Jamie cultivates a symbol of Christmas
Jamie cultivates a symbol of Christmas
FOR ONE nurseryman from Leicestershire Christmas always means poinsettias...and this year (2009) is no exception.
Woodlands Nursery & Garden Centre’s Nursery Manager, Jamie Downes, is growing a record number of the festive houseplants at the nursery, which is on Ashby Road in Stapleton near Hinckley.
Jamie explained: "We have always grown large numbers of poinsettias here at the garden centre, which is part of The Garden Centre Group, but this year we have 50,000 growing on, which is 5,000 more than 2008.
"We started ordering the plants back in March and they arrived in June as tiny cuttings. They are now in full colour and ready to be sold to people to use to decorate their homes during the Christmas period.
"We will sell around 7,000 direct to the general public who visit the garden centre. We also supply the plants to other garden centres in The Garden Centre Group."
Jamie and the team at Woodlands Nursery & Garden Centre grow a variety of poinsettias in different colours, for example 'Infinity', which is bright red, 'White Glitter' which is red with gold flecks, 'Mars', which is red, pink and white and a mottled pink colour called 'Picasso'.
Jamie added: "It's great that we are able to grow so many poinsettias here at the garden centre for customers and for other Garden Centre Group garden centres nearby. When it comes to buying poinsettias, then British is best and if they are properly cared for, then there's no reason why they shouldn't look good until March.
"A plant with a minimum of five flowers will give a longer lasting display. Ensure that the poinsettia is put in a sleeve before taking it outside or back to your car and once you get it home, you should place it in a warm, draught-free spot. Not on a windowsill where the curtains are closed at night.
"Let the compost dry out between watering and if it's in a saucer then make sure you empty this out, too. You could also feed your poinsettia once a week with houseplant feed."
Jamie has been working at the nursery for 18 years and is also helped by Nursery Assistant, Margaret Chamberlain, who has worked at the nursery for 19 years.
Woodlands Nursery & Garden Centre employs 10 part-time and six full-time staff in the nursery at this time of year including Jamie and Margaret, and around 80% of their working hours are used to tend the poinsettias, a total of around 352 hours per week. The plants are watered on average every two days, depending on the weather.
They also need feeding twice a week and to be kept warm at all times, so are grown in greenhouses that are temperature controlled by a state of the art computer system.
Jamie continued: "All of the garden centre's poinsettias are grown to the highest possible grade. We choose healthy strong plants with large, colourful bracts. This year has been a particularly good growing year due to the high autumn light levels."
