A plant vending machine is placed inside a shopping mall. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

Instead of being hidden in the corner of flower shops that people nowadays may not frequent, green plants are now placed in the vending machine's cabinets. The cabinet door is expected to pop out as soon as buyers scan the QR code to pay for the plant, with the whole process taking less than 10 seconds.

Cong Saisai, a young entrepreneur born in 1995 who founded Dingdang Storage, a company based in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (also known as Optics Valley of China, or OVC), created such a new market niche.

The plant vending machine is mainly installed beside the gates of residential communities, shopping malls, and supermarkets, enabling people to buy their plants at the shortest distance from their homes.

The smart cabinet of the plant vending machine offers real-time care to the plants inside. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The electronic screen of the machine demonstrates information about what meaning each plant carries and how to take care of it. Plants inside are always in perfect condition, as each cabinet provides adequate illumination, temperature, moisture, and ventilation, which are set to be adapted in real time according to the plants' current state.

"We have built our plant cultivation base, supplying us with plants at the lowest prices. In addition, one staff member is sufficient to be responsible for several vending machines. This business model effectively cuts our costs in human resources, rents, logistics, and packing," explained Cong.

Such plant vending machines are now placed in 113 universities in China, with about 330,000 users.