More positive progress

Sales of bedding, balcony and garden plants experienced considerably more positive progress in major European markets in 2009 than did the flower and plant market as a whole. A series of important buyer countries even report rising imports of potted plants, with the emphasis on bedding, balcony and garden plants. This contrasts with the effects the financial crisis is now having on the cut flower markets of northern and eastern Europe this year, according to an analysis published in advance of the IPM International Plant Fair in Essen. A detailed report on this topic will be published in issue 1/2010 of our trade magazine DIY International, which is due out in January.