Over in Spain, where the pandemic and lockdowns both struck hard, sales across the plant and floral market increased by 115% in 2021 compared to the same period last year. Sales abroad of live plants and cut flowers in the first four months of 2021 amounted to €241.7 million, of which indoor plants amounted to 45.1 million euros (+ 46%).
Across the waters in the UK, where consumer demand for houseplants has been steadily climbing for years and went through the roof during lockdown, it is estimated that the millennial generation is responsible for one third of all houseplant sales. Year-on-year sales increased by 48% in October alone.
There was a similar picture in Poland, where even during the weeks of forced isolation due to Covid-19 the garden centres were always open and made storming sales as summer progressed, to the point that some even ran out of supplies.
These positive market trends look set to continue as summer gives way to autumn and winter. With their vividly coloured bracts in shades of traditional red, as well as novel yellow, cream, pink, white and variegated/marbled hues, poinsettias are expected to fly off the shelves as households put the finishing touches to their interior winter wonderlands, ready to greet friends and family.