Poinsettia Panorama
Challenges aside, poinsettia growers in 2006 expressed satisfaction with the season in our annual Poinsettia Survey.
Percentages Of Colors Grown:
Poinsettias and Christmas go hand in hand, and there’s no indication that’s going to change anytime soon. But despite the festive plant’s popularity, growers continue to face the same challenges year after year. Competition is fierce, and some say poinsettias’ ubiquity in big boxes and grocery chains has turned the once treasured plant into a dime-a-dozen commodity. Add to that soaring heating costs, and the profitability of growing poinsettias seems ill at best, according to several growers who opted not to produce the plant this season.
That’s not to say everyone has given up on the holiday favorite, though. Responses to our annual poinsettia survey varied, some saying the season was great, others calling it abysmal. And with painted plants fetching top-dollar, poinsettia profitability could be on the rise. But enough speculating. Read on to see what growers had to say about the 2006 season.
Grower Impressions
Despite the challenges, most of our survey respondents said they viewed the 2006 poinsettia season as a good – even excellent – one. That could be attributed to higher demand, according to one Illinois wholesale grower who saw “A bit stronger demand due to a small decrease in overall production.”
“Some seasonal growers decided not to grow
for the ‘06 season due to low profitability,” the grower added.
Overall, the impression of the 2006 season was positive, and nearly all the growers who grew poinsettias this year plan to again in 2007. One Minnesota wholesale and direct-to-retail grower who will continue to grow poinsettias referred to them as a “necessary evil.”
Turning a Profit
Growers are still struggling with the cost of heating poinsettia crops, and across the board, that seems to be their biggest challenge. On the other hand, some growers said milder than usual temperatures this fall and early winter helped production. “Warm November/December was a blessing,” said one Minnesota wholesale and retail grower. Overall, 54 percent of the respondents said heating and energy costs did factor into their poinsettia production this year.
The Great Paint Debate
Whether they love them or hate them, several growers have seen success with painted poinsettias. One Minnesota wholesale and direct-to-retail grower said they’re very popular with his customers. Although several respondents said painted poinsettias are merely a fad, almost all the growers who had painted offerings in 2006 plant to sell them in 2007, too. A Kentucky direct-to-retail grower who has been offering painted poinsettias for three years said interest in them has increased each year. Conversely, a wholesale grower from New Hampshire said it makes them money but “It will be good for only a few years. Europe is doing less each year.”
An Illinois wholesale and direct-to-retail grower said, “They sell well for us in smaller (4.5-inch) sizes, and customers will pay a premium price.” A wholesale grower from Idaho said, “I am for anything that will sell poinsettias, but we have not seen much demand [for painted poinsettias].” A wholesale grower from Ohio said “[They] look fake, but they sure help sales.”
On the other hand, a California wholesale grower who opted not to delve into the painted sector said painted poinsettias are “Not of interest to my customer base – thought of as a “big box item.” That wasn’t the only grower who associated painted points with big boxes. “They’re ugly and usually just seen in chain stores,” said a direct-to-retail grower from Nebraska. An Ohio direct-to-retail grower said they’re “Good for the supermarket/box store market, not good for upscale retail.”
In Color
Paint aside, poinsettia growers in 2006 offered an array of colors. Red is still the favorite, making up an average of 66 percent of poinsettias grown. The average amount of white grown was 12 percent, while pink accounted for an average of 8 percent. A combination of marble and other varieties accounted for 14 percent of the poinsettias grown.
Story by Ann-Marie Conroy
