Using technology & innovation in our glasshouse

Technology and innovation helps us to address the challenges currently facing the horticulture industry, to be more productive and deliver sustainable growth. We apply the latest innovation to all aspects of the cultivation process to help us deliver high quality plants, cost effectively at scale.

Our Sustainable Approach

Across all our product ranges we work closely with breeders to ensure we have the right genetics for a successful crop. We try to work with as many Netherlands breeding companies as possible, alongside seeking new varieties from the leading breeding and young plant companies from across the glo

We seek out varieties with genetics that are more tolerant to pest and disease, support healthy growth in the glasshouse, create robust plants that will withstand handling in the supply chain, and will provide a great home and garden experience for the consumer.

Growing in the glasshouse for 24 weeks, Poinsettia are one of our most important single crops where we need to ensure we’re using the right genetics to maximise the crop and meet Christmas demand. Every year our expert growers test new genetics and run growing trials to identify the best varieties to scale up to commercial volumes.

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Robotics & Automation

Operating at such a large scale we require the use of robotics and automation to deliver efficiency. We use the latest technology throughout the cultivation process, from propagation and plant spacing through to the movement of crops and control of the glasshouse environment.

Producing consistent uniformity and quality can be difficult to achieve with manual processes. The use of robotics and automation is not only efficient, but also helps us to deliver consistent quality across millions of plants.

Our most recent investment in cutting planter robots means that we can now plant over 5000 cuttings an hour with just one skilled operative, where manually it would require six. The machines have the capability to self-learn the size, shape and orientation of cuttings for a range of different plants. Utilising this kind of innovation means that we can quickly and efficiently propagate the broad range of plants that we grow throughout the seasons.

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