty sword lilies.

With the Chinese New Year coming in nearly a week, the Taipei Flower Market has extended its opening hours to 24 hours a day, starting January 29th to February 2nd.

Still, customers are encouraged to buy flowers as early as possible because the prices are expected to go up before the Chinese New Year.