Anyone who has visited the greenhouses at Nieuwkoop Europe will undoubtedly remember the amount of large tropical plants growing there. You immediately get the feeling that you have landed in the middle of a jungle. But how do these enormous plants find their way from the greenhouse to the final project?
Selecting the right plant
Naturally, we will start at the beginning, and that is by selecting the perfect plant. To ensure that the right plant for the project is selected, our customers are always accompanied by one of our specialists who are there to offer advice. This advice takes into account aspects such as the amount of daylight, the characteristics of the plant, the required care and any obstacles presented by the project, such as narrow entrances or a second floor.
A red label indicates reserved
Now that we know which plants have been selected for the project, a red label is attached to indicate that they are reserved. It is important that the plants remain where they are until they are fully acclimatised. This is how we guarantee the quality of our plants.
Lifting up large plants
One forklift truck is used when lifting up large plants and one person assists on the ground. For the really big plants weighing more than 3,000 kilos, a second forklift truck is used. First of all, we seal off the top of the pot entirely to prevent potting soil from falling out when the plant is tilted. Next, we prepare the stem. Depending on the type of plant, the stem is firmly wrapped to protect it. The stem of the Veitchia Merrillii, for example, is vulnerable and must be supported by wooden slats to prevent it from breaking during transport. A noose is then placed around the stem and the plant is slowly tilted until it is horizontally balanced.