5 unusual things at the IPM Essen trade show for plants

Trade shows are often the first opportunity that a company has to show off an idea and get some feedback, whether good or bad! The gardening industry is constantly reviewing fresh innovations, in order to recruit new plant nuts around the world!

Here are the 5 most eye-catching things seen at the recent IPM Essen trade show in Germany:

ONE. Houseplant Onions. Possibly quite a short-term indoor plant, but I thought these onions looked super cute in their only-just-big-enough terracotta pots. Indeed at first glance you may think it’s a hyacinth, although perhaps not as nice smelling! The use of white and red onions was a stroke of genius too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TWO. Pickled Tulip Bulbs. I’m always happy to try new foods, as I’m sure many of you know from the chicken feet incident. This one, however stopped me in my tracks. Tulips? Maybe you thought the bulbs are poisonous?? No. A daffodil bulb is poisonous, not a Tulip. Tulips were actually used during poorer times in the Netherlands, and actually make quite an art nouveau pickled onion for the cheese plate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THREE. Denim containers. Get inventive with the materials you use! Pot sheaths (mainly for indoor) can be made from a whole host of materials and, as usual, the Dutch have got it spot on. These denim wrappings acted as an excellent neutral base for the orchids and Dracaena.

FOUR. Bunches of cut Poinsettia. Like a Rose for Christmas-time, there are now long-stemmed Poinsettia that can be cut and displayed in a vase. They aren’t just the usual red ones though, they are a range of colours, and with multi-layered petals, each with a little twist. But I wondered if it would still be susceptible to harsh changes of temperature like it’s houseplant cousin, and how long might the stem last in a vase?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIVE. Dyed orchid plants. Like many recent political events, the subject of dyed orchids is controversial and absolutely divides opinion amongst the public! The orchid stem is injected with ink and this changes the flower colour within 24 hours. Whilst dying an orchid flower isn’t directly cruel, the process can make it more susceptible to environmental conditions. Later flowers will go back to their original colour.

Thanks for reading. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of these interesting new trends!

If new plants is more your thing, why not read my blog about the most exciting 5 plants at the show, click here.