British grown poinsettias will be for sale in scarlet abundance on the Isle of Man in the weeks leading up to Christmas despite fears that in some parts of the UK they will be in short supply as a result of growers being squeezed out of the market by cheaper imports.
“All the poinsettias we supply to outlets on the Island are grown by Arden Lea Nurseries in Preston and there will be no shortage of UK-grown plants here,” is the unequivocal assurance from Michael Horsthuis, who heads procurement and distribution in the flowers division at Robinson’s.
British-poinsettias tend to be nurtured over six months and are regarded by many connoisseurs as hardier and of better quality than those from Holland that flood supermarkets and garden centres.
“In Holland they are often grown quickly with artificial light which means they are more spindly and more susceptible to dying,” said Mr Horsthuis, who added that the UK-grown versions are available through Shoprite stores, Robinson’s on Prospect Terrace in Douglas and on the internet through Robinsonsflowers.im.
Poinsettias, which are native to Mexico, are Britain’s most popular pot plants after the orchid. Five million – ?25m worth – are bought each year and they have become as much a part of Christmas as fairy lights, holly and mistletoe. Sales have gone up by more than 50 per cent in the past six years. Many smaller UK independent growers have, however, stopped producing them because of the high costs involved.
ENDS
Tuesday 23rd, November 2010 01:45pm.
