Did you ever hear of the Pachira Aquatica? This plant is native to Central and South America and can grow up to 20 metres tall. The specimen imported by Dutch grower J. Heijnen Potplanten however are grown in Taiwan. Here, back in the 1980s, a Taiwanese man came up with the idea of braiding the plant as seen in the photo/video below. Hence this became standard practice, with plants worldwide usually being shaped and sold like this
Just like for example yucca and other woody plants, they arrive in containers stripped of roots and branches. In the greenhouse they are potted, and after about 10 weeks they are well rooted and have a green crown. That's the moment they can continue their final journey to the end consumers.
