Jolanda Nieuwenhuijze from Dutch orchid grower De Hoog Orchids recalls their initial hesitation: "We first thought, 'What are we getting ourselves into?'" Besides producing nearly 2 million Dendrobium nobile orchids annually, De Hoog Orchids has recently expanded its range to include Aglaonemas. Operating under the name DHG Plants, the grower now offers 16 different species. These will be available individually or in mixed trays on Floriday once they are in good supply.
Addition
The expansion was intentionally chosen as an addition, not a replacement. "The nobile remains our main crop," says Jolanda. "However, Aglaonemas allow us to offer a wider selection to our customers, making them a natural complement to our range. This is ideal for garden centers and wholesalers that prefer a mix of flowering and green plants, possibly even combined with ceramics, aligning with the trend for 2026. By combining orders, we can also make our transport more sustainable."
The new Aglaonema cultivation integrates smoothly with the existing setup, matching both temperature and pot size. "Visually, the Aglaonema is designed to complement our main crop, Dendrobium nobile. While it has a different logo, the colors and design remain consistent," Jolanda explains. "We also use a pot cover for Aglaonema and deliver it in the familiar cardboard tray our customers are used to."
Peat-free
Similar to the nobile, the Aglaonema is cultivated entirely without peat. The approach to biological pest control has been adjusted based on their experience with the nobile.
Jolanda further explains that the summer period is being used to gauge the market. "It's a quieter time, allowing customers to get accustomed to the new additions, and it gives us the chance to make improvements as needed. If there are any initial issues, we'd prefer to address them now rather than in the fall."
Positive reactions
During recent open days, De Hoog received a lot of positive feedback from customers. "They responded spontaneously and enthusiastically to our expanded range," Jolanda notes. "They appreciate the familiar style while also noticing the new elements. Plus, they now have the option to purchase more products at once."
The Aglaonema assortment of DHG Plants can be found on Floriday under grower number 83932.
For more information:
Jolanda Nieuwenhuijze
De Hoog Orchids / DHG Plants
Tel.: +31 6 24 86 10 86
[email protected]
www.dehoogorchids.com